What would you do? (Job related)
 

As of January I officially have my BA from Rutgers Camden, and I'm trying to get a job until I leave for grad school in the fall. I've been looking since late December, and I had 1 offer but the hours didn't jive with some prior committments I wasn't ready to give up. So they forwarded my app and resume to a different program. I just had the interview for it today, and it's mine if I want it.

The job is 10pm - 8am (4 days a week) in a residential facility for peple with brain injuries or developmental disabilities. They are mostly high functioning people and thus not a lot of direct supervision is required, so it would be an easy overnight job. Hours work as well (he's hoping to give me Sunday - Wednesday nights). BUT...pay is only $10, maybe $11 an hour (should be a shift differential, he wasn't sure, I'll know more in a day or 2), and there are only adults, no children (I plan to be a child psychologist so I wanted to stick with working with children). Good opportunity, looks good on my resume, would be good to mention if I get my interview for grad school, but the pay is kinda low, especially for having my BA (there is a lot of opportunity for overtime tho, so I could in theory increase my pay if I wanted to).

Normally, I'd pass the job up and keep looking. But I HATE my current job as a waitress in Pemberton, and I want out ASAP. And I'm leaving in August (I hope) for grad school, so I would like to get something soon so I can start putting some money away and such.

The dilemma, then, is, should I bite the bullet and take the job despite it not paying as much as I'd like, or keep looking?

i dont think i was ever a nightshift person, but you are right in the fact that it would look good on your resume...id talk to them more about the pay and see if they come up to 13/14hr minimum for ya...and from the hours 10-8 you'd get a minium of 1hr ot every night/morning unless those hours are incorrect? I'd say work out the pay if they cana work with you a bit there go for it.

Nah, it's 10 hours a day, only 4 days a week, so still 40 hours. But it's a small place, only 5 staff on during the day, 2 overnight, so people call out and they need help.

They won't up my pay any, I tried the last time. The last position they offered me was $11.75 an hour, but the hours didn't work and I don't think I coulda done the job (it was direct care - one on one - 8 hours a day, 3 days a week, and 1 14 hour day) with severe disabilities and behavioral problems. I jyst don't think I coulda handled it). The pay scale went as high as $12.50, but they wouldn't give it to me.

Well, I have worked an overnight shift and it did suck.

Would you have access to internet/ tv to occupy yourself? If yes, this will help.

There should be an overnight shift differential which is typically from midnight to 8 am.

As for ... is it worth it......

Sometimes in life we may have to take a sacrafice in pay/ work hours for the greater goal.

This job would be in your field, correct?

You mentioned you are a waitress currently and you want out ASAP...... I think moving in this direction to this job will benifit you in the long run.

Sometimes you have to sacrafice the short term goal for the long term goal.

Best of luck

I say go for it Genie....you would still have the majority of your weekends free, and a full time job, and you could still work at the church and do some babysitting.

- Justin

THis is my thinking for the moment, that it fulfills a long term goal (working in my field, although not completely - I want to work with children, this job is with adults, but it's still a psych job, which is what counts most I think). And with the opportunity for overtime I can bring ina decent check and put money away since I don't have a rent/mortgage to pay...only a car payment, insurance, and some groceries when I do the grocery shopping. And, as Justin said, my weekends are free (Sunday nights don't really count for me), and I can still babysit, work at the church (which were the 2 prior committments that I turned down the other job for), and even spend time with friends (when I show up) and the boyfriend. I have a couple days to decide, so I"m gonna mull it over a little more, but I'll probably do it.

Seems like a good idea...... may not be the ultimate goal... but it will, indirectly, get you there.

Go for it!

take the job, and keep looking on the side for something better. if you find something better later, bail on this one. For the money they're paying, I'm sure they're used to turnover.

Yeah, I'm gonna take it. I still have resumes out elsewhere, so maybe I can get a call back on those and get somethin better. Plus, I realized that I will be bringing in a decent amount of money with the extra babysitting I do, so I will have little problem putting money away. THanks guys.

It's always a huge plus to get some experience at a job related to your field. Employers are always looking for that person with the extra little bit that nobody else has. It sounds like the hardest part will be the hours and getting used to them. I did a little bit of shift work way back 21 years ago and it sucked big time.

Nah, the hours don't bother me. I have no problem sleeping during the day now (taking 1-2 hour naps), so I can rework my schedule to do it. The 10 hours working might be tough at first, but it's not like it's real strenuous work. I figure I'll at least give it a shot. If it doesn't work, I can always transfer to another position within the asme facility or at another location, or find another job.

Well ****. I accepted the position, only to find out the hours he told me I'd get aren't available. My options?

MWF 2-10. Part time (no benefits), but no weekends.
OR
M 1-10, W 2-5 (staff meeting), ThF 1-10, and Sat is a double (didn't say exact hours, but it's a long day, probably 10 hours, maybe more). It's full time, but Sat is an issue cause of babysitting, and it's a wacky schedule.

Normally, I'd turn it down outright. But I already quit my job at the restaurant, meaning I am no longer earning $150 a week (this weekend is my last)...which isn't horrible, but it ain't great either. So I dunno. I keep looking, and have sent in a resume or too even when I thought i had this job. Sucks, was excited, started slowly changing my sleep schedule so I could do the overnight...and bam, no can do.

They musta filled the empty overnight spot from within, since he told me it was available when I interviewed. I didn't even think to ask about it when he gave me those options. Oh well.