I'm thinking of applying for a job at the local Gateway store.

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m graduating college in December, with an MIS degree. I haven’t really been looking for jobs much, and haven’t applied for any yet. I’m still kind of unsure of what exactly I want to do for a career, and I’m looking for a job to kind of bridge the gap til I find out. The part-time job I have now, has nothing to do with IT and pays very little, and I don’t have any IT job experience. So, I’m thinking of applying to work at the local Gateway store.

I’d be applying for either full or part time work (preferably full-time), and probably any position they have available, although I’d assume it would probably end up being a salesperson (I think Solutions Advisor is their title for it). I figure this would be a great time to apply since the holiday season is comming up.

I’d like to get some input on working for Gateway if possible. Hopefully someone here has worked there or knows someone who has or whatever.

My main question: How is it working for Gateway? In general are they good to work for? Do they treat their employees fairly?

Second question: How much can I expect to make there, at least to start with? I’ve got about a year of related experience as an electronics salesperson at an office supply store, but that was like 3 years ago. I have some less directly related experince more recently. I will have a college degree either before or soon after I would start working there. I’m sure at some point they’d ask me how much I’d want to make or tell me what the position pays or whatever. I’d expect that they will have some flexibility as to what they can offer me. How much will they offer me, or how much should I ask for?

Third question: If I do apply here, and assuming I get an interview, what kind of thigs would they be looking for? Anything I should or shouldn’t do or say during an interview process with Gateway? I’m thinking specifically about interviewing with Gateway here, not really interviews in general.

Last question: What kind of opportunites to advance are there? Although at this time, I’m kind of applying for this job as something to hold me over til I find a “career job”, it isn’t out of the question that I would stay at Gateway for a while, or even long term if the situation was right. Would this be the kind of place I could make a career at? Would I be able to move up, or make decent money long term there? This isn’t that important to me, since I’m not really counting on this job for the long term.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

2

Gateway used to be a really good company to work for, but no longer, IMO. For the record, I was fired 7 months ago from a gateway store, because a supervisor didn’t like me and made up an excuse. This happened with the manager’s knowledge and approval. Then again, it depends a lot on the manager - they have quite a bit of autonomy in running the store.

Now, for more objective facts: technicians start in the neighborhood of $15/hr, and have almost zero opportunity for advancement. Frankly, it’s mindless grunt repair work, not very rewarding at all, and no place at all for somebody with an MIS degree. Neither is sales.

On the other hand, it’s better than McDonald’s, I guess.

3

I have a friend who worked selling computers at a Gateway store for about a year. He hated it. He quit. He’s never been happier.

That’s all I’ve got.

4

Here in KC techs are being hired at starting pay of between $11-12.50/hr, depending on experience. NO ONE gets hired for the larger amount. A friend of mine who used to work for Gateway as a senior tech and then as a technical advisor for the sales dept reapplied for a position just as a regular tech the other week. This guy knows his stuff, had an exemplary record while he was at Gateway and was downsized for reasons that were not his fault. He was offered $11.25/hr.

Of course, my whole dept was outsourced from Gateway with almost no warning in the fall of 2000. Our options were either to hire on with the company that was taking the contract, at a somewhat lower wage, or be laid off without any compensation at all. When I caught both companies in lies about several things, I decided that I had had enough with the whole mess, and took the layoff option 30 seconds before the changeover.

When I first started with Gateway, they were a great company. Unfortunately, they went downhill fast from '96 to 2000, and they don’t seem to have gotten much better, at least according to the several friends I have that still work there.

5

Yeah, I started in december 1997 in the Rio Rancho tech support center - one of the ones that was downsized and outsourced - then transfered to one of the stores in NJ (which would explain the difference in pay rate). And things really sucked while Weitzen was in charge. Seemed like he was actively trying to kill the company.

And with today’s $3.73 stock price, I’d say that he came pretty damn near his objective.

6

Thanks for the info everyone, it is appreciated. It doesn’t sound like Gateway is the greatest place to work, but I’ll still probably apply, since its at least better than the part time job I have now.

I actually would have applied by now, but their online application system keeps crashing. I’ve tried different browsers and have gotten different problems, but never been able to complete an application. I’m going to try again later, and if it still doesn’t work I’ll probably go down to the actual store and see about filling out a paper application or something.

7

Oh yeah, any more input how much this job may pay? Especially the Solutions Advisor or salesperson position? I do have a little less than a year of retail sales experience, selling computers and electronics at an office store, and I would also have a bachelor’s degree. I would hope to make at least $10/hr. Do they pay on commision? I’d rather not work on commision actually, since I wouldn’t want to be tempted to sell stuff to people who didn’t need it.

The tech job actually appeals more to me than the sales job, but I’m just not sure I would be qualified for it. I haven’t done much work building or repairing PC’s, but I do think I could learn fairly quicky. If I could get that job, it sounds like I’d start at a little over $10, but the job kind of sucks right?

8

well, like I said, in NJ technicians start in the neighborhood of $15/hour (but never what you’re really worth), and sales associates make $9/hr + commission.

This will vary regionally.

9

$11-$15/hr ? Is that all? How come computer stores charge $75 an hour & up for tech work?