Mauna Kea

[AKpilot]

Hello!

A while back I saw a posting for an aircraft spotter position for Gemini. I remember that someone here works on the summit. Any non-techinacal jobs around you can think of. I have been checking the sites regularly.

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[Carey]

Keck just had a laser spotter position, but it looks like that is filled (many of the Mauna Kea non-tech positions are offered through RCUH or MaunaKeaJobs:
http://www.maunakeaastronomyjobs.org/

One of the best job listing site is at UH:
http://career.uhh.hawaii.edu/HI_jobs_student.php

[AKpilot]

yeah I saw that position a couple months ago, but was happily employed back then. My position was just automated and I am out of a job. I would be super qualified for the spotted position.

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[unknownjulie]

AK, how did your job get automated? Just keep your eye out for jobs. I am getting calls on a daily basis to work, but I am already working fulltime for the state now. (and yes, paying huge amounts into both the bankrupt social security funds, and the near-bankrupt state pension funds- that I will probably not benefit from) The job situation over-all seems pretty good on the island- in spite of the lack of retirement issues.

[David M]

quote:

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Originally posted by unknownjulie

AK, how did your job get automated? Just keep your eye out for jobs. I am getting calls on a daily basis to work, but I am already working fulltime for the state now. (and yes, paying huge amounts into both the bankrupt social security funds, and the near-bankrupt state pension funds- that I will probably not benefit from) The job situation over-all seems pretty good on the island- in spite of the lack of retirement issues.

---

f

You forgot to mention sucking off the taxpayer teat. Honestly, your negative SS position is old, tiring, and plain BS - GROW UP.

My apologies to to normal working and retired people here.

Rob, feel free to delete if you wish.

David

Ninole Resident
Please visit vacation.ninolehawaii.com

[unknownjulie]

Ok, David, Let's review the math

I take home 900 dollars twice a month. This is after 8 % is taken out for the State of Hawaii Retirees, and 8% is taken out for SS security. Then, my employer also has to match my 8%. (State of Hawaii)
Total of 24%.


Then I will also pay any income or sales tax that is due

How exactly am I living off of the "taxpayer teat"??? t

[AKpilot]

Hey,

The airline I was working for went out of business, so I took a job operating a weather station in the remote Arctic....the weather station was fully Automated, with no heads up to me, sadly , thus I am looking for work. No worries, I am sure I will find something soon enough. I have a good attitude and great qualifications; I have no doubt something will come my way. The Universe always provides!


We're all here, because we're not all there!

[unknownjulie]

Sorry to hear this AK! That does sound interesting though about the remote weather station.
I went and found my actual last pay stub. My gross pay was 1382 and I took home 942. The only thing I had taken out for me, was medical of 120 dollars. The rest went to SS, medicare, State of Hawaii Pension plan, and state and federal taxes (I'll get back the state and federal taxes since I"m poor). Then my employer (State of Hawaii) also has to pay a matching (I think) percentage into the SS system.
The taxes I will actually pay are the sales taxes for purchases throughout the year, and property taxes on my house and land.

[Guest]

Well then shut up. Some of us are getting ****ed a lot worse. Address the real problem and stop bitching about your long end of the stick. No doubt you voted for and support the violent philosophies that are ****ing us all, red or blue.

Sorry about your job AK. Appreciate your attitude, although I do not share your optimism in the short term.

[TomK]

AK - I'm probably the person you're thinking off when you say "I remember that someone here works on the summit" although these days I don't spend much time up there, unfortunately. I'm a little puzzled by your request for non-technical jobs on the mountain as I imagine you have many qualifications that may (or may not) be relevant to some positions that involve work on the summit, but of course I don't have all the facts. I suspect the plane spotting positions that come up from time to time might not be what you're really looking for, but of course I don't know you. They aren't jobs I'd be interested in, for instance, and they basically involve looking for aircraft at night in a specific area and reporting them to the observatories so they can shut down laser operations. It doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me but everyone's different.

Many summit jobs require expertise in certain areas (e.g., technical expertise in electronics or mechanical work) although not always at a very high level, and many observatories will consider equivalent experience rather than actual qualifications in the area. Positions such as telescope operators come up from time to time and these often require a 4-year degree but not necessarily in astronomy, physics or a physical science, and again, equivalent experience is often considered (I know we have employed operators in the past whose experience in other areas more than outweighed academic qualifications).

If you want, and it's completely up to you, feel free to drop me a line (pm via punaweb ought to work) and let me know what qualifications you have and your experience. I might be able to offer some more specific advice if a mountain job is really on your mind. Bear in mind the TMT might start operations in a few years and they will be looking for staff, but that may be too far in the future for you.

Sorry I didn't reply earlier to this thread - have only just got back to the islands and am not yet back on the Big Island!

(Edited for the odd "long-day" induced typos)