What should I do?

[ErinM]

Ok, I'm looking for some opinions here.

As some of you may know, I've been out of work for about a year now. Looked nationwide for about seven months, than chose to relocate myself to find a position. Since I moved here I've been working in my field at a local insurance company, doing staffing support work while the FT person was on disability. Once she came back, they kept finding people for me to replace (in other support type HR positions) while they were on vacation. Then, they made some changes which resulted in the person who was originally on disability to be let go, and put me back in the position temporarily while they find a permanent replacement.

The issue is, should I apply for the job?

I have not been very challenged in this position, for two reasons. One, is that I have done all of these things before...there is nothing new to learn. Two, there is just not enough work to keep me busy. I spend 2-3 hours a day looking for things to do. Since the position was also slightly changed when they let the incumbent go, there are some improvements/changes that need to be made to a lot of things...organizational development stuff I LOVE to do, and that provides me with somewhat of a challenge. However, once those changes are implemented, it's basically back to being a adminstrative type position.

I have talked with my manager about this. She said that there is only so much they can give me to do...the job is what it is. This is what makes me NOT want to apply for it. More than anything, I want to be challenged.

So, what should I do? I know there is no harm in applying. But if I get the job? My parents are constantly on my case about this...it's driving me nuts.

What would you do?

[moonbeam]

Wow, what a tough decision. However, looking at your signature lines, it seems to me that your answer is right there. You sound like a confident person who is not afraid to fail, who loves challenges and believes in following your dreams. It does not sound as if your dream is at this current postion.

Good luck.

Kim

[Minky]

Erin,

Kim might be right, but to play devil's advocate, what's wrong with staying with an unchallenging position while you look for (the/a more) perfect fit? I am shocked to know that 90% of my working friends can't stand their jobs - how sad is that :( so taking your time to find out "what you really want to do" is perfectly OK.

That said, are you willing to look outside HR? My degree is in Business but I ended up (before kids) as a techo geek. My sis has a Bachelor's and Master's in Psychology but is doing corporate training now.

This is a really tough call for you, and I'm not even sure I have the expertise to throw in my $ .02 since I've been out of the work force for *ahem* a while... I do know you're young, smart and have plenty of marketable skills, whether with your current employer or not :) Good Luck with your decision, and keep us posted!

Sheila

[tamawrite]

Another thing you may have already considered is temping, which allows you to try the support positions at a lot of different companies, if you want to, in search of the right match. (This is exactly what I'm doing, as we speak.)

Beware that you're likely to lose some weeks of income while the temp agency finds you a placement. You can tell them that you want "temp to hire" positions, so you know the actual job is available, but you're under no pressure to apply. The first couple days at a temp job are always terribly boring, but after that things pick up and you'll get a chance to show your stuff.

Good luck with your decision! (You sound like me -- got bored with the insurance business because there wasn't much more to learn, and now looking for the right place.)

[Chefzhat]

My .02??? Apply, and keep looking for your dream job. Who knows, this one might just turn into a dream job!

Good luck, sweetie! Hug your doggie for me!!

xo
Debie

[gertdog]

I'd apply and keep looking for the dream job. You never know- maybe the experience you get from the organizational development stuff at the current place would help land you a fabulous long-term position doing that kind of work for another company. Good luck!

[Beth]

I'd apply and keep looking for the dream job.

I think that would probably be what I would do also.

It is possible you won't get the job, especially if they know they might lose you and be hiring all over again. But it's possible that either getting or not getting the job will lead you to the next step, and it's better to have something certain and keep looking than to have nothing and keep looking.

There is also that old addage that it is easier to find a job when you already have a job. So, unless you see continuing in thios job as somehow preventing you from getting to something else you want, I would go for it and see where it takes you. All that reworking and organizing might lead to something else that's not even on the horizon yet.

[Goin' Coastal]

It's much easier to get a job when you already have one. It seems to make you more attractive to prespective employers - as opposed to someone who is "unemployed".

Just wondering why your parents are on your case. I am sure they want to see you employed and productive - and possibly benefits are an issue. Are you covered under any health care plan? Do you still live at home? If you weren't working, would you be sleeping until noon and out late? Do you have bills to pay? I don't know how old you are, but right now I have more of a parent's perspctive, and to be honest, depending on the circumstances, I can see where your parents are coming from.

[HejazSunKat]

More than anything, I want to be challenged.


Not to be flip, really, but this seems like a no-brainer to me: This isn't the job for you. Unless the wolves are at the door and it's the only way to pay the bills I personally have a bit of a problem with the idea of applying for a job you don't really want while keeping yourself on the market until something better comes along and then jumping ship. Even if there's no loyalty from employers anymore and they'd let YOU go faster than you could say pink slip if it suited their interest I don't think it's fair to an employer to take a job your heart isn't in. It recently took me 9 months to find a permanent job so the desperation and thoughts that you're never going to find anything suitable are still fresh in my mind and I sympathize with your position. Don't take the wrong job because of that. Someone's mentioned temping which is certainly one option. I was kept pretty busy doing that though the money stank. When I got my first real pay check again I almost had to sit down. "This is for ME?!" :) Many temp agencies will also have a contract or consulting division where you could get a better rate of pay and benefits in exchange for agreeing to take yourself off the market for the duration of the contract. When I looked into it at one agency the minimum contract was 3 months and very often they lead to permanent positions. As long as you are working at something you won't get that distinctive 'aroma' about you of the long time unemployed (i.e. hmmm...there must be something wrong with her if she's been on the market for so long). Even volunteer work would count. It's all in the blarney - how you present what you're doing during your job search on your resume and verbally during interviews. I was an 'independent financial consultant' not a temp. :) I even learned new things on these jobs, like new software programs and working in business environments I'd never worked in before. You better believe that stuff went on my resume. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Don't take the wrong job, you'll just end up leaving in the not too distant future and how would that look on your resume if you jumped ship so soon?

[JenniferJJ]

Since you have been looking for a year, I would take the job. I think you have to balance things. I got the feeling that you are doing a longer term temp assignment at this company. That's what I am doing. I have partial benefits (I don't get medical/dental, no personal or sick days, only 6 holidays and 5 vacation days.) A direct job will give you full benefits (including internal and external training/courses if you desire), a chance to apply for other jobs in the company (the jobs where they give internal candidates first chance to apply), and look better on your resume. If you had only been looking for a short time, I think the situation would be different.

A challenging job is no longer my top priority of what I look for in a job. If it's in a geographic area I like, a work environment I like (medium to large-sized office, definitely not a plant), acceptable salary, direct with a company, I apply. Right now, I'm in the application process that for a job that I am definitely over-qualified for. However, it meets all my criteria above. As someone I talked to a few days ago said (who has much more marketable skills than I do), job security is more important that job satisfaction.

[Beth]

I know that when my brother got laid off (working for a computer company, it's going to happen) and he waited to find the job he wanted, he kept waiting and waiting. He got depressed, he got further behind the emplyed pool in terms of experience, contacts, pay and benefits, and he waited some more. He finally gave up and switched avenues. He worked in a couple of different businesses but is now back doing what he loved.

Linda, no offense please, but I think you are more experienced and don't have the need to work as a younger person would. An employer gets a very different picture with a married woman who has relocated than a younger person who may be content to sit home and wait out the perfect job rather than go out and make it happen -- or who has not been working steadily for a year. Sound unmotivated or undesirable. Not saying that Jennifer is sitting and waiting or not worthy, but it's what an employer thinks when they see the application and before they even talk to her that may count most.

I wouldn't apply for the job if taking it would close doors, but few situations do shut out other possibilities. The chances of doing something or meeting someone that can open a door ar far greater, and the chances are that Jennifer or anyone would feel better about doing something good for the company she is working for and will project a better image to the next employer than a resume that says I'd rather watch TV and go shopping until something more challenging comes along. It's just too hard for an employer to know what that person is really capable of or if they are dependable. I'd rather be looking for the next job while I'm buzzing about doing the part that is what I am great at and what I love doing and thinking about how I can do more of that.

[trish_ks]

If I was in the same situation, I would apply for the job. If nothing else, you'll gain some additional interview experience, and that can never hurt you. In my senior year of college we were told to interview for as many jobs as possible, even if we weren't interested. Not like you can't turn them down if you don't like the offer.
If having some job security is very important to you right now, especially if you're single and supporting yourself...this will get you there. You could be pleasantly surprised at the way the re-structured position turns out. I've been unpleasantly surprised before when I thought a job was going to be great! Why not the reverse? If it isn't challenging, well, that's one less thing to stress about so you can focus on your job search!
I wouldn't be so concerned about mistreating the company...not like employers don't stick it to us all the time. You've got to put yourself first, you need benefits & security. It's really risky to not have health coverage (not that I know whether you do or not), I know that if I didn't have health insurance I would have recently had to pay thousands of $$ out of pocket for some unforseen medical problems.
Job satisfaction and happiness is really important in the long run, but until you find the right spot for you, you've gotta live...

[zwieback]

I'd definitely apply for the job. If you get the job, great! You'll have some income to help pay bills while looking for something better. It'll also look better as you apply elsewhere that you currently have a steady job.

If you don't get the job, then you just keep looking. No harm no fowl.

I hope this doesn't come out badly because I certainly don't mean it that way but, if I were in the same position as you (and that being out of work for a year), I'd rather have the certainty of an income at this point than keep searching for the dream job. If you can have both, fantastic. But, if an opportunity for my dream job wasn't dangling in front of me at the moment, I'd rather have the certainty of an income. There's nothing wrong with always keeping your eye out for something better.

[aggie94]

Another thing to keep in mind is that employers do notice when you have multiple, short-term jobs listed on your resume, and will wonder (if not come right out and ask) why - does that say something about your work ethic, your willingness/ability to commit, that you get bored easily, etc? Employers will be less willing to invest the time/money into hiring and training you if they think you're just going to jump ship in a year again. Just a thought, not a commentary on you personally. :)

[Kristilyn1]

I think you should apply for it. I don't even think of it as a "loyalty" thing if you decide in a few months to leave. The reason why companies don't offer employment contracts in so very many fields is because THEY don't want to have to commit to you. Just because you take a job doesn't mean there is some accepted amount of time you are bound to it. If you knew for a FACT that you were leaving in two weeks that would be one thing--but you have no idea when you will find a better job or even what will happen with this one in six months. They may SAY they know where it's going, but who knows! Once they have someone dynamic and smart they may decide to change it.

The only loyalty you owe to a company is to do a good job for them. Period. No pound of flesh is owed to anyone.

Kristi

[leebee]

I took a job because it was convenient and offered me the hours & benefits I needed. I couldn't move to look for my "ideal" job because we moved here so my husband could take his. We love living where we do, he loves his job, so I figured "good enough" was good enough. Long story short, I now have my dream job. I love it! I'm still with the same company, which is probably the best employer in the area. In fact, now my husband is enduring his job, because I love mine and we love where we live. Life rarely turns out how you plan it to. Personally, I would give the job a try. I simply kept my ears & eyes open and jumped at every opportunity that came my way. They ended up creating a position for me, and it's one that I probably wouldn't have had a shot at on the open market. You can still keep feelers out. If you end up taking this job and then in 6-mos to a year find a position elsewhere w/ more responsibility or in a different area, that will be apparent.

[IndianChef]

Erin, everyone here has brought forth some really interesting points to consider before making a decision.
Another thing to consider is that this position may have the potential to grow into something bigger. Maybe not now, but anything can happen in the not too distant future. If they see how hard-working and proactive (you mentioned making improvements/changes to certain job functions) you are, something bigger might open up. Maybe another position in the same dept. might open up. Since you've already worked there before and they keep calling you back to fill other positions, they probably think well of you. There's no harm in trying for this position. If you get it and choose to accept it, you can still keep looking for another position. Also, sometimes it is easier to explain to a prospective employer why you switched jobs in a few months than to explain why you decided to stay with a dead end job. Just my 2 cents.

[ErinM]

Odd, I somehow lost everything I was typing!

Everyone, thank you so much for your insight!

Minky - Yes, at this point, I will consider going out of HR. Problem is, the field I'm most interested in is healthcare, and to do almost anything there I'd need to go back to school. Not that I'm opposed to doing that, what I am opposed to is figuring out how to pay for it! I feel like all I'm qualified for is admin/clerical work, so I'm not even sure what else I could do!

Tamawrite - Funny you mention the temping, as that's how I got into the position I'm currently in. The firm I work for could probably find me something else, but all that's really out there is very low level work which doesn't pay alot, unless they can place me elsewhere in my field.

Goin' Costal - My parents just want to see me with benefits, I think that's what it boils down to. I haven't had health insurance for almost a year now, and I've always been blessed with good health (knock on wood) so I haven't really needed it. But I can support myself, pay my bills, and I'm not a partier/sleeper (that would be my brother!)

Aggie - I do worry about how my resume looks. I have a lot of contract/internships. My first "real" job out of grad school only lasted a little over a year and a half (very bad situation). It seems when I am in a job I like, it's never permanent, whereas my perm jobs have not been good to me!

The part about it being easier to find a job when you have one...that is certainly true and having this job would allow me to do that...I need to seriously think about that.

What irks me is that I'm doing so many good things for this company. I have improved processes and saved them time and money left and right...a job doing something challenging for them should be my reward! While I understand that they have a business to run and other factors that make the not realistic, I really wish they would just create a job for me. That would be so ideal.

And leebee, you are so right about life not turning out as planned. I thought by now I'd be married and have a family. Barring that, I thought I'd have a great career. I have neither! I sometimes wish I knew the ending so that I'd know everything will be OK.

I still have about a week to make a decision on whether or not to apply. They haven't quite been getting the candidates they want anyway, and my manager has promised to tell me how the interviews go. So, we'll see how this all turns out!

[Goin' Coastal]

Good Luck to you! Just remember - life is what happens while you are making other plans. :)

[HejazSunKat]

Linda, no offense please, but I think you are more experienced and don't have the need to work as a younger person would. An employer gets a very different picture with a married woman who has relocated than a younger person who may be content to sit home and wait out the perfect job rather than go out and make it happen -- or who has not been working steadily for a year. Sound unmotivated or undesirable.

No offense taken Beth but I disagree with the idea that I had less of a need to be employed. If the inference is that I didn't 'need' to work because I have an employed husband then in that sense no, the wolves were not at the door, however as a business professional I could not be perceived to be sitting home eating bon bons (as my husband is fond of saying :) ) waiting for the 'right' job to come along, depending on my husband's financial support, any more than Erin would want to be perceived as a finicky early career job seeker. I deliberately made my marital status ambiguous anyway when I went for interviews, not wearing my rings to ward off any kind of assumptions being made.

I started my new job almost one year to the day after I'd left the one I had abroad so I understand very well Erin's frustration of seemingly not being able to get anybody to say 'Yes' no matter how hard you're trying. I was scouring job search sites for advice and going to networking meetings to learn and then try every bloody trick in the book to win people over in interviews and I still kept getting doors slammed in my face. I even had one hiring manager tell my recruiter she didn't hire me because I was 'too professional'. Ok, I'll take that as a compliment I guess. It is a demoralizing process when you think you've got good skills to offer an employer and when you're a long time into it it's very easy to compromise about what you really want just so you can stop being on the outside looking in. I would have kept temping or contracting before I took a job that was a bad fit for me because if it was a bad fit for me it was also going to be a bad fit for the employer. I actively regret that I didn't take more care with the jobs I selected early in my career and didn't carefully build my resume. I wish I'd been more careful, strategic and selective about where I'd chosen to spend the earlier years. I think if Erin chooses well now it will only benefit her 15 or 20 years from now. I also think the value of contracting or temping or whatever you want to call it is under appreciated. I actually got the job I have now because of my temp jobs. The work I was doing as a temp (I had two similar assignments in a row) sparked their interest in me because they had a need for a similar skill. As long as she is doing something of value, she is using her time of underemployment productively and she presents it well to potential employers I don't think that would hurt her at all.