Exploiting students?

Agenda SG

Have you ever seen or been exploited by people asking you to perform IT stuffs and they are paying you a meagre sum and citing that you're a student?

My friend and I are both year 3 and have finished all our modules except attachment, we are one of the best in the cohort. We've been approached by a 3rd party to construct a large website with its own internal search engine and they offered $300 in total.

Ridiculous? I think so. They cited that "You all still student, not worth much."

So I argued that we are already considered graduated because our gpa won't change anymore and something like that would take a few months to do and for $300 it's too little. My guess is that 2 person rush, we should at least be getting $1000 each for minimal?

Because this website involves the use of some map API.

We're both java programmers and web designers, other than java we have moderate knowledge of many different frameworks and languages such as javaFX to name some.

Thoughts?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

If Google Maps... the API is out there and is FOC. Furthermore, static maps is very easy to do. Probably not going to get paid a lot to do a static map.

But if dynamic map, it's different thing. It depends if you want to use Flash or JavaScript to implement it.

Search... I'm not sure. Written from scratch or using someone else's engine? Using Google's engine is not hard to implement either. But if you are using someone's engine, but they provide you with the APIs to implement, that may either be hard or easy to implement, depending on how complicated it is (both client's needs and what the application can provide).

Clarify with them what they need and see how they want to implement things. If it's borrowed from here and there and writing some simple codes to get it done, not a lot of money...

In my current workplace, adding a search engine (Google), add a Google static map, Google widgets, RSS = half day. Not worth $300 even.

Agenda SG

Hmm, we're supposed to make it like gothere.sg

charlize SG

Can you compete with foreign graduates who will work for less?

Agenda SG

No, and that sucks

charlize SG

Precisely.

The situation now is that you will have to accept whatever low wages you are paid because no matter how good you are, there will always be someone who will do the same job for less money.

Such is the reality of life in singapore today.

XenStar SG

Precisely.

The situation now is that you will have to accept whatever low wages you are paid because no matter how good you are, there will always be someone who will do the same job for less money.

Such is the reality of life in singapore today.

Where is the next Singaporean Hitler..

shrekho SG

This is known as exploit, but on the other hand, he has his reasons. Cut cost for the business is in their roots.

Still, he can go find some china made product and programmer to do it for him, and as long as it works, he don't care.

If it's me, just politely say, sorry, not enough compensation for our time.

XenStar SG

Remember the days where jobs were abundant and people were thinking ever so hard just which job would better suit them? The days in which money and water flowed equally as fast...

Oh wait, I don't remember any of that.

charlize SG

In singapore, the jobs of the future will mainly be casino related.

Service related jobs.

Likely wages will not be too exciting in this industry unless you can think up of niche sectors within this sector to make your mark.

Otherwise, be prepared for another round of wage depression.

Detached SG

My time, it was about $150 per page (static site). Of course if you got a portfolio to show, then value can negotiate lah.. I did a 5 pages flash site for a local restaurant also 1k++ liao, but that included music (garage band), graphics and flash animation/action script lah

Think if give me $300 ask me do website, at best... I'll throw in a custom template, edit a bit, throw in the content, photoshop a few simple pics and that's it.. want simi scripting $300 is really like makan people.. Students inclusive..

Detached SG

Mayi, agree that RSS and static maps aren't worth much.. RSS just a few simple lines.. Static maps machiam upload images nia..

But you've gotta factor in that they've gotta construct a large website from scratch..

MaNyZeR SG

fuck la... haven graduate means haven graduate. No body cares about your GPA when you have not graduated. Where is the prove that you have graduated? If no certs to show, you are still an O level cert holder nia. Understand?

Where are the certs to show that you are qualified in JAVA and other programming skills? No have right? So suck thumb lor, must wait until you got the cert then you can show that you have finally graduated. What if you fail your attachment?

marcos_84 SG

I truely agree. Yes, you might be the best, top, wont affect much blah blah blah, but the fact is that, you still don have the degree.

Why not u do, do a good job, request for a testimonial after that. The next time you find a job, you can always state that as your experience. The long term gains will definitely be greater than the 1k or so. Be positive okay!

PedoBear SG

just tell the customer that you dont work for that amount of money

for $300, maybe he can go hire a bangla to do up his website

dukedracula SG

good that you value yourself much more....however, this is an attachment, part of your course of study...no choice but to just get on with it. i've a friend who became production operator for his time, demeaning but he got over it soon enough, graduated with honours and count that blot as an experience....