OT--- offered a job, but can't decide on wether to take it

Hi ladies,

This is totally off topic but I need some advice and there are many many wise ladies here.

As you know I've been unemployed and working on and off part time for a museum (which was also where my last full-time position was).

I was just offered a 6 week paid position doing basic grunt work in my field (packing and unpacking collections), much like I have been doing for the museum.

Totally cool, right?

Only problem is that it conflicts with the date of a major installation at the museum that I've been working on for over a year. The museum wanted me to come volunteer and help and were trying to find funding to pay me for those 2-3 weeks. However, since there is no word on that yet obviously there is no claim to my time. Still, this project is kind of my baby, and there is supposed to be a position opening at the museum I could apply for in late November or December (packing and unpacking collections, somewhat supervisory/supervising laymen volunteers).

The other issue is that this 6wk job is 12 or so hours away from where I live. Double occupancy dorm-style housing is provided, but many of you might remember that I've been helping to care for my grandmother who has cancer. Right now I've spoken to family members and they are confident they can handle that duty without me, but it would mean not seeing my grandmother for 6 weeks, when we are uncertain of how much longer she might have, and possibly coming home for a funeral.

So, do I abandon my baby for the extra experience and pay? Of course, I can't figure out which would be better for my ultimate short term goal of getting that November position at the museum.

Any advice? Should I go to arizona?

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13 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Tough call. Just wanted to let you know there is now an Off Topic place in the forum.

Elly

Drat-- sorry, forgot about that!

cinnamon fern

Other people here probably know a lot more about your situation. But here are my thoughts, leaving your grandmother aside for a minute. The museum you've been working for might find the money to pay you for a couple weeks, right? And they might have a permanent job you could apply for soon? It could be a good idea to remind them not to take you for granted - ie that although you are loyal to them and love the area, etc whatever you will not stick around forever without proper compensation.

Your grandmother makes the decision harder. But my guess is that going to AZ is the better bet if you want to maximize your chances of getting the permanent job.

jayne

hmmm why not try telling the museum the truth and see if they can firm up on the upcoming job offer. I have employees and if they are pretty unsure, they should tell you that and actually recommend you take the other position.

Jenava

It sounds like you should take the AZ job. Who knows what other types of opportunities might open up...it sounds like you've been where you're at for some time now and things are not really changing, so I vote for a change of scenery.

It's nice that the museum wants you to volunteer, but you it sounds like there isn't much of an upside for you; i.e. it doesn't sound like your volunteership will lead to a job any time soon. So, yeah, they want you to work for free but that's not really fair to you.

Also, since your family is supporting this with your grandmother I wouldn't worry about that. It's not ideal, but there are always tradeoffs.

Suz

Tough, tough situation, Elly. I agree with Jayne. Why not talk to the place you've already been volunteering and tell them what's up? There may be a solution to this. Let us know what happens!!

Sylvie

I 100% agree with cinnamon fern. It's nice to work for love but it doesn't pay the rent. The museum has been getting your time and energy for a year, but you need to put yourself first. The new job is in your field, something you presumably enjoy doing and will pay you. The money you're making can be used to pay for an emergency weekend trip back if god forbid, your grandmother goes through a tough spell. Maybe the new job will hire you on full time or maybe you'll make contacts that will lead to another opportunity. Unless the museum makes you a job offer for both the installation opening and the permanent position, *in writing*, I'd go to AZ.

rachylou

This is an emotionally tough thing to do - but I'd go to Arizona without leaving the museum or the volunteer position, and I'd keep lobbying for the permanent position. I'd send postcards from Arizona to your *friends at the museum* - meaning your bosses, not just fellow volunteers, at the museum. I'd say something along the lines of "There's a 6-week opportunity for me in AZ that I'd like to do. It would mean I'd be gone from X date and be back X date."

You wouldn't get to work on the installation of your baby, but you'd get three more weeks of pay than that would provide. And worst comes to worst, you come back early from AZ for your grandma.

On the other hand, if you have a gut feeling that overrides all this and says *I work at this museum and will work here come hell or high water* - then I'd skip AZ and throw myself into the museum.

bj1111

truthfully, i would go. looking at a resume if i were hiring, i would go with someone who was paid for her work vs an unpaid intern. if someone valued the worker enough to hand over cash, then i would find that person more attractive in a competitive market. especially since it's in your field anyway and not substantially different from what you would be doing unpaid. it's short--6 weeks. you've cleared it with your family. there's skype.

I really appreciate the advice. I went to visit my grandma today and just got home, but did a lot of thinking while I was driving. I'd pretty much decided to take the Arizona position, and it was wonderful to get all this amazing advice affirming that. Sometimes I feel a little funny to come here about things like this (and then post in the wrong section-- sorry, still getting used to the forum changes from the summer) but there are many intelligent ladies here that I look up to and have much more experience in these matters-- unfortunately most of the other people I'm close too aren't much help with professional-type advice.

Cinnamon, I think you make excellent points about what an applicants popularity and unwillingness to wait forever can do for an organizations desire to hire.

Jayne and Suz-- thanks, I have let them know but unfortunately they still haven't been able to firm something up-- there are some other factors at play (contractors defaulting, a budgeting switch) but it was worth a try!

Jenava-- excellent point about what the other job may lead to--- the museum situation here is difficult because the woman I consider my "boss" has been going to bat to help me out, but we keep getting tangled up in higher ups and bureaucracy, but I'm beginning to feel taken advantage of.

Sylvie-- again, great points about perhaps encouraging the museum, going where the pay is, and what the new opportunity may lead to.

Rachylou--- thank you-- this is exactly what I am going to do---- I'm letting them know I'm unavailable for "x" period because of this other job but that when I'm back I'm seriously interested in the position and continual volunteer work. Still hard to leave the family and my "baby", but it has been too long.

BJ--- thanks for being very honest and for your experience with hiring. I was apparently the top of one of the top choice applicants for this job and have paid internship experience in the past, so getting repeatedly strung around doing the same job is frustrating, this might push me through or be more useful elsewhere.

You all are amazing!

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