Protected: This is not a picture post (job update)
I’m doing this password protected because it’s unprofessional to blog one’s job search unless one does it password protected. So there you go. (For LJ users, it’s friends-only.)
So that interview I blew? Maybe I didn’t blow it because I came back from my friend’s birthday celebration to a message asking me to call them back. Either the HR person hates me enough to call me and turn me down over the phone instead of sending the usual form letter (possible), or they want a second interview (less possible since I interviewed with the four people I’d be working with), or they want another try-out (they already sent me a newsletter to rewrite, which I did), or they want to give me the job. The last three mean I have to make a decision: How much do I want this job?
Pros:
- The job pays more than I hoped to make;
- It has prestige and it’s for a fairly big deal company (although a silly big deal company);
- It would give me some street cred w/corporate work;
- It might be fun;
- I liked the people;
- I’m not getting a whole lot of other offers.
Cons:
- While I was impressed by the salary, another writer I recently met was not. “You shouldn’t walk out your front door than less than [twice what they're offering],” were her exact words;
- I’m making inroads to what I hope will be a more flexible freelance career;
- My friend in the industry says I’m over-qualified for this position;
- It would be really hard to keep up with my meager editing job let alone freelancing (i.e., I’d have to let them go most likely);
- NO BENEFITS (it’s a contract position).
See, if I’m not getting benefits, I want the flexibility of being AT HOME. And if I’m buying my own benefits, I want to make more money. My problem is that I have no idea if the writer I met is right and that I can make more on my own. I talked to another writer today who said that freelancers at her company (”Send me your resume,” she added) make half again as much. But like I said, I haven’t had any other job offers. Then again, It’s only been in the last two weeks that I’ve put any effort into finding work in town.
I have no idea what I look like on paper. I don’t know if my friend is right and if I’m over-qualified. I don’t know if people will pay me twice what they’re asking, I don’t know how much work I can really expect to drum up on my own. I DO know that I like the idea of having flexibility and a lot of different projects. I like the idea of public speaking (I gave a workshop on Sunday and am supposed to do another one probably in June). Really if I COULD freelance and manage financially, I’d much rather do it. So do I take that risk? Do I say to myself, “The fact that they offered you this means that you’re stellar and can hold out for what you really DO want?” Or do I say, “Suck it up; you need a job.”
So this is what I’m thinking on tonight. I’ll have to talk in depth to Brett to figure it out. On the one hand, it seems obvious writing this out that I don’t want this job. On the other hand, how can I turn down a job when I have none? Ack. Well, they haven’t offered it yet and maybe the evil HR person just wants to make me suffer and I can just slunk away and move onto the next thing.
not much to say since you’ve listed all the pros and cons yourself. good luck thinking about this though, and figuring out what you want.
i was wondering how much taking the job would interfere with your continuing to look for another one. also. dont they always say that it looks better when you already have a job, if youre looking for one. admittedly, i am not aware if this is different with writers or freelancers. i know your family is supportive. will you mind taking advantage of that support somewhere down the line. how long down the line would this be. im just thinking these might also be questions to consider.
i am a very careful person. i have sensed your understandable anxiety. me, i would prob take it.
What about making them a counter offer with enough money to cover buying your benefits? Sometimes not being sure you want a job makes you bold enough to take risks at this stage.
I don’t know what your town is like. Here, we have been named one of 10 best cities enough, that there are a ton of people taking jobs they are way overqualified for, just to have income.
If you took it, could you work your way into a more lucrative position that better fit your creds? Would two years in this position look good on your resume and parlay into better jobs and give you a better lifelong position in the job market?
My taking the part-time school secretary job made it so people know me, so when I applied for the other job I had an inside track. I now have a job that pays 6 times as much as that one did. Plus fits my abilities better.
But no benefits? Sucks.
You don’t have to take the job they offer. If they offer a position that is tempting, but lacking in fundamental ways, tell them. The offer is only a negotiating point. If they are interested enough to make an offer, they will be willing to listen to your requests–you are very persuasive! This of course means that you must clarify (in your own mind) exactly what it is you want from this position so that you’ll be able to negotiate with oomph. Talk to Brett. Look at COBRA costs, independent insurance costs, the cost of benefits for their employees, etc. and then be prepared to ask for what you really want.