I need your job guidance.
January 5, 2015 3:19 PM Subscribe
Should I take a less-than-ideal job?
Okay, I'm just going to lay everything about my situation out here. If you just want the details of the job, skip down to the bolded heading below.
I was just offered a job. Hooray! I have been minimally employed since a seasonal position ended in September. I have been working two part time jobs for around 20 hours a week, bringing in almost but not quite enough to live on (though somewhat painfully). I also freelance off and on which I can and should buckle down about doing more of.
The $200 or so gap each month has been picked up by a credit card (a 0% APR card, which currently has a $1500 balance for what it's worth. This is my only debt.) Not ideal, but I enjoy both of the jobs and my commute is minimal. Also I have health insurance--thanks obamacare! I will be able to return to the full time seasonal position I had last summer again if I wish from May-September which I loved and was a really great professional experience for me.
I have been looking for a full-time job since September. Had a fair number of interviews but this is the first offer I've received that was for more than 10-15 hours a week. I'm in a state with super high unemployment. I do feel that I have been close to getting a few of the full time jobs I've interviewed for, I don't think it's hopeless.
The Job
It is with a very large national nonprofit organizing and coordinating an afterschool program drawing kids from multiple schools in the region and supervising staff. This part is fine, I think it would be an interesting enough job and I would have the freedom to do interesting programming.
However, it comes with the following negatives:
-It is not full time--34 hours a week. *eye roll*
-It pays only $11 an hour. If taken in absence of the other negatives this is doable for me, I could live on it. However, with the other negatives, I'm not sure it's worth it.
-It would be a 20-30 minute commute both ways.
-It is a split shift, 7am-6pm with around 4 hours of break in the middle (ugh). Did I mention the 30 minute commute? So, no idea what I would do for that time.
-It is in a very well off community. This is a factor because I will not be able to afford to do anything there during my break and also because I am so much less impressed with the idea of making $11 an hour serving this community versus the $10-15 an hour I make now serving communities where families are struggling and there just isn't the money to pay more for enrichment activities.
-The interviewer, who I actually really liked and who would be my supervisor, was not filling me with confidence about this job. The more questions I asked, the less excited I became. She said things like 'If you want a challenge, this is the job for you," and "I love my staff, that's the only reason I'm still here."
-I've worked for this organization before in a different state and it was far and away the worst job I've ever had. I assume this is going to vary from site to site... but maybe not completely?
Positives:
It would pay enough for me to live on. So that's always good.
There is potential room for advancement, though not exactly in the direction I want to go.
Any thoughts are appreciated!
Okay, I'm just going to lay everything about my situation out here. If you just want the details of the job, skip down to the bolded heading below.
I was just offered a job. Hooray! I have been minimally employed since a seasonal position ended in September. I have been working two part time jobs for around 20 hours a week, bringing in almost but not quite enough to live on (though somewhat painfully). I also freelance off and on which I can and should buckle down about doing more of.
The $200 or so gap each month has been picked up by a credit card (a 0% APR card, which currently has a $1500 balance for what it's worth. This is my only debt.) Not ideal, but I enjoy both of the jobs and my commute is minimal. Also I have health insurance--thanks obamacare! I will be able to return to the full time seasonal position I had last summer again if I wish from May-September which I loved and was a really great professional experience for me.
I have been looking for a full-time job since September. Had a fair number of interviews but this is the first offer I've received that was for more than 10-15 hours a week. I'm in a state with super high unemployment. I do feel that I have been close to getting a few of the full time jobs I've interviewed for, I don't think it's hopeless.
The Job
It is with a very large national nonprofit organizing and coordinating an afterschool program drawing kids from multiple schools in the region and supervising staff. This part is fine, I think it would be an interesting enough job and I would have the freedom to do interesting programming.
However, it comes with the following negatives:
-It is not full time--34 hours a week. *eye roll*
-It pays only $11 an hour. If taken in absence of the other negatives this is doable for me, I could live on it. However, with the other negatives, I'm not sure it's worth it.
-It would be a 20-30 minute commute both ways.
-It is a split shift, 7am-6pm with around 4 hours of break in the middle (ugh). Did I mention the 30 minute commute? So, no idea what I would do for that time.
-It is in a very well off community. This is a factor because I will not be able to afford to do anything there during my break and also because I am so much less impressed with the idea of making $11 an hour serving this community versus the $10-15 an hour I make now serving communities where families are struggling and there just isn't the money to pay more for enrichment activities.
-The interviewer, who I actually really liked and who would be my supervisor, was not filling me with confidence about this job. The more questions I asked, the less excited I became. She said things like 'If you want a challenge, this is the job for you," and "I love my staff, that's the only reason I'm still here."
-I've worked for this organization before in a different state and it was far and away the worst job I've ever had. I assume this is going to vary from site to site... but maybe not completely?
Positives:
It would pay enough for me to live on. So that's always good.
There is potential room for advancement, though not exactly in the direction I want to go.
Any thoughts are appreciated!
If you can stay on-site, you can use the 4 hours to beef up your freelance work.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:31 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Ideefixe at 3:31 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Agreed. It's easier to find a job when you already have a job.
Those four hours might end up being really beneficial -- could you work on your freelance during that time?
posted by mochapickle at 3:31 PM on January 5, 2015
Those four hours might end up being really beneficial -- could you work on your freelance during that time?
posted by mochapickle at 3:31 PM on January 5, 2015
If you can get a new, better job in May, I'd take it and grit my teeth to get through. Compound interest is a wonderful employee but a terrible boss, and I'd take the increased wages and apply them to that debt. Having more money coming in is always good. And if it's really that terrible, you have only 5 more months to put up with it.
There are downsides, but the upside of having enough to live on is a very high one.
posted by Solomon at 3:32 PM on January 5, 2015
There are downsides, but the upside of having enough to live on is a very high one.
posted by Solomon at 3:32 PM on January 5, 2015
Does the job cost you more to have it than it does to not have it? I'd make the decision based on that alone at this point. If it's money to live on and you're getting desperate and unemployment is through the roof.... you'd need good reasons NOT to take it rather than to take it. And yeah, that's what cafes and libraries are for for those four hours in the middle.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:33 PM on January 5, 2015
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:33 PM on January 5, 2015
This sounds like a murder by suicide job, where they're just burning out and burning through people to staff an unsustainable role. I would not take this job unless you're OK with quitting to do your summer gig.
posted by DarlingBri at 3:34 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 3:34 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Can't stay on site, library is open part of that time. Could freelance and work 7am-6pm plus an hour commute but the idea makes me want to jump out a window, honestly.
I don't think that my lack of a full time job is hurting my chances of getting interviews. I get interviews for most things I apply for. It's the interview stage that I am not having great luck with. One of the part time jobs in particular is professional and doesn't really make it obvious that I'm only working 10 hours a week at it.
posted by geegollygosh at 3:36 PM on January 5, 2015
I don't think that my lack of a full time job is hurting my chances of getting interviews. I get interviews for most things I apply for. It's the interview stage that I am not having great luck with. One of the part time jobs in particular is professional and doesn't really make it obvious that I'm only working 10 hours a week at it.
posted by geegollygosh at 3:36 PM on January 5, 2015
I feel like I'm speaking from not enough information, but I'd say take the job with express purpose of quitting it and finding something better. The four hours is the time you'll need to freelance, look for another job and get to and from interviews. It'll be a lot easier if you look at it as short-term.
posted by cnc at 3:45 PM on January 5, 2015
posted by cnc at 3:45 PM on January 5, 2015
Response by poster: After back-of-the-envelope calculations, I would take home approximately $70 more/week after taking out the additional taxes and factoring in gas and a very small (probably overly optimistic) amount in car wear and tear. However, I would also be working/commuting nearly twice as many hours and that would definitely cut into my time for job searching, interviewing and freelancing. However, I would have 4 built in hours as people have pointed out.
I would not feel great about quitting in May for my other gig. I might do it, but I would feel bad about it. The natural end-point of the job so as not to disrupt programming would be late June at the break between school and summer programming.
I apologize if it seems like I'm arguing with advice! I'm just trying to address things that people have brought up. I'll sit back now unless there's a specific question anyone has for me.
posted by geegollygosh at 4:06 PM on January 5, 2015
I would not feel great about quitting in May for my other gig. I might do it, but I would feel bad about it. The natural end-point of the job so as not to disrupt programming would be late June at the break between school and summer programming.
I apologize if it seems like I'm arguing with advice! I'm just trying to address things that people have brought up. I'll sit back now unless there's a specific question anyone has for me.
posted by geegollygosh at 4:06 PM on January 5, 2015
While you're still here, can you verify that there is really no place to camp out in Richville? Even at the nicest cafe, tea still only costs $3. You say the library is open part of the time. Could you fill the gap by sitting in your car writing cover letters in a notebook or reading a book or returning calls about freelancing? (You're going to spend one hour in your car either way.)
Your mention of high unemployment makes me think you should take this at least as a temporary thing, though it sounds awful, unfortunately. And I wouldn't be 100% sure about this seasonal job, as you just never know what can happen.
posted by slidell at 4:26 PM on January 5, 2015
Your mention of high unemployment makes me think you should take this at least as a temporary thing, though it sounds awful, unfortunately. And I wouldn't be 100% sure about this seasonal job, as you just never know what can happen.
posted by slidell at 4:26 PM on January 5, 2015
Best answer: The interviewer, who I actually really liked and who would be my supervisor, was not filling me with confidence about this job. The more questions I asked, the less excited I became. She said things like 'If you want a challenge, this is the job for you," and "I love my staff, that's the only reason I'm still here."
It sounds like she is striking a good balance where she is really honest with you about the difficulty of the job, while remaining as upbeat as possible. It sounds like she would protect you and the other staff from the negatives of the job as much as she can. Maybe she could become a mentor, who would help you advance from this job into something you actually would want long-term.
I've had jobs before where nothing about it was what I wanted, except that I had a really good and supportive boss, and those jobs were overall worth it to me for a few months until I found something better.
posted by Bentobox Humperdinck at 4:30 PM on January 5, 2015
It sounds like she is striking a good balance where she is really honest with you about the difficulty of the job, while remaining as upbeat as possible. It sounds like she would protect you and the other staff from the negatives of the job as much as she can. Maybe she could become a mentor, who would help you advance from this job into something you actually would want long-term.
I've had jobs before where nothing about it was what I wanted, except that I had a really good and supportive boss, and those jobs were overall worth it to me for a few months until I found something better.
posted by Bentobox Humperdinck at 4:30 PM on January 5, 2015
I wouldn't take it if you can't hack freelancing during those extra four hours a day. Keep your two part-time things and start selling your plasma; this site says you can make up to an extra $280 a month doing that, which will cut out the need to go into debt.
posted by jabes at 4:32 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jabes at 4:32 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Honestly, you don't seem excited about this job, and that's fine! People don't shine at jobs they don't like, and honestly the split shift thing would really bug me too, especially if it really means that you'll be continuing to work during that time, which...it sounds like you might. The fact that you went in excited and got less and less enthused even though you liked your interviewer is a big red flag to me.
Can you put some of the time you have now into trying to turn your cash flow positive via freelance work? I feel like if you weren't going into the red there wouldn't even be a question here. Or do some dogwalking, or babysitting. $200 a month is not that much of a shortfall; you can make that up somewhere.
On the other hand, having an offer in hand where you feel like the negatives put you in dealbreaker territory is the PERFECT time to negotiate. Would getting $13 or $14 an hour make it worth it to you? Ask for that. The worst they can say is no to you, and you're already inclined to say no to them.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 4:35 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Can you put some of the time you have now into trying to turn your cash flow positive via freelance work? I feel like if you weren't going into the red there wouldn't even be a question here. Or do some dogwalking, or babysitting. $200 a month is not that much of a shortfall; you can make that up somewhere.
On the other hand, having an offer in hand where you feel like the negatives put you in dealbreaker territory is the PERFECT time to negotiate. Would getting $13 or $14 an hour make it worth it to you? Ask for that. The worst they can say is no to you, and you're already inclined to say no to them.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 4:35 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Not sure if I should throw in a 2 cent opinion into this, because I don't really think about jobs the way that many people do, but these would be my thoughts. These are rhetorical questions in here for you, too, not necessarily things that you have to tell us.
Over all thoughts:
• Money. I did read your calculations, and if I understand the blurb above, you are currently at a $200/month deficit. Whether you take this then depends on - how sustainable this is for you (ie, in the summer are you likely to start getting out of debt?), and how anxious you are about money. When I have started having negative deficits with money, I get very nervous ... but I don't know what your long term course/plan is.
• This potential job. To be honest, I think it will be horrible based on many things that you said. You mentioned that you know the company (bad reputation), the interviewer couldn't sell that job to you (yes, this is important to me when I interview), the 34 hours/week thing plus minimal wage doesn't say much to me about a company...but that's me.
These are the questions and things that you might want to think about:
• What are your long term career goals (ie, 5 years from now)? What would be your ideal job? The reason that I pose this question is you might want to evaluate what skills you can acquire from a job .. and whether it leads you to a place that you want to go. Do your other jobs provide new skills that you can learn or slap on your resume? Does this job offer skills that would help you get there?
• What about your freelance - my guess is that 4 hours/day (and interrupted 4 hours/day) would be very difficult to grab freelance work. Can you pull in more per $ with freelance? Can you grab work that makes you look more and more professional (to grab bigger and better projects, or even make you more desirable to the employer of your dreams?) Have you really given it a go with freelance - as in send your info and/or call companies, potential clients, not limited to your location. Or even in your location (ie, some clients want in office work, and it sounds like you are okay with that already).
• Is there anything that you can do to pull in $70/week besides this job. If I read your blurb correctly, you are currently working 20 hours/week. So there are 10 to 20 more hours for you to do things. Could you babysit (if it is just the money). What about tutoring? You can grab much more/hour with just 1 or 2 clients. Again, what about the freelance?
• QoL? When I read your description of how this works on, yes one pays more than the others. But I add in the time, too. Time for commuting. Using that time each day will be challenging, and at the end of the day it is a long work day.
• If you do this, can you make compromises with yourself - such as spend the time maybe doing an info interview or two to find out about places that you want to work, or learning a program, etc that might get you towards that you want? Then you can view this as something that you will do for a few months to tread water, but at the same time develop a plan to get to where you want to go.
Nthing Elusive Architeuthis (ie, negotiate pay) - if I were in your shoes, OP, and this job looks horrible, I would say that you are interested, but can't justify the pay. I usually stay silent afterward and see what they come back with. But at least you would come out financially ahead instead of treading water, which is all that this this job seems to offer for now.
posted by Wolfster at 4:57 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Over all thoughts:
• Money. I did read your calculations, and if I understand the blurb above, you are currently at a $200/month deficit. Whether you take this then depends on - how sustainable this is for you (ie, in the summer are you likely to start getting out of debt?), and how anxious you are about money. When I have started having negative deficits with money, I get very nervous ... but I don't know what your long term course/plan is.
• This potential job. To be honest, I think it will be horrible based on many things that you said. You mentioned that you know the company (bad reputation), the interviewer couldn't sell that job to you (yes, this is important to me when I interview), the 34 hours/week thing plus minimal wage doesn't say much to me about a company...but that's me.
These are the questions and things that you might want to think about:
• What are your long term career goals (ie, 5 years from now)? What would be your ideal job? The reason that I pose this question is you might want to evaluate what skills you can acquire from a job .. and whether it leads you to a place that you want to go. Do your other jobs provide new skills that you can learn or slap on your resume? Does this job offer skills that would help you get there?
• What about your freelance - my guess is that 4 hours/day (and interrupted 4 hours/day) would be very difficult to grab freelance work. Can you pull in more per $ with freelance? Can you grab work that makes you look more and more professional (to grab bigger and better projects, or even make you more desirable to the employer of your dreams?) Have you really given it a go with freelance - as in send your info and/or call companies, potential clients, not limited to your location. Or even in your location (ie, some clients want in office work, and it sounds like you are okay with that already).
• Is there anything that you can do to pull in $70/week besides this job. If I read your blurb correctly, you are currently working 20 hours/week. So there are 10 to 20 more hours for you to do things. Could you babysit (if it is just the money). What about tutoring? You can grab much more/hour with just 1 or 2 clients. Again, what about the freelance?
• QoL? When I read your description of how this works on, yes one pays more than the others. But I add in the time, too. Time for commuting. Using that time each day will be challenging, and at the end of the day it is a long work day.
• If you do this, can you make compromises with yourself - such as spend the time maybe doing an info interview or two to find out about places that you want to work, or learning a program, etc that might get you towards that you want? Then you can view this as something that you will do for a few months to tread water, but at the same time develop a plan to get to where you want to go.
Nthing Elusive Architeuthis (ie, negotiate pay) - if I were in your shoes, OP, and this job looks horrible, I would say that you are interested, but can't justify the pay. I usually stay silent afterward and see what they come back with. But at least you would come out financially ahead instead of treading water, which is all that this this job seems to offer for now.
posted by Wolfster at 4:57 PM on January 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
Nope. Keep looking. In fact, look for another part-time job closer to home. Hell some babysitting should cover your $200 deficit, get yourself out there as a pet, baby, house-sitter. Get a gig at Taco Bell, or be a server somewhere (bonus, get a meal.)
The thing that killed it for me is the split-shift. That is soul sucking and on-top of the commute, nope, nope, nope.
Having to be in your clothes, away from home, killing time for four hours a day, thus making your work day closer to 12 hours than 8, and for shitty money and not enough hours. No.
Keep looking for something else.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:03 PM on January 5, 2015 [9 favorites]
The thing that killed it for me is the split-shift. That is soul sucking and on-top of the commute, nope, nope, nope.
Having to be in your clothes, away from home, killing time for four hours a day, thus making your work day closer to 12 hours than 8, and for shitty money and not enough hours. No.
Keep looking for something else.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:03 PM on January 5, 2015 [9 favorites]
It does sound like a bad job. If one of your current jobs can carry you in terms of reputation, and you can find a way to make another $200 a month, you don't need it.
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:13 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:13 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
The commute sucks and the company sucks but you will get a) money, not a ton but enough to cover all your bills, which is more than you have now b) experience you can use to find a job you actually like presumably. If this job is totally not what you want and doesn't take you in the direction you want to go, then keep looking. But if it helps move you in the right direction, or a direction that can be the right direction, I think it would be worth it to take the job and keep looking around, especially since you've been unemployed for a little while and can't pay your bills. If you think you have the potential to land a high paying job and this one can get in the way, then hold out a bit longer. But if this is about as good as you're hoping for and will add valuable experience to land a better job later, I'd take this one and move the ball forward. Good luck either way!
posted by AppleTurnover at 6:29 PM on January 5, 2015
posted by AppleTurnover at 6:29 PM on January 5, 2015
I would not take this job. If I may restate the figures a bit: it's 34 hours a week at $11/hour = $374/week - but you're apparently committed to spending 4 hours a day between shifts? Assuming this is 5 days a week, that's 20 additional hours. $374/(34+20) hours = $6.92/hour. Not everyone would agree with me on this, but I'd look for something else, something that was more 'cost-effective', for want of a better way of putting it.
posted by doctor tough love at 9:55 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by doctor tough love at 9:55 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
The way I figure it:
There's a chance that if you explain it to the recruiter that they can find more money or offer you a better schedule (though I wouldn't hold my breath) but without some improvement in the offer you should let this one go and redouble your efforts to find something else.
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:56 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
- Gross pay = $11 / hr * 34 hours = $351 per week.
- Time that you must commit: approximately 60 hours per week (leave at 6:30 AM for 1/2 hour commute, work 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, commute home for 1/2 hour arriving back where you started at 6:30 PM, 5 days per week.)
There's a chance that if you explain it to the recruiter that they can find more money or offer you a better schedule (though I wouldn't hold my breath) but without some improvement in the offer you should let this one go and redouble your efforts to find something else.
posted by Nerd of the North at 9:56 PM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
All I can see here is this: you already know that you don't *want* to take this job (2 positives and 7 negatives???), but you feel bad about it because people are struggling to get one and you don't want to be picky or something. Listen: it's ok to be picky if you can (kind of) afford it, especially when you know that you can put more hours into freelancing or babysitting or whatever until May, when you can start again with the other job you actually like.
Keep looking for a better deal, temp or not. Good luck!
posted by divina_y_humilde at 9:00 AM on January 6, 2015
Keep looking for a better deal, temp or not. Good luck!
posted by divina_y_humilde at 9:00 AM on January 6, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks everyone. After thinking about it and doing some more penciling out of the financial aspects, I've decided it's not worth it and turned it down. HOWEVER, you all have been successful in lighting a fire under me to close that gap that I have in my finances in one way or another and also get more serious about scheduling in time for writing. I'm going to be thinking about how to put some practices in place that help me more intentionally use those extra 20 hours that I'll be saving.
posted by geegollygosh at 11:44 AM on January 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by geegollygosh at 11:44 AM on January 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by raisingsand at 3:29 PM on January 5, 2015 [4 favorites]