Hard questions for y'all about job for me

[jon lynn]

Okay please bear with me on this, it's a long (badly worded) question:

Set up: first go to www.akemi.com and see where I used to work in Nuernberg Germany. When you click on the english button, and the pages open, you see a bunch of people in offices, and the lower torso of a fat guy operating a machine. That is my chubby exterior.


Now get an over view of all the products and services they show.

Okay.

I have done each and every blue collar job in that factory, from production, making 'bondo' epoxy, glues and all the other stuff. To using the big funky machines to fill it, and worked the International Shipping department.

If it left that factory chances are 50% I sent it. And I assured it was haz-mat ready for each and every country it would go to or through, from Germany to Russia to China, Japan.........................you get it.

When the guy who ran the storage facility, of raw materials, was sick or on vaccation, I did his job too.

NOW.............................my former boss/owner of AKEMI, wants to open a production plant in the US, he is finding a best location for the money search right now, with some US partners.

He called me and asked me if I would be interested in being his production plant manager, he would make it 'Worth my while'

Many of you know the lenghts I went through to get a Government job, and how out of place I feel, and how I seem to be broke 24-7.

FINALLY MY QUESTION!!!!!

What should I INSIST ON for an annual salary? I will be leaving the relative comfort of a stable job, and will have some basic demands.

I was thinking on $80k minimum, depending on location. Like if he goes to, let's say, New York, I would really up it. But I forsee Arizona or maybe New Mexico.

And a condition of employment would be, if it tanks or folds, he has to give me an equal position or responsibility and pay back in the factory in Nuernberg, where I started.

You may have figured over the years I am NOT the sharpest knife in the kitchen. But if this job did go through, there would be almost no training, I know the job already. I would just have to learn US employment regulations, for hiring and firing personel.

So please respond, or PM me if you do not want to respond in open fourm..............and 'Dumb it down' for me....................Thanks, JON

[jplonghunter]

jon

Nothing ventured,nothing gained! That being said ,an awful lot of questions go into this decision,i.e.; location,family,ect.
Best of luck.

jplonghunter

[indyhntr]

Jon I don't think I'd talk about salary and benefit packages untill he settles on a location. The cost of living varies A LOT depending on where you end up, and he may well be thinking much higher than what you'd be happy with.:D Don't forget to put some thought into benefits such as relocation expenses, vacations, performance bonuses, pension/retirement and severence packages etc. Hope things come together for ya. Indy

[Valigator]

Jon, many years ago I worked for a company called PDS. One of the largest private companies in the world for Promotional distribution. I worked out of Ft. Lauderdale airport 30,000 sqft. hanger, the other plants were in Boston and one out west. I was the head sales rep in Lauderdale. My territory was based on accounts and the carribean. I was making huge bucks, company car, expense account well you get it..one little perk was a company condo at Lago Mar club. Ahhh... but I digress, seems the partners had a little falling out and whooosh Ft. Lauderdale went by the wayside, and eventually so did the company. Weigh your options carefully..but you have a point being broke 24/7 its like the crane operator who belonged to the union who lived next door to me..they were on poverties door everday, all the years I knew them. Took a well timed back accident to get the benefits they were struggling for, digressing again, this is a tough one but you always expressed your displeasure being away from the states, in fact didnt you leave and go back once? My advice is get a package you can live with in the event of unforeseen circumstances, your still young and know your stuff.

[gd357]

Jon,

If they don't say no to anything you ask for, you didn't ask for enough. Seriously. Find out where the job will be and do your research accordingly. Also, good idea to write in a "safety" clause in the contract. Good luck!

gd

[wrenchman]

In mich benifits are every thing 401- health care - vacation- lots of money is great but it will do you no good if you dont get to see tour kids and injoy it.
Like indy says find out were the plant will be right now it is talk
also think about the back door like provit share and severince if it dont work out.
If you like were you are stay comfert means a lot to.

[jon lynn]

lots of money is great but it will do you no good if you dont get to see tour kids and injoy it.



THAT is my biggest delima. This GS job is okay, but the pay after the first 3 months only is not enough. I am struggling from bill to bill, and can't afford to have my kids come this summer. I am looking for some moonlighting job to save up and try. Christmas killed me. Bing here without them for the first Christmas ever..........I mean it just tore me up (I'm a wuss I know).



But I am sure if the opportunity presents it's self, I think I will be able to be rational..........after prozac and a polo mallett.


One of the biggest reasons I am thinking about this...........The Democrats will get the White House, and that means budget cuts. Where I work, is on a shoestring budget, and DoD sends warning memos not to hire perminant any more. If the budget gets slashed I don't have enough seniorty to stay.

FYI, I am a Democrat, but I am NOT voting for Obamma or the object of Bill Clintons non-sexual desires.

[gumpokc]

JOn, your getting soem good advice here.

Personally you know, that he knows you can do the job.
He's asked you first, let him make the first offer.
Find out where the final site is, do a little background work, then base your reply to their offer from that.

I know it's hard getting your foot in the door on the GS stuff, but if it's that rickity of a position, then you need to keep your ewyes open, and this may be a good chance for you.

It's something that only you can decide on though.

[maineguy110]

I dont know much about your work but what about profit sharing and bonuses. sounds like you will have a big responsiblity So your pay should beset for that plus your former training puts you over the top

[Rocky Raab]

Jon, I'll echo what's been said. First of all, it's location, location, location. What would be a king's ransom in one city would be unlivable in another. So, NO hard numbers up front.

They want you, they have to pay you. All you want is what's comparable for that job in that industry in that area. No more, but not a dime less. And let them know you can Google and Monster as well as the next guy. So when they offer, it'd better not be a "bargaining position."

And insist you keep your seniority and equivalent benefits!

Finally, you don't have to be Stephen Hawkings to be of value. You're a proven commodity to them. That alone has value. Cash in on it.

Short digression: I once worked in a building where the HVAC guy had a two-digit IQ. But he KNEW that HVAC system. When performance reviews and bonus time came, he could make all of "Mahogany Row" sweat or freeze - and he did. He NEVER failed to get a raise. Not so frickin' dumb after all, huh?

[skeet]

I like that digression..We had the same kinda guys running the HVAC at the airport where I worked. Those guys always got the raises they "deserved":D :D Nobody much messed with 'em either! Oh and then they contracted the positions out to a private company. Things were never the same again.:rolleyes:

[Rocky Raab]

I told it only because Jon sometimes calls himself a "dull tool."

The HVAC man I knew was far below Jon in every way; truly a very low IQ. But he was a really friendly, nice man and a gentle man in both ways. His intelligence wasn't much, but he knew two things: he knew that HVAC system, and he knew that nobody else did! I guess he knew at least three things, because he also knew exactly when and how to use that leverage! None of us begrudged him the inevitable raises and bonuses he got; Lord knows his base pay was meager - to start with. ;)