Is there such a thing as a Lose-Lose situation? This sure feels like one.
Due to my husband losing his job, it's back to the workforce with me. I interviewed for a job last week & got called back for a second interview. Hurray! Right? Maybe. When I interviewed initially, they were fine with me continuing my Girl Scout Leader responsibilities until the end of the school year, which would mean my needing to leave at 2:pm every other Friday until mid-June. Of course they asked my desired salary. So I told them. I even gave a range.
Well, today I had my second interview. It went well. Really well! So well, in fact, that they called just a few hours later & offered me the job. WOW!!! But then...
They offered me $2/hour less than the low end of my range & said they would "let" me continue my Leader duties until the end of February. At the rate they are offering, I will end up making less than I did on unemployment, but more than the nothing I make now. Why does what should be a no brainer make me feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't?
Let's digress a bit. My daughter goes to Catholic school & we were unable to afford tuition this year, so they were kind enough to let me work in the office a few days a week in exchange for tuition. It's been great & I love it! Last week the principal called and asked how my interview had gone because she was doing some moving around and was thinking of putting me in 1st grade. When I told her I wouldn't know anything until the beginning of this week she said "Oh, that's fine, I'll just keep things the same for now." I went in today (the office is open, but the kids are still on break) to collect the recycling, which is my Auxiliary duty, and stopped in to see Sister and just kind of update her on where things were. It turns out the position in 1st grade was an ACTUAL job and she hired someone else! I am devastated, to put it mildly. It was not clear when we spoke on the phone that she was HIRING someone! I would have jumped at the opportunity.
OK, back on track. So now, if I take the job I'll be back to paying tuition (which will take a whole week's earnings each month), leaving my girls without a Leader & already feeling resentful. What to do? Take the job because some money is better than no money? I feel like I have two lessons to learn and teach here: Sometimes you have to stick to your guns and honor your commitments and take the consequences. Or, sometimes you have to grab what's available because it may not be right but it might be the right now you need.
I just feel so torn up. I have until Friday to make a decision, and I'll end up doing what's best for the family. I just hope that's what's best for me, too.
If you were able to get an interview/offer this quickly you can do it again. I would do this:
ReplyDeleteCall them back and negotiate. Tell them you cannot leave your GS leader duties until the end of the school year and if they will honor that then you will take the job they are offering with the $2 lower pay. After all, it is only $2 and you can probably get it in a raise after getting hired.
Second, I'd call the school principal and make it very clear that if there is an actual job that comes up that you want it-mention that if you'd known that 1st grade position was a paying job you would have taken it in a heartbeat.
Third, take the job but keep looking. Look at it this way-it gives you more than no money you are making now and you now have until the end of February to find something else that will pay you within your range and let you stay on as GS leader.