I have a letter to write with my resume requesting a dollar amount for a position I applied for. This would be for wedding cake decorating.
I have no clue how much to ask for. I don't want to go to high and have them think I am not worth that much or go too low and get the job because I under value myself. What do you guys think?
Thank you Paula

Is there a way to call around and find out what other businesses are paying people with exp. to start.

Oh i hate that part. MAybe you can call around to other companies to find out their starting pay adn kind of base it off that. Depending on how much experience you have you can either go up or down. Hope this helps

I think I would make some phone calls. Since they're hiring, you could call and ask what the position pays and they might be able to give you a range.

In a class I once took the teacher recommended that we put "open for disscusion" when an application asks for a desired salary amount. It's what i always use. This way you don't put an amount way lower then they are willing to pay and you won't sound too greedy. Decide on what you want or need to get paid before you go on the interview and remember don't sell yourself short!

I agree with jpdesserts. I always put "Negotiable" in the space for expected salary. Puts the ball back in their court! Good luck!

I would do everything you can to find out what the market salary is...and what you need to be happy in the position. I hire folks for my day job and I rarely call anyone in for an interview who doesn't put at least a salary range when requested. I figure if they can't at least tell me up front what they need to make and want to make, they aren't right for the job. Just my two cents. Best of luck to you!

Here is a salary wizard link...hope that helps!

BTW..Good luck!

http://content.salary.monster.com/?WT_srch=1&WT.mc_n=01;CRC;GOO

I used the link and came up with this....
the lowest pay for a pastry chef at a casino..would be ..$35, 862...mediam...$40, 598 and high $58, 135...
the low end you could be earning ...$689.65 a week...
$17.24 an hour for a 40 hour week..does that sound about right for your area?

They didn't have one for a straight up cake decorator, so I used the Pastry Chef...

I would feel comfortable asking anywhere from $10 to $15 dollars an hour...

OR start in the middle...and tell him after your "probation" that you'd prove your skills and expect a raise accordingly.

HTH

I know that my instructor on my first day of class told us that the local grocery store was looking for a decorator and the starting pay was $25 hr