anyone ever worked with Valmont?

[aczeller]

i got a weld test comming up with them this week sometime... from the sounds of it, i'll be doing irrigation pipe welding with MIG and flux-core. the starting pay is lower than i can handle for an extended period of time, but it would only be for a couple months, which i can handle... i just need to know what the work environment is like, what the pay scale is, the opportunity for advancement, turn-over, etc... the standard stuff.

Later,
Andy

[obewan]

I checked the website, and they list the position in their openings:

http://www.valmont.com/asp/careers/default.asp

They do not state the pay scale. I think there is always something underhanded about companies that refuse to advertise a pay grade in a free market economy. They do it all the time to welding engineers at the AWS website. They will say "salary requirements: OPEN". I suppose it depends on how desperate one is, but if I can afford to wait I for sure won't give them a low ball offer. If they want to attract the best welders, the way to do it is by paying a fair competitive wage and being open up front about it. Otherwise, people are just going to jump ship and increase their recruitment costs.

[aczeller]

well, the staffing agency is saying $12 to start. after 520 working hours, i get hired on direct... unless the company buys me out from the staffing agency. after that, the staffing agency said that the raises were "based on performance" and was throwing out numbers like 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18... but none of my other jobs that i have ever had would boost your pay that well... that's why i'm asking... most other jobs that i have had would only pay an additional $1 MAYBE after hiring full time... most are only a $.25 or $.50 per hour raise. when i go into the test, i am going to talk to them about it... if they are only hinting at a dollar max/average, i am walking out. i am just wondering if anyone has any "inside tips" from them.

Later,
Andy

[obewan]

I did not realize it was a temp to perm position. That is sometimes a good position to be in if you want to keep looking. You have a built in excuse to take a better offer without looking bad. No one will blame you for saying you want to find a perm position, and if it is not at Valmont, it could be somewhere else in a few months.