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Job Offer with long commute

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Maynard

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm meeting with some people next week for a possible job offer. I also beleive I am a very strong canidate for this possition. Mainly because what I do is very focused and specialized, there are very few, (almost none), young people who do what I do, and they would get me at a relitavely cheap pay scale, (the few people who do similar jobs are much older, and therefore would be much higher on the pay scale). And not to toot my own horn, but I am extreamly good at what I do.

I also think I'm a very strong canidate because they have contacted me twice in the last 6 months. I did not go looking for them. They came looking for me. My name was recommened to them by my former employer, and I also have another former boss who now works for them who also recommened me. So I'm pretty sure I have a decent amount of negoicating room with them.

But the job is just outside of Rockford. I would consider toughing out the long commute until my lease is up, (9 months from now), and then relocate closer.


The interview is with ITW. I would LOVE to get in with them. They're the 15th largest company in Illinois and are known throughout the industry as being a great company to work for. Unlimited room for advancement and they have divisions all over the midwest. If it were any other company, I would tell them to pound salt. But I would really LOVE to get with ITW. So the commute might be something that I would consider fighting thru for the time being.

So the question is, would it be out of line to ask for my gas / travel expenses to be paid for by the company? What other options would I have as far as being compensated for the commute?

Any thoughts?
 
#4 ·
Instead of asking for that, see if they will buy you out of your lease as a signing bonus.
 
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#5 ·
Maynard I work all over ILL and if the almighty dollar is right there should
be no problem. I look at the small future in what I am doing ,if I got a call
to repair one window in Springfield it would be a deffinent no unless they
proposed to do all whole school or church and wanted me to do a pilot
 
#6 ·
Don't ask, don't get. It can't hurt to ask.
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
MM Racing said:
Don't work for one of the divisions that does OEM auto parts. I know people there and it is very up and down.
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I do automotive OEM fasteners now. The division I'm going to see is ITW Shakeproofs industrial threaded products division.

Mort82 said:
Are you in production control?

Edit: It's only Rockford, but I would think they could comp you for that.
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I do engineering now. This would be Technical Sales. I would be the middleman between the end users and manufacturing. Helping the customers with application problems and cost cutting solutions. Which is exactly what I want to go into. I'm tired of tool & die design and sitting at a computer 80% of my day. I love working with customers and helping them with their problmes. I also think I would be great becuase I know the manufacturing side so well.

HDTony said:
Instead of asking for that, see if they will buy you out of your lease as a signing bonus.
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Not a bad idea. See, the problem is I don't know what is ok to ask for. I've only had 3 real jobs since college. And I've only been on 4 interviews in my life. 3 of the 4 interviews resulted in job offers.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I would ask for a $600 a month car allowance plus gas, or have them pay me an extra $600 + gas a month to cover it. That's a long commute and wear and tear on your car.
 
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#10 ·
HDTony said:
Instead of asking for that, see if they will buy you out of your lease as a signing bonus.
Click to expand...
Good idea.
Could even float this idea in a way that sounds like you are not even asking....
"I would love to start this job however due my current lease I still have 9 months and would have to pay a penalty fee to break it in order to relocate here"
They may offer to pay it for you and may even have some leads on apts. in the area that they would comp for a month or two.

Back in the day Motorola had a shitload of people they were comping rent for near the Schamburg location. They needed the talent and had to do this to attract them.

Under200
 
#12 ·
I would ask if they would be willing to pay to relocate you. Have them pay to get you out of your lease, moving company, etc. I think you have a better shot getting moving expenses over travel reimbursement. Plus, a lot of companies prefer to hire someone who lives close so you are more reliable. The longer the drive the more commute delays you can have.

Also, not sure where you live but if you have to take 355 to 90 it is a total bitch right now with construction!
 
#13 ·
That sounds like interesting work, keeping you busy. The doldrums of PC are teh suck. Stuck in a desk calculating efficiencies, ship dates, material needed etc gets quite boring. You are a lucky bitch to be out of it!
 
#15 ·
Kruz said:
Dont waste their and your time with commuting expenses or lease buyouts. Talk salary and nothing else. You need to decide what's those inconveniences are worth to you.
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I tend to agree with John. Besides, 9 months isn't very long to commute for a great job. Also, if you are racking up big expenses commuting you might want to think about spending that money to break the lease and get a new place out yonder.
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
pinkrider said:
I would ask if they would be willing to pay to relocate you. Have them pay to get you out of your lease, moving company, etc. I think you have a better shot getting moving expenses over travel reimbursement. Plus, a lot of companies prefer to hire someone who lives close so you are more reliable. The longer the drive the more commute delays you can have.

Also, not sure where you live but if you have to take 355 to 90 it is a total bitch right now with construction!
Click to expand...
I think I'm going to ask about them buying out my lease. I'll talk to my landlord and see what $$ it would take for me to break it.

The commute would be horrible and I hate being late anywhere. The commute would certianly be a pain in the ass and be really unpredictable. Neither of which I want.

Mort82 said:
That sounds like interesting work, keeping you busy. The doldrums of PC are teh suck. Stuck in a desk calculating efficiencies, ship dates, material needed etc gets quite boring. You are a lucky bitch to be out of it!
Click to expand...
Thats a lot of what I do now. And yeah, it's getting old and I can do it standing on my head with my eyes closed. I work directly with customers and their project on occasion and I love it. I'm actually pretty excited for this oppurtinuity
 
#17 ·
Maynard said:
3 of the 4 interviews resulted in job offers.
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McDonalds, Burger King and White Castle will hire anyone. :neener:

I would talk salary. Long term, that will get you the most amount of money. If your landlord is decent, he may let you break your lease for free, provding you allow him/her to show your apartment while you live there. Also consider this - housing in nearby Belvedere is fairly inexpencive. A guy I work with is selling a 3 br, 2 bath, 2 car garage for $90K. True story.

More importantly, are you still going to be able to be on CLSB at work?
 
#19 ·
You can ask for a travel reimbursement, but you won't get it. However, you can ask for more money bringing up the 'long commute' issue and that 'might' work.

I recommend you move there as quickly as possible if you're given the job offer.

Breaking lease? Nonsense. You should be able to 'sublet' the unit or help the landlord find a replacement.

Here's why you want to move close to the job:
1. If you're close by, you can spend extra time working late and learning/advancing quickly
2. If you're close by, your chances of being 'late to work' are reduced drastically (as the new guy, you want to get off on the right foot)
3. You'll be much less stressed out being in a car for 2 to 4 hours EVERY DAY.

Good luck!
 
#20 ·
Work out ahead of time what the cost to cover your needs are.

You can always respectfully ask them what their standard moving expense / signing bonus compensation is. Have your number ready if they say they don't do it or that it's a case by case basis. Be prepared with a number but also be prepared for a 'none' answer.

As many have suggested, move directly onto salary, trying to pad that and don't go back to this subject if it's a 'none'.

Being that the economy is going to be taking an even bigger shit in the coming year or two, you do have to consider that it's better to have a good job than it is to worry about / haggle over the little things (lease buyouts and commute expenses, etc).

If you think they'll be slightly jovial about it, just ask them when you get to go and pick out your company car. (say it with a smile) ;)
 
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Maynard
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