What is experience worth

[Texas_Signmaker]

I won't argue with Boudica because all arguments with women are rigged. No matter how right I am, ya still loose.

 

[Boudica]

I won't argue with Boudica because all arguments with women are rigged. No matter how right I am, ya still loose.

I have several reactions to that. But I'm only allowed one.

 

[Billct2]

If I was in your shoes, getting a decent paycheck with good benefits and time off Id' start doing side jobs to bolster my bank account and options.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

Simple answers, lack of funds. Plus it is a smallish town and already saturated. I work for the college here that has a fully functioning sign operation with seven people on staff as well as a separate design department for large projects. They don't have a very good grasp on cost of living so I'm making some noise.

Lack of funds is not a barrier to starting your own business and bettering yourself. I started in a 1 bedroom apartment with a $300 Chinese plotter.

You don't have the drive to better yourself. You control how much $ you have and what you make...not your employer.

 

[Gino]

Doesn't matter who you voted for. Didn't someone say the election was decided before we voted? Ya got six years to learn how to speak Russian. If we even have that long.

If ya listen to aoc, we have 6.5 years til the end of the world as a whole. So, do whatever ya wanna do.

 

[10sacer]

Simple answers, lack of funds. Plus it is a smallish town and already saturated. I work for the college here that has a fully functioning sign operation with seven people on staff as well as a separate design department for large projects. They don't have a very good grasp on cost of living so I'm making some noise.

You are already hamstrung by your employer being a college. An electrician working for an electrical contractor is going to be worth more than one that works for the University system. Its really a matter of what they think the job is worth and no amount of expertise - supposed or otherwise - will make that job worth more than they are willing to pay, because they believe you can just hire the "next guy" at same pay grade. I had my own shop for 13 years, and if you aren't even basically familiar with how to run a business - I wouldn't recommend it. I'm an art major and struggled with the business side of things. If its a small town, you are pretty limited in your options. Is perhaps something else keeping them from paying you what you feel the experience is worth? How well do you communicate? How do you act when things go wrong? How supportive are you of management and the decisions that get made? How do you take criticism? How do you do with following policies and procedures? There's a host of other possible variables along these lines. Do you have someone on your side that can be an advocate for you with the people who control the purse strings?

 

[Boudica]

If ya listen to aoc, we have 6.5 years til the end of the world as a whole. So, do whatever ya wanna do.

nah, she's an idiot. According to Heinz von Foerster, it will end Friday, November 13, 2026. He said that in 1960, he may be an idiot too. IDK.

 

[Gino]

nah, she's an idiot. According to Heinz von Foerster, it will end Friday, November 13, 2026. He said that in 1960, he may be an idiot too. IDK.

Hey, that whole thing was done with tongue in cheek.

 

[Modern Ink Signs]

Jack of all trades but master of none?

It is great that you know how to do all of those things but….


To me, as an owner, it boils down to what are you doing on a daily basis. Are you the shop manager, designer, installer, etc.

My lead installer is being paid more than others. More is expected of him too. Manager get paid the most, he runs the day to day operations for the most part.

We do “cross-train” a little bit. This is more to help out when someone is on vacation or ill not their full time duties.



To answer your question….in my shop you may be in the $25-$30/hr range. Again, depending on what you do on a daily basis.

 

[StarSign]

Take a week off and don't answer you phone, that's when you find out how valuable you are.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Take a week off and don't answer you phone, that's when you find out how valuable you are.

ha! after you fliter out all of the spam calls

 

[JBurton]

Take a week off and don't answer you phone, that's when you find out how valuable you are.

Better off only taking 3 days, don't want them figuring everything out while you're away.

 

[Humble PM]

Better off only taking 3 days, don't want them figuring everything out while you're away.

Change your phone number to a premium rate, update the company records to match, and take ten days.

Though that might incetivise them to go figure.

 

[Ryze Signs]

Working for a college changes everything. I find that most the time government type jobs pay depending on time served and not on performance. A staff of 7 for signage for one college? Sounds pretty comfortable to me. We have 11 people and did about $1.5 million worth of work this year.

For me knowledge isn't what's valuable it's work ethic and responsibility. I've fired more than one person with tons of sign knowledge and experience, but they simply didn't want to do the work, or weren't willing to step up when I needed them to.

The true value of an employee is directly related to the value they bring to the business. I would be willing to pay the right person six figures if their role allowed my business to bring in or produce $500k+ more.

Starting a business is less about money and more about will and determination. We started about 2 years ago by purchasing a sheet metal business using owner financing then using that businesses existing credit to purchase equipment. At first I choose my own hours and worked half days. Any 12 hours a day 6 days a week I wanted. Now if down to a more manageable 50 hours a week.

I've never heard of a sign market that's over saturated. Every business, government building, church, etc. has signage and it's all outside so it doesn't last.