Does anyone in Atlanta want to work???

[Rosemary2205]

We have a clerical/administrative job open at work. We've been trying to recruit for 3 weeks and not one nibble. Not one. We aren't asking much. Just basic skills. Word, Excel, answer about 30 calls an hour, learn our database (VERY EASY) - all it requires is a high school education, emotional maturity and the willingness to, you know, actually come to work on time every day with a half positive attitude. We are paying a bit over $30,000 and really great fully paid bennies in a business that is ALMOST recession proof.

I'll grant you $30,000 isn't the moon and the sky, but I can't believe how hard it is to drum up interest. I come into DU everyday and read about how bookoos of people have been looking for a job so long they just plain gave up. What part of America is that in, because obviously, it isn't in Atlanta.

[annabanana]

1. not looking, but just curious.... What are the rates locally

for a small one person appartment? Could someone live on 30k and commute to your office without a car?

[Rosemary2205]

5. I do.

I own a home about 15 miles south of Atlanta, drive to work every day and make not much more than this job is offering. I choose to drive only because I am in a wheelchair and those buses are too few and far between. We are on the busline though, and not that far from the train station. One could live in a myriad of affordable suburbs, take a short drive to the bus or train, and come to work. Though Atlanta does tend to have a strong car culture......

For someone with no college, or wanting to go to night school, or transitioning from manufacturing into desk work, this is such an incredible opportunity.

--------

BTW, I though it was just us but not so. The law firm we do business with is trying to hire quite a few people for entry level jobs that do not require college. They pay a little better, mid 30's low 40's but they ask for more too. They decided to go through a recruiter and you can't believe what they've ended up with. They have gone through 4 candidates in the last year who had all the right skills but acted like they were doing the business a favor by showing up to work.

[MADem]

22. They should recruit OLDER workers, semi-retired, or what have you.

Or maybe offer it as two part time jobs, for parents who don't want to do the fulltime thing...

[Rosemary2205]

24. Our former receptionist was in her 70's.

She took the job at 64 when her body couldn't do warehouse/production work anymore. We want a full timer, and that is for a reason.

Sadly, we are not the only business around who is having problems. We know quite a few with positions that can't seem to get any interest. I know of at least 50 jobs open amongst our customers and/or vendors who have remained unfilled for an extended period of time due to a lack of interested workers.

[MADem]

25. Maybe you can find another 'semi-retired' type who's good for ten years or so... nt

[pitohui]

29. no you can't live in atlanta without a car EOM

/

[libnnc]

2. Well hell, I wish you were in NC

I'd snap that up in a heartbeat.

I'm finishing up my MA in US History and the teaching prospects don't look very good.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. Where in Atlanta is your business located?

I only ask because I would think in the northern 'burbs you'd have no problem filling such a position.

[Rosemary2205]

6. We are about 15 minutes west Centennial Park - right on a major bus route.

A very short ride from the train station.

BTW, I live in the southern burbs. I can tell you $30 a year goes a long way down here, especially considering how incredible our bennies are.

[ulysses]

10. west of downtown,

some folks are probably scared of working in the neighborhood. I used to teach in Vine City - where are you in relation to that?

[Rosemary2205]

11. It's an upscale area.

20 years ago the area was down on it's luck, but there are $half million condos going up everywhere now.

[ulysses]

14. they were going up in Vine City last time I was there.

I know the area's in transition, but perceptions die hard.

[Rosemary2205]

16. We are not anywhere near Vine City.

[ulysses]

17. still, if you're inside the perimeter on the west side,

perception of the neighborhood could be hurting interest in the job. Just a thought.

[Rosemary2205]

19. The ad doesn't say where we are.

It describes the job and the pay. We haven't gotten enough of a nibble to even get far enough to be rejected for location -- AND you'd think if the economy is so bad that millions of people have supposedly given up looking for any sort of job at all they would at least APPLY and come for an interview before deciding they can't take a job because they might bet carjacked.

:eyes:

[ulysses]

23. I don't know, then.

I would suggest, though, that there might be quite a few reasons other than that folks don't want to work.

[Rosemary2205]

26. Another example.

is the legal firm we work with. They are offering over $40 a year for someone to basically sit out front, answer a few incoming calls, sort a little mail, greet visitors etc. They are right in the thick of downtown Atlanta. Last year they spent 7 weeks looking on their own, finally signed with a recruiter and then have gone through 4 people. I know the culture of this company and these folks aren't calling in sick every Monday and Friday because the work or the company is so brutal.

A vending business we work with is begging for delivery drivers. Yes, it's 10 hr days, physical work and hourly pay, but they average $50 a year plus bennies - weekends off, all holidays, 2 weeks vacation first year, full paid health, dental, vision for the whole family and life, disability insurance and matching 401K funds up to 10% gross salary for the employee. People go to work there and never leave so to speak. One of their guys retired and they've had an awful time getting someone dependable to replace him.

Myself and my fellow HR people in Atlanta are all scratching our collective heads.

[Occulus]

40. I'm a postal worker, who would like to do something different

I'm in MI and am not in any sort of a position to relocate, but that vending driver job you described sounds a lot like what I get out of my current job. In fact, the average pay, if it's really as high as you describe, sounds a bit higher than what I make, including benefits.

My advice to you is to ask your letter carrier to spread the word to the casuals they work with (they'll know what you're talking about) that you're looking for someone. You may also want to pass the same info along to the vending company you mentioned- I can guarantee you the casuals I work with would jump at that chance; they're already working those sorts of hours and it's already physical labor for them if they're in the Atlanta plant (IS there a P&DC in Atlanta? I think so...). Holidays and weekends off are things postal casuals generally don't have.

Ditto the above for the law firm. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if all three businesses could make a better offer to a postal casual. Most of them are pretty young where I work, and are only working there to pay for school. Unfortunately, postal managers work them to the point where they literally collapse (this actually happened to one last December, just collapsed right on the workfloor from lack of sleep), and I know I've seen more than one falling asleep over their coursework in the breakroom.

Seriously, ask your letter carrier to spread the word to the casuals. I bet you'll fill the position faster than you may think.

[sandnsea]

4. Wish I lived there

I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. Any way to do the data entry online?

[Rosemary2205]

9. This definitely a have to be there in person job.

Doesn't have much data entry actually - more of a "girl friday" type position.

We have quite a few businesses we interact with that are having the same problem.

[elehhhhna]

38. Do a "temp-to-perm" hire.

Do not get stuck w/ a large conversion fee -- 10% is fair, if you've had the temp on for say, 60 days or so.

There are great employees w/ less-than-great resumes who are temping. Find one.

[uppityperson]

7. k&r for DUers working together. Good luck.

[Red Zelda]

8. I wish you were in Pa.

I can't find shit here that isn't a mall job.

[Habibi]

12. Wow, I'm surprised too!

Especially with benefits. I know that in upstate New York, at least a few years ago, you couldn't get an admin position without specialized training--a liberal arts B.A. wouldn't help you!

That 30 calls an hour would make me pause a bit, though. Some customer service jobs are just brutal. Could that be the problem? I mean, I would really have to be in bad shape to consider working at a call center.

[Rosemary2205]

18. Reception, not customer service - all they have to do is forward it on.

This is a very calm, undemanding job. None of us in this business are stressed out and overloaded - it's part of our culture.

[Habibi]

37. I see.

Well, it sounds like a fine job and I hope you get a qualified applicant soon. I'd consider it myself if you were in my town! Geez, the bennies alone!

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

13. Sounds like a great job

but its a long drive from Hope,AR

[L0oniX]

15. Hire an illegal alien?

:sarcasm:

[RuleOfNah]

20. Work yes, Atlanta no.

Atlanta is thousands of miles away, commuting is impractical for me. Thanks for asking!

Hopefully someone in your area will see your post...

[B Calm]

21. Keeping this kicked!

[stillcool]

27. I'm not sure why you...

or your company is not getting any response, but do you really think it is because "people don't want to work"? Maybe you should check the copy? I don't know your area...I live in the Northeast, but perhaps you should try a temp agency?

[pitohui]

28. lincoln freed the slaves, hon

you couldn't live on $30K a year, well, guess what, neither can anyone else, and you expect the person to be skilled and have a positive attitude when you're raping them up the never-mind?

[NeedleCast]

32. Youc an easily live on 30K a year in Atlanta and the surrounding area

I know half a dozen federal employees who are living very comfortably on 30K in Atlanta. They're not out buying boats and McMansions, but they do fine.

[riderinthestorm]

34. Skilled?? It's an entry level job, requiring a HS diploma and basic HS computer skills

I'm not sure what kind of salary you believe an entry level job entails but the position basically requires someone responsible enough to just show up! Sorry but $30k is sufficient to start.

This is the kind of job that many, many (newly) single mothers USED to claim they would take while they finished their BA degree, or grad students working on their thesis, or semi-retired folks who are bored and want to still work but without stress etc. etc.

I can relate to Rosemary's OP. I too, in my area (western suburbs of Chicago), also find it hard to get employees and I often wonder what "good salary" is supposed to mean. Granted, I am hiring farm workers and ag is it's own separate set of dollars, but my husband works an "outside" job to support our farming operations and while I think he is doing really well, I hear a lot of white noise on DU especially that his salary would be/should be considered "peanuts".

FWIW, I start at $10/hour and I can't even find a single American high school student who will look at doing farm chores for me as an after school job/summer job; this isn't mucking stalls either - it's feeding, working horses, and basic farm maintenance.

Many people will say that teachers are so poorly paid but in my district they are making more than $60k/year average. And I live in a really high cost-of-living area!

I suspect that salary is relative and your demeaning attitude towards those of us (yes, including my husband and thank-you-very-much-we-actually-CAN-make-a-living on whatever you perceive of as) living on 'slave' wages is pretty shitty.

[NutmegYankee]

36. That 60K salary isn't much in a "really high cost-of-living area".

The high cost of living takes it right up. So are the teachers paid well? No.

[treestar]

30. You could petition for a legal immigrant

Look at the Department of Labor web site. There is an immigration category specifically for this problem. Though you'd have to wait a few years for the quota to catch up. Such a great immigration system. :sarcasm:

Of course, you'd need the person to speak English, but many people around the world do.

[ileus]

31. Good luck....

[sheelz]

33. hmmm

i call u

[mnhtnbb]

35. You should cross-post in the GA State Forum.

[elehhhhna]

39. Excellent idea.

[bunkerbuster1]

43. What would she want to talk to THAT band of looooosers?

(kidding.)

[lame54]

41. I already work in Midtown Atlanta

[Ghost in the Machine]

42. I have some friends down that way.. let me do some checking for you..

I've got family in douglasville and friends in the surrounding area..

I'll put the word out..

PEACE!

Ghost

[greymattermom]

44. Seashell Eyes

Seashell Eyes is moving to Atlanta March 1. She'll be a masters student at SCAD Atlanta. She's great at Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop, and can do the rest of it, but she'll be in school part time.

[Cleita]

45. Maybe it's the thirty calls an hour, if you are also expected to

do Word and Excel as well in your spare time. Just sayn' it looks like two jobs there to me. Maybe someone would be interested for $60,000 or you could split it into two $30,000 jobs.

[Rosemary2205]

46. As a receptionist - not as a customer service agent.

All they have to do is determine who the caller needs. We are a very human oriented business. We don't do "press 1 for accounting". Customer care has it's own incoming line anyway. This position would never get those calls. This is a very relaxed low key position.