# Looking for advice on job applications/interviews **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800 "2010-09-23T18:51:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/1 "2010-09-23T18:51:37Z")
I retired this year. And already I’m getting bored. So I’ve applied at a couple of places for jobs. Nothing major - cashier type jobs at stores. But one issue I’ve run into are questions about my expected wages. Quite honestly, I have no expectations. In my last job, which I held for all of my adult life, my wages were negotiated by a statewide union and enacted by law - I had no personal voice in the process. Now I see questions asking me how much I would expect to make. Does it matter what I say? Or do most businesses have a standard rate they pay their low level employees? I’m not looking to get a higher wage but I’d feel stupid if everyone else was getting paid ten dollars an hour and I’m only getting paid eight because I was dumb enough to say I’d work for that. And these are just the applications - I haven’t been called for any interviews yet. If I go and I’m asked what wages I’d like at an interview, what should I say? The honest answer is that I’d like whatever the normal wages are. But does that sound stupid? I don’t even know what the normal wages are for jobs like I’m applying for. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/2 "2010-09-23T18:52:53Z")
I used to put “Negotiable” in the space provided on an application. I have no idea if the hiring manager viewed that positively, negatively, or neutrally, though. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/3 "2010-09-23T18:59:03Z")
Cashier type jobs are minimum wage type jobs, no? Maybe if you’re expected to do other duties or help customers it might be a few bucks higher. NY minimum wage appears to be $7.25 an hour. I guess saying 8 - 10 bucks would be OK. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/4 "2010-09-23T18:59:33Z")
“commenserate with market wages for the role” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/5 "2010-09-23T20:06:47Z")
The application I filled out yesterday was online and didn’t have an option for write-in answers. So I put in $7.00 - 8.00, which encompasses the minimum wage in NY. My concern is that if I say I’m willing to negotiate, the obvious response will be “Okay, what’s your offer?” and I have no idea what I should ask for. The alternative would be for me to say I’ll take whatever’s fair, which would potentially leave me getting whatever they feel like offering. Is there anyway I can find out what actual existing wages are? And what are wage practices - do most businesses have standard wages for low-level positions or are they negotiated on a case-by-case basis? ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/6 "2010-09-23T20:17:00Z")
> **[Retail Cashier Hourly Pay in 2025 | PayScale](https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Retail_Cashier/Hourly_Rate)** > > The average hourly pay for a Retail Cashier is $13.56 in 2025. Visit PayScale to research retail cashier hourly pay by city, experience, skill, employer and more. This is nationwide. > [@](#): > > Popular Employers Hourly Rate > > Wal-Mart Stores, Inc $8.06 - $9.98 > The Home Depot Inc. $8.51 - $10.47 > Target Corporation $7.68 - $8.73 > Lowe’s Home Improvement Inc. $8.58 - $10.38 > Wal-Mart Supercenters $8.17 - $10.18 ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/7 "2010-09-23T21:48:37Z")
I have found write “Open” if at all possible. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-job-applications-interviews/554800/8 "2010-09-23T22:20:16Z")
Some places will say do not write “open” or anything like that. I suppose if you ignore that request your application will get tossed in the trash. Or at least put at the bottom of the pile.