Can you Negotiate Salary or Relocation with Arizona State Veterans Jobs?

MsBruiser · Dec 8, 2012

A reason to be careful on this board, my friend. It is not the "VA" but the State Veterans Home. State - not federal. Be careful...take everything (including what I write) with a few grains of salt.

MsBruiser · Dec 8, 2012

Then write questions here...all good. No great secrets anyway! Just be careful with the advice you get. It is worth what you pay for it. A lot of information is just flat wrong, though people offer their advice with the best intentions...

AZMOMO2 · Dec 8, 2012

Wow MsBruiser... flame much? How passive aggressive you are! My apologies... I misread the post and concentrated in the Vet part as that is my experience. Needless to say I was wrong and you I defer to you.

Sheesh!

MsBruiser · Dec 8, 2012

Actually not passive aggressive in the least. Nor flaming. Just stating fact. AZ Forum is often the blind leading the blind.

asiangal · Dec 10, 2012

Everyone has good intentions here so no worries. I did have a question though....

Does state run VA's have a graduated pay increase? For example...here in the Midwest....we get 3% increases on our gross pay every year and it caps out around $7k per month base pay (not including shift differential and overtime).

The reason I ask is I noticed on the State of Arizona....the pay range was $25-$30.85......so does that mean it caps at $30.85....or is that the range ($25-$30.85)in which your STARTING pay will sit at (depending on experience)?

Thoughts/Opinions?

P.S. Thanks all for contributing....we all have the best intentions and I'm glad we all respect each other :)

MsBruiser · Dec 10, 2012

Everyone has good intentions here so no worries. I did have a question though....
Does state run VA's have a graduated pay increase? For example...here in the Midwest....we get 3% increases on our gross pay every year and it caps out around $7k per month base pay (not including shift differential and overtime).
The reason I ask is I noticed on the State of Arizona....the pay range was $25-$30.85......so does that mean it caps at $30.85....or is that the range ($25-$30.85)in which your STARTING pay will sit at (depending on experience)?
Thoughts/Opinions?
P.S. Thanks all for contributing....we all have the best intentions and I'm glad we all respect each other :)

Ouch, my bad! :)

Ok - yes there is a pay range but the State of Arizona for many jobs (including RN) does not have "steps" that increases you automatically each year. So think of $30.85 as being the cap. There is nothing automatic. I believe the state of Arizona legislature has not approved a pay raise in about 4 or 5 years. It's not a state VA so much as a facility run by (department name is not exact) Department of Veterans Services. It is adjacent to the federal facility.

asiangal · Dec 10, 2012

So...long term is better to work for a VA Hospital in Arizona or VA Home? Or does it really matter as they are all run under the same umbrella? I thought the VA Home and the VA Hospital were all under the State...correct ? Just wanted to make sure :***:

Thats a negative that $30.85 is the cap....here in the midwest the VA Home you go "through steps" like you say. In looking at the payscale.....I have many "steps" I can go through if I stay. The only problem is that the state I'm in is going broke.....and I rather be in Arizona than in this state should crap hit the fan...and I'm stuck in this state (lol...).

P.S. Hope you understand what I'm saying as an economic title-wave could happen in this country very soon....and would hate to feel stuck here in the midwest. At least a job in AZ could be a vehicle to get us out here.

MsBruiser · Dec 11, 2012

So...long term is better to work for a VA Hospital in Arizona or VA Home? Or does it really matter as they are all run under the same umbrella? I thought the VA Home and the VA Hospital were all under the State...correct ? Just wanted to make sure :***:
Thats a negative that $30.85 is the cap....here in the midwest the VA Home you go "through steps" like you say. In looking at the payscale.....I have many "steps" I can go through if I stay. The only problem is that the state I'm in is going broke.....and I rather be in Arizona than in this state should crap hit the fan...and I'm stuck in this state (lol...).
P.S. Hope you understand what I'm saying as an economic title-wave could happen in this country very soon....and would hate to feel stuck here in the midwest. At least a job in AZ could be a vehicle to get us out here.

Veterans Home (LTC) is run by the State of Arizona. VA Hospital is run by the Federal Government. It is much better to work for the federal VA hospital...our state is very broke, too!

asiangal · Dec 11, 2012

Veterans Home (LTC) is run by the State of Arizona. VA Hospital is run by the Federal Government. It is much better to work for the federal VA hospital...our state is very broke, too!

Haha...not compared to ours. A little research and you can figure out what state I'm in :wacky:

asiangal · Dec 11, 2012

P.S. I'm also wondering...maybe its wise that (if I take the job in Arizona) to take a part-time job at the VA Hospital right next door to where I would be working at. The following are the benefits I see in getting a Part Time job at the VA Hospital::

1) An easier "soft way" to get back in the Hospital Setting. It's been about 3 years since working in the ER (oversees) but they may be more willing to take a chance on me if I go part-time to ease my way back into it.

2) More job security. Federal jobs seem more secure than state jobs (it seems anyway)

3) Higher pay

4) And a job that you can easily move anywhere in the US. I heard on another thread here that (at VA Hospitals anyway) you can are pretty much be marketable to work at any VA Hospital in the country once you work at a VA Hospital in Arizona or any other major state.

Is this wrong thinking Ms. Bruiser ?

MsBruiser · Dec 11, 2012

Haha...not compared to ours. A little research and you can figure out what state I'm in

Must be Michigan - and that is without research! Yeah, c'mon out to AZ!!!

MsBruiser · Dec 11, 2012

P.S. I'm also wondering...maybe its wise that (if I take the job in Arizona) to take a part-time job at the VA Hospital right next door to where I would be working at. The following are the benefits I see in getting a Part Time job at the VA Hospital::
1) An easier "soft way" to get back in the Hospital Setting. It's been about 3 years since working in the ER (oversees) but they may be more willing to take a chance on me if I go part-time to ease my way back into it.
2) More job security. Federal jobs seem more secure than state jobs (it seems anyway)
3) Higher pay
4) And a job that you can easily move anywhere in the US. I heard on another thread here that (at VA Hospitals anyway) you can are pretty much be marketable to work at any VA Hospital in the country once you work at a VA Hospital in Arizona or any other major state.
Is this wrong thinking Ms. Bruiser ?

Your thinking is very good - but here is where I plead ignorance. I don't know if the VA hires part-time...but yes, once you are in the door, you can basically move anywhere there is a job. Their pay and benefits are also superb. Take one stop at a time...seriously!