Which job would you choose?

[Creek]

I need some feedback on a job situation. I am torn as to which direction to go (if I am offered both jobs). Input would be helpful. I am just starting out.

Job #1: I had an interview earlier this week at an "integrative" health clinic that specializes in chiropractic. They also offer PT, pilates rehab, and acupuncture as well as massage. Therapists there give 15 minute massages to clients and may see 30-60 people in a week. The job would be 17-20 hours a week, with the option for more hours in the future, employee status, guaranteed pay of $14.00 an hour. Therapists help out in other areas of the clinic if they have downtime. The hours are afternoon-close. There are Saturday rotations of every other week for 3 hours in the morning. I, (and spouse) would get free chiro and acupuncture.

Job #2: I have a mini interview at another chiro office on Monday. This place gives each patient an hour long massage. The therapists get $20/hr. with the possibility of going as high as $25/hr in time. (This sounds kind of low based on what I've learned on the board and from talking to local therapist's who work in this setting). They need someone about about 15-17 hours a week, 3-4 hours a day in the mornings. It's an independent contractor job, but the pay is guaranteed and there is an option to possibly work on the weekends, but not required. This job is a little closer to my house.

Assuming I actually end up with a choice, I'm not sure which job to choose. If I've done the math right, (and that is a big if), the take home after taxes would be about 10.90/hr. on job #1 and $15.60/hr. on job #2. In the long run, it looks like job #2 would pay more. I guess I can't decide which would be the best fit for me until I interview at job #2.

 

[?Kit-Kat?]

I can't make a decision for you, but both have pros and cons.

Not knowing you and your personal life and basing it on just getting out of school and needing to pay the bills, I'd choose #1 as it would be "safer". You'd know exactly what to count on weekly for cash flow in and would still have time to look for out-call clients if you choose too.

The other choice of job IF you had to pick between the two, would be that you'd need to know about how many people really come in per week.

I have a feeling when it all comes down to it, you'd be about even-steven between the two jobs mentioned.

Here's a jumping off point for anyone to tell you how wrong I am!

 

[Neo Draven]

Thanks-Texas gal. Both jobs have guaranteed hours, so I would know ahead of time how much money I'd make in a week.

 

[stanford.designer]

With job #1 I would be concerned with burnout and getting breaks. Have they discussed that with you. Hour after hour of spot work is very hard on your hands and the rest of your body.
I also think they should pay you more per hour, since you are most likely going to be doing massage all day.

With job #2 I would be concerned with the lower rate. If it is lower than the normal rate in your area, I would ask them why. You deserve more. IMO- that is low, but it does depend on what all they are supplying for you too.
Also how much closer to where you live is the office - what gas savings are you looking at?
What about no shows?
I had that problem with the DC I worked for. I had a 30min. drive each way and there were many times the office either didn't call to tell me my client cancelled or the client didn't show up and I had no other appointments. Lots of wasted time and money.

Hope that helps.

 

[ffrr]

I think that both jobs are on the low side but they are offering similar pay than other places I have interviewed at.

Job #2 provides all scheduling and clients. I believe sheets and other supplies as well. The pay is guaranteed so if I was scheduled from 9-12, I would get 3 hours of pay even if I didn't have the clients. It turns out that both jobs are about the same distance from my place. It would be quicker getting to and from job #2 because it would be morning hours, vs. rush hour traffic.

 

[1992-luvinlifegurl]

I work under similar circumstances with the first set of circumstances. My question is do you have opprotunity to do full blown hour massage on the side at either of these places? If you do, that's your bread and butter. I make three times more an hour when I do regular massage because I get a perceneforum.xxxe of the rate that is charged. To me, that would be the deciding factor in either job. While one job may pay more per hour, getting the side massages can greatly make up the difference. Another factor you want to consider too is the free services you and the spouse would receive. That's money in your pocket that you never have to spend.

 

[HI everybody]

Me personally, if I took either one, I'd gravitate toward #2. The pay is low, but all of the hours are mornings which leaves you free to develop your private clients in the more sought-after afternoon and evening hours. Working job #1 would really hinder, IMO, your ability to develop a practice outside of the "job."

I agree with this. Also since the #2 job is supplying you most things and you have the quicker drive (less stress too) then I would probably go with that job.

I just don't like the type of work that job #1 is asking from you.

FWIW, every DC I have worked for gave me free treatments. My husband doesn't go to a DC so I never asked for him to be seen.

 

[Its her]

Which job would you choose?

I need some feedback on a job situation. I am torn as to which direction to go (if I am offered both jobs). Input would be helpful. I am just starting out.

Gessika, I think you have gotten some good advice. You've said that you are just starting out, do you want your own practice? What do you envision yourself doing in a few years, if everything goes well? What is YOUR definition of everything going well?

I think it's important to take the answers to those questions into consideration whenever you have to make a decision like the one you are faced with now. Which job will get you to where you want to go, or is most like what you envision yourself doing?

Now, lets say you want your own practice, than you would want to work at a place that wouldn't freak out that you have your own practice on the side, and doesn't care if you give your business card to a client that you met there because they want you to come to your house and massage them, and grandma.
Perhaps one of these places is a business that strikes you as similar to a type of business you would like to run, then that would be one to pick, so you can pick their brains.

Now, maybe you just aren't sure what you want to do, and want to get out in the workplace, then pick the one that gives you the chance to do the most amount of massage, to continue to develop your palpation skills, and pays you the best. (Certainly taking into consideration, gas costs and perks). All things being equal, then I would also take into consideration a job that has the most reliable schedule, so that you can take another part time job, and/or schedule your own clients, as has been mentioned.

Noel

 

[Alexandra D]

Everyone's given great advice that I can only echo. Number 2 sounds like your body will fare better and you would also have the opportunity to develop your own clientele (for most of us that's where the real money and satisfaction lie). Closer to home is always nice. Gas aside, it's less daily aggravation in traffic. And yeah, it's usual to offer the free services so don't let that sway you. Keep in mind that because they're free it's also usual for them to be not necessarily at your convenience and not nearly as often as you'd like. You'd be a distant second to the paying folk.

What I can add is, have you asked yourself which job you feel better about, deep in your gut? Take out the money and other practical considerations. Consider how you felt with the employers and staff of each place. How you felt in the offices themselves. Which makes you feel more comfortable and confident? Trust your intuition.

 

[Mystery...]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I do have my own practice and I currently rent a space 1x a week on Saturdays. I am hoping to add more days as I build a clientele. I saw my first client at my new space this morning and it went great!

Both jobs know that I have my own practice. I haven't checked with them to see if it would be ok to market myself in their offices or not.

I will have a better idea of which direction is the best for me on Monday when I go to Job #2's office.

 

[barbara b]

From wayyyy above. I got it. I thought you were saying Job #2 was only pay for massages given, not per hour of being at the job. Sorry for the confusion. I've been a little off lately.

Number 2 is a better choice in my opinion too. Please nix my early comment.

 

[missjaimy]

i'd choose #3...ok, so there was no choice of number 3 but i wouldn't take #1 or #2. keep looking. better yet, take the time to build your current practice. how are you going to build your practice if you are working 20 hours at someone else's?? really get motivated and come up with some quick ways to build your business. it'll be better for you.

 

[haunted_horse]

I have been checking various threads about being an employee and how much they are paid.

Sole prac MT's on this board scream and yell about perceneforum.xxxes they dislike and wouldnt work for and the few that do actually hire other MT's.

Queston: How do employers find MT's to work for them?? Employers seem to want to pay 30 to 40% (according to board members) but other MT's scream back,"Dont accept less than X% (most often 50% but I know I read 55% on the board and I think 60% too.)

Am I wrong to assume many MT's work somewhere for a while and then jump ship hoping clients will follow them so they can get the whole chunk instead of a %? Or are there actually some MT's who are perfectly happy to work for someone else forever?

 

[360J]

Greatlakes, I love my job!!! I work as an indie contractor, so I dont' know if you are interested in that or just in employee info.

PM me if you would like details and I would be happy to help you out with info if I can.

 

[.....]

Am I wrong to assume many MT's work somewhere for a while and then jump ship hoping clients will follow them so they can get the whole chunk instead of a %? Or are there actually some MT's who are perfectly happy to work for someone else forever?

I've been an employee at the same clinic for over 14yrs now and I have no intention of "jumping ship" We have another therapist who has been there over 13yrs, another at over 12yrs, another at over 10yrs, another over 5 yrs. Yes, we get therapists who come, work there for a year or so and then leave.....just like any other business, sometimes employees come and go.

Reasons why I stay are:
1) I'm happy there.
2) I'm treated with respect.
3) I like leaving work and being able to leave "work" at work.
4) I like the stability and security.
5) In a business class in massage school we were told that if you do things properly and pay all fees, licenses, taxes etc.... that you could expect to make 50-60% profit if you worked for yourself. I make that now so why should I go through the headaches for what I already make?
6) I've now had 2 surgeries on my shoulder all paid by work/comp. Thank God for w/c because I didn't have any insurance at the time and would have been up sh!+ creek without a paddle!

When I 1st got my license I had no choice but to go to work for someone else. Financially, that was my only option. So, I went to work for the clinic and just never left. I love it there!

One thing that all of us "long-timers" have in common is that none of us want to own our own business. We are perfectly happy just doing our massage and letting someone else deal with the "business" part of the business.

That said, we also know that our sucess is tied to the sucess of the clinic. If it doesn't make money and has to close it's doors, then we're out of a job. So, we are invested in making the business work but our part in making it work is by giving quality massages and making sure that our clients are happy and treated well.

So....why should I leave?? I'm happy there, I'm treated with respect, I work the schedule that I want to work (I have to work "my" schedule but it is the schedule that I chose to work) I make about what I'd make elsewhere, I have complete control over how I do my massages, I love my clients. I have no reason to want to leave.

Over the years through trial and error (plenty of errors) we have learned what to look for in an employee when we do our interviewing. Yes, there are therapists out there who want to simply be an employee and do massage.

As I've stated in other threads, if you choose to have employees treat them well. If you take care of them and are loyal to them....they will treat you and your clients well and be loyal to you. Well....for the most part anyway.
:roll:
As in anything else, there will always be those who treat you bad even though you've been very good to them.....that's just life.

Angie