Got hired...

I agree with the "good luck" girl. Make the most of it. Don't complain like the rest of them.
Great luck

[JGATZ]

Well, thank you for the responses. I am one of those people who likes to hear both sides of the story before making any decision. I find I'm much better educated that way and won't find myself shocked... With that said, I will ask to see a breakdown of the salary and all necessary paperwork before committing to anything. Yes, the recruitment process was a little ambiguous since I had to ask for the details of the salary, benefits, hours etc. rather than coming in and being given a sheet of paper with it all broken down like most places do it. Yes, the hours of the store do not match up with the hours they say I will be working since most branches open at 7:30AM and close at 6:00PM. I would imagine we would have to be in at 7:00 AM at the latest to prepare for the day and wouldn't get out until at least 6:30PM most likely. Therefore, the hours would be more like 11.5 hours a day at 57.5 hours a week excluding the three hours they are open on Saturdays. It seems to be more like 60 hours a week when one really breaks it down. Therefore, the 32K is based on working 60 hour weeks not 50 hour weeks with promotions included? Yes, that is not good considering my girlfriend got a job offer with an accountancy firm doing auditing for 54K a year plus a 3K signing bonus and other bonuses throughout the year. She will be making minimum 57K right out of school. I will graduate with above a 3.7 GPA but with a degree in psychology, so I'm a bit more limited than she is. It just doesn't seem fair...

[JGATZ]

Oh yeah, what's this idea of not being given any breaks? I thought it was against the law not to be given at least a lunch break if you are working a certain number of hours throughout the day. I am one of those people who has to eat every few hours, or I feel sick. I also work out a lot, so that would explain it.

[JGATZ]

Last thing, I am sure my recruiter has probably posted on here, which is fine. Like I said, I like to hear all sides of the story...

I can't speak for everyone, but in the group that I worked in, I would say most people didn't get/take breaks. At least no way on a regular basis. I assume it is based on staffing, but it always seemed like our area was short staffed, which means not enough people to cover and run branches, which means no lunch breaks. I was there for just under 2 years. I got a normal lunch break (got to leave the office) about 1 to 2 days a week. My managers would almost never take one.

When I would run our satellite office (smaller office in a different location, but still run by a larger office), I would never get a lunch break. They'll buy you lunch if you don't get a break, but most of the time you end up eating it in a hurry while you are answering phones or between customers.

It really all depends on how well the office you end up working at is staffed and who your manager is. You could get lucky and end up getting a full break on most days. When I was an assistant, on days when my manager wasn't there, I would do everything I could to get the MTs, MAs, etc to have their lunch breaks because I hated not being able to get mine. And after a few months of working 11 hour days with no breaks and a few saturdays a month, it gets hard to force yourself to hit the gym. I reccomend just going right from work, because if you go home first, you will just end up crashing.

[whatdude]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I can't speak for everyone, but in the group that I worked in, I would say most people didn't get/take breaks. At least no way on a regular basis. I assume it is based on staffing, but it always seemed like our area was short staffed, which means not enough people to cover and run branches, which means no lunch breaks. I was there for just under 2 years. I got a normal lunch break (got to leave the office) about 1 to 2 days a week. My managers would almost never take one.

When I would run our satellite office (smaller office in a different location, but still run by a larger office), I would never get a lunch break. They'll buy you lunch if you don't get a break, but most of the time you end up eating it in a hurry while you are answering phones or between customers.

It really all depends on how well the office you end up working at is staffed and who your manager is. You could get lucky and end up getting a full break on most days. When I was an assistant, on days when my manager wasn't there, I would do everything I could to get the MTs, MAs, etc to have their lunch breaks because I hated not being able to get mine. And after a few months of working 11 hour days with no breaks and a few saturdays a month, it gets hard to force yourself to hit the gym. I reccomend just going right from work, because if you go home first, you will just end up crashing.

Pretty much hit it right on the head. If you get lucky and are at a branch with a good manager and decent size staff you'll get a lunch break most days. And the gym thing is so true. It's doable, but tough. I went from 5-6 days a week in college to struggling to get 3 in when I worked for Enterprise. It all depends on your priorities though, if you're dedicated enough you'll still get there, but it does get harder and harder after awhile.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You will work long, hard hours. You first year you will only make 32-35K. You will also learn how to run your own business which is not easy. You should be in this for the long term. Give it 5years and if you are not loving life then look for a new career. If you give it your all, and accept you will make certain social sacrifices then you will do great.
Good luck

to the new hire, watch out for bullshitters like this clown.
it's not a bad job for a few months to a year...anything longer than that though is waste of valuable time.
the longer you stay at erac getting "promoted" the further behind you will be when you finally leave ERAC.
I left ERAC at the age of 28 after managing two different locations...while i was successful at erac, that did not carry over into the outside world.
while i was changing peoples lives and renting them aveos, my peers were making real money and learning a real trade/career. a bit tough to catch up when all you have is renting cars on your resume.
don't do what i did, don't stay past the age of 23-25.
and please don't buy into the fodder of "running your own business"
you most certainly are not...everything you do is dictated from above.
from the rates you charge, to the clothes you wear, to the phone greeting, to your operating hours...everything is micromanaged.
give it 5 yrs, like i did, and you will most likely find yourself as a overworked and haggard BM making $38-65k with little free time outside of renting cars.
don't make the mistake i did

Sigh...

[JGATZ]

Any other job suggestions with someone with a BA in psychology? I would like to go back to school in a year or so.

Originally Posted by JGATZ

Any other job suggestions with someone with a BA in psychology? I would like to go back to school in a year or so.

masters degree
were are in the same boat diploma wise
i chose the army to further my education
money wasn't there and my liberal arts degree wasn't cutting it
if anything, erac demonstrated to me what i don't want to do