Interviewee says company offered him $12.50 hourly wage for assistant manager role, sparks debate

Low pay is a deal breaker for many employees. It is quite demotivating for workers to know that while they toil every day doing their job, the employer does not value their efforts. Sometimes, simply knowing about the low pay can repel a prospective employee from taking a job right after the interview. That was the case for Isaiah Kirby–who goes by @dreamtwist on TikTok–when he went for an interview at one of the largest retail chains in the country. Sharing his disbelief over the scanty hourly wage, Kirby posted a video asking people to suggest alternative jobs. 

The 25-year-old began his rant by saying, "I'm beginning to think everyone's just doomed." Throughout the video, Kirby was in a state of anguish about the unfair living conditions of today, particularly for people who are unemployed like him. It was just after he finished an interview for an assistant manager position at a retail chain in his town. In the middle of the interview, the interviewer told him, "I'm sorry to let you know this. I understand if this makes you not interested anymore. But this position pays $12.50 an hour." While this was already a skimpy amount, Kirby wanted to know if there was a pay raise in case of a promotion. 

The interviewer informed him that, even if he was promoted to a store manager position, he would only get a raise of 25 cents an hour, which is $12.75. Kirby said, "I love retail. I used to make a lot of money in retail," and asked, "Where did that go?" He pointed out how the cost of living has risen so much now, saying, "Everything is more expensive now and they just get away with that because people have to spend money on things they need." Kirby couldn't believe that despite charging people so much for basic needs, retail stores couldn't pay enough for their employees. Having no time to learn new skills like trading, coding or welding while also earning enough to sustain himself, Kirby expressed how helpless people like him were.

"I have no opportunity. No factories here are hiring. I live in the middle of the mountains. There's nothing," said Kirby. Pointing out that he had previously lost his job at a Walmart due to an injury, Kirby sought help from his followers about job opportunities. Hinting at today's dire economic situations, Kirby wrote in the caption, "I would ask 'What is going on?' but I know exactly what is going on." With over 642K views, his video went wildly viral online and people joined Kirby in his rant. Some also suggested alternative job options for him.

"This is why they should post salary in the job posting. They're wasting everyone's time," wrote @tripadelic_. "I was offered my old position at a job from 20 years ago for the same pay as 20 years ago," commented @letsstartover711. "HR give themselves big raises. Upper management gets big raises every year. Less for the actual worker making the money for the company," wrote @nononoko0. "Construction is better pay, starting out laborers make $150. But after learning the skills, it goes up, averaging $300 a day," suggested @marymcginnis79.

You can follow Isaiah Kirby (@dreamtwist) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on March 5, 2024. It has since been updated.