re: Millennials earn 20% less than Boomers did at same stage of life

quote:

---

How old were you when you had your first job?

---

I saved my allowance and purchased, on my own, a shoe shine kit from the local drug store. I had pleaded with the barber in the area to let me come in and shine shoes to make some money. I was ten years old.

I did the shoe shine thing for two years, then worked at neighbors raking pine straw or digging flower beds or washing cars until I was 15 and old enough to work in a grocery store, which led to working in a clothing store, which led to working in a marine store, which led to working in a ice cream and sandwich shoppe, which led to working in a furniture store, which led to working for a drill pipe company, which led to working for a horse breederwhich led to working in a music store which led to working in a beauty supply distributor (while I was in college), which led to working in retail management, which led to a career in construction, which led to a second career in video broadcast and production which led to working in sales management for a manufacturer, and then to a second manufacturer, where, at age 44, I experienced my one and only termination when I was laid off due to a merger and was unemployed for a whole three months (I had a six month severance package so took a vacation). This is the third employer I've worked for since then, and hopefully my last. The pay is great. I travel all over the country and on occasion, internationally. I work with really cool stuff and get involved in projects, such as the International Space Station, missile defense and, just yesterday, got to meet Jason Heard, commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds, who flies the lead #1 jet. A month ago I had dinner with Walt Cunningham, who was the lunar module astronaut on the Apollo 7 and who I'm taking out to lunch this Tuesday.

I always thought you had to make things happen for yourself and not wait for others to do it for you. It sounds like there are a lot of millennials who were never taught to spend their free time working towards a goal instead of playing video games and/or texting. Every single job I had I left for another that paid me more, was more interesting and built on my experience. I earn more now than I ever have and I have more fun, too.

This thread does make me want to spend time with my daughter this weekend, and tell her my work history so she understands that the success she builds now, she has to constantly push herself her to do bigger and better.

A person can't support themselves on 10/hr

quote:

---

I made way more than that at my internships

---

At your internships. What argument are you trying to make?

quote:

---

Starting pay for a kid in high school.

Where does this "supporting themselves" thing come from?

Why do people keep changing the argument?

---

So you're shocked high school kids aren't dependable to show up to work? This thread isn't about high school kids working 10 hours a week. And btw there's literally no jobs starting at 60k with no experience. None.

I'm saying a kid in high school can work for us making 10 to 12 an hour, no experience. Most of our employees are 20 to 25, and they aren't dependable. Seriously, show up work overtime at an easy laid back job, and they try to go home early every day.

quote:

---

And btw there's literally no jobs starting at 60k with no experience. None.

---

Plenty of plant jobs start up there. Hell, the admins at my old company were making that type of money.

Admins have years of experience. Most college grads start between 30-50k unless they are engineers or graduated towards the top of the class.

quote:

---

At your internships

---

exactly. they're not even real jobs.

quote:

---

What argument are you trying to make?

---

that $10/hour is bad money

quote:

---

And btw there's literally no jobs starting at 60k with no experience. None.

---

they aren't as common as OTers would have you believe, but they definitely exist.

Also-does a college degree count as "experience"? Because plenty of people make may more than 60k out of school.

quote:

---

but it's hard work.

---

that's the problem. kids today think they are entitled to a 80k M-F 9 to 5 job right out of the gate.

quote:

---

Admins have years of experience.

---

Not at the company I worked for.

quote:

---

Most college grads start between 30-50k unless they are engineers or graduated towards the top of the class.

---

Certain degrees start out higher, and those that don't aren't stuck making that little money. With their degree they have plenty of room for advancement.