Phoenix me
Well, like a phoenix from the ashes, I have survived my Comprehensive Exams. Two days of tortuous hell that tests more for basic memory recall than for actual aptitude, in my opinion. I think I passed, though. HOPE I did. It would be damned embarrassing if I didn't, that's for sure. It would mean I need to stock up on ginko-biloba :)
Now that that crisis is dealt with, I'm focusing on finding a job. I've had three job interviews within the last week alone. What I find SCARY-AS-HELL, however, is the "trimming of fat" that seems to be going on, willy-nilly across the country. Ah, our lovely economy. Anyway, today I interviewed for a part-time job (which is fine) that doesn't offer basic health insurance (which, surprisingly, is also fine). What was NOT fine with me is that they told me that although the job is only 20 hours/week, there "would be times when we'd want you to work extra hours, and we may not give you advance notice." So basically, they want someone full-time, but only want to PAY someone for part-time.
Any "extra" hours I worked would not earn me "overtime", because you only get paid overtime if you work 40 hours/week. They probably also wouldn't let me work "extra" hours over 32 hours/week because then they'd have to pay health insurance.
I couldn't believe me ears at the cheek of it, but what do you do? The same thing is going on all over the country. I've seen SEVERAL jobs posted where they only want someone for ONE YEAR "with the possibility of extension". In other words, there's no point in moving somewhere for a job if the job may not exist in one year.
It is interesting to me how the first departments and positions to go are ones dealing with information. Apparently, even though as a society we cannot function without a continuous barrage of info, we don't respect info enough to pay for the very people who oversee, manage, and protect it. What does that say about us as a society? I shudder to think of the possible answers.
Now that that crisis is dealt with, I'm focusing on finding a job. I've had three job interviews within the last week alone. What I find SCARY-AS-HELL, however, is the "trimming of fat" that seems to be going on, willy-nilly across the country. Ah, our lovely economy. Anyway, today I interviewed for a part-time job (which is fine) that doesn't offer basic health insurance (which, surprisingly, is also fine). What was NOT fine with me is that they told me that although the job is only 20 hours/week, there "would be times when we'd want you to work extra hours, and we may not give you advance notice." So basically, they want someone full-time, but only want to PAY someone for part-time.
Any "extra" hours I worked would not earn me "overtime", because you only get paid overtime if you work 40 hours/week. They probably also wouldn't let me work "extra" hours over 32 hours/week because then they'd have to pay health insurance.
I couldn't believe me ears at the cheek of it, but what do you do? The same thing is going on all over the country. I've seen SEVERAL jobs posted where they only want someone for ONE YEAR "with the possibility of extension". In other words, there's no point in moving somewhere for a job if the job may not exist in one year.
It is interesting to me how the first departments and positions to go are ones dealing with information. Apparently, even though as a society we cannot function without a continuous barrage of info, we don't respect info enough to pay for the very people who oversee, manage, and protect it. What does that say about us as a society? I shudder to think of the possible answers.