Stop ignoring the money talk in interviews

I've been running a small plumbing crew for 8 years now and I keep seeing guys come in who never asked about pay structure during the interview. They assumed salary meant steady pay. Then they find out after 3 months that overtime is mandatory but unpaid. Or that the 'bonus' is really just your commission split in disguise. Happened to a buddy of mine at a shop in Cleveland last fall. He took a $55k job offer and ended up making $42k after taxes and fees. You have to ask direct questions about hourly vs salary, overtime rules, and quarterly reviews. Has anyone else gotten burned by assuming the numbers on paper were the real deal?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylorlewis1mo ago

My buddy Mike took a $50k warehouse gig in Columbus last year and found out the "quarterly bonus" was just them giving you back part of your own paycheck if you didn't use sick days. He made way less than he thought.

sarah2291mo ago

Not sure this is that big of a deal, just ask one question during the interview.