What Do I Want?
One month ago, I was scared. I still am, but not in the sense that I would be useless and stuck in a rut, etc. Just did not know what I would do without the whole system of school. Studying, papers, exams, readings... it would just come to a screeching halt, and I didn't know how I'd cope with that... on top of being without work.
Thankfully, that's all behind me.
And I not only have worked lined up. I have... options? What is this? The recruiter that I work under at Kelly Services now, Amy, has found a position for me for 8 months at GMAC in Orland Park. I would be in the field of finance working my way through the system and getting experience in the field I studied in for three and a half years. Perfect! What isn't to love about that?
Today, while running back down to Frankfort to take care of some additional paperwork so that I can actually start getting paid for my work, I was offered an additional position--to work internally at Kelly under the recruiters and trainers.
What the hell. What do I do now?
I never ever considered that I would have the power, as a recent graduate, to choose where I want to work. But what's worse... what if I pick the wrong one?
Okay... pros and cons: At Kelly, I simply adore the people in the office. I've met Joy, Amy, Tom, and I sort of met Russ. They're all terrific. I can't work with people I can't stand to be around. It's a great deal of administrative work: filing, data entry, scanning, telephones, customer service... all of which I can do to some extent. And as a staffing company, they understand the importance of thorough training. There are software training modules online, and I'm sure they'd be willing to help me train in other skills as well. Joy and Amy appear to have my best interests at heart. Amy has offered me three assignments already (took a marketing one over the weekend--easiest $44 EVER!) It will be full-time (the job at GMAC will be full-time as well, so we can probably discount this perk), so I will not be bored at home (...I would begin to go postal if I had to spend all of my time at Nana's. It just wouldn't fly too well). My people skills would develop, and there is nearly unlimited room for advancement. I wouldn't always have to stay in Frankfort--I could take on work in Glenview (ughhh Cubs territory) to be in their financial resources branch. There are great benefits... if you are full-time.
And the cons for Kelly: It may not turn into anything full-time in the end, but that is the same for GMAC. I would be working on being an "Amy temp" because she is going to be on maternity leave. It isn't within the field that I studied in (could be a pro... something new?). Constantly busy--multitasking is a must (I know how to do this, but will it be that stressful?). Amy says that if you internalize the stress and take a lot of the problems on as your own, you will not make it... I tend to do that. So is it a good fit? And lastly, the commute...
It's not a long drive to Frankfort. And I love driving, but it's going to put a good deal of wear and tear on the car. My goal is for it to last another 3-5 years. That may not happen if I'm adding 200 miles on it each week. I've looked into getting an apartment or sharing a room somewhere closer (there are some small places in Lockport that I looked into that are pretty cheap, but I think it would eat up too much of my spendable income). Eh. Living at Nana's may be the best option, financially right now. I would force myself to save $700 a month because I would not be paying rent. That would translate to $3500 by the end of the year. That's a nice emergency fund. Or a down payment on a new car. I need to figure out what my plan is as far as leaving Nana's goes. 2 years maybe? Ugh... she's moving... :-/ What is really annoying is that Dad and I lived, literally, just down the street from the office. Sucks. He's in Frankfort now, but he can't stand it. Even if he finds work in the area, he will not stay here.
Oh, right. Apparently, the computers freeze up a lot at Kelly. Fun!!
And now for GMAC... or what I know of GMAC anyway.
The pros: It's finance, so some entry-level experience in my field. Good stuff. Full-time, $14/hr. Orland Park, so not a horrible commute, really. It may turn into full-time after the contract (8 months... ending in March-ish?). No guarantees. Just like with Kelly.
The cons, supposedly, are that they are sometimes notorious for picking on temps... that is to be expected, I suppose. If you have a question about how something is done (i.e. "What if we do it this way?"), you may get shot down because you may be talking to someone resistant to change, more than likely. If you need to find information, sometimes they are not very direct with you. Exciting.
And that's kind of all I know about GMAC. Amy could only tell me so much. I'd really like to go in and talk to people who have worked there, but that's kind of against the rules. So... there goes my wanting to compare apples to apples.
I am trying to think long-term too. What will it mean if I forgo an opportunity in the finance industry? If it has been too long since I obtained my economics and finance degree, will I be shut out of the finance world for good? Do I even want to do finance? Mom suggested today that it doesn't seem like finance is really my passion... and she may be very right. I don't really know exactly what I want to do. All I really love right now is traveling and reading. Neither of which you can really do and get paid for it.
What will it mean if I get into HR? I never studied HR or psychology in school. I know that statistically, we will switch job paths three times in our lifetimes. So I may not be in HR forever.
My gut is telling me to at least try working internally at Kelly, and to see if it's something I want to do. They could find another finance job for me later on, right? Even if working internally is only temporary, something new will come along. I know that I can deal with people. I did customer service for five long years. This is a different kind of customer service. In a recession in retail, people just bitch about prices. In a recession in staffing, people will bitch that they have a family so you NEED to help them find work. Do I choose that, or the possibility that I may not like the people I work with at GMAC and risk not enjoying the career path I'd chosen for myself as a 19-year-old girl?
I'm just not used to having a choice. Mom suggests I go with Kelly. Dad suggests I keep looking. For the first time since I decided to enroll in North Central College, this decision is mine and mine alone.
Thankfully, that's all behind me.
And I not only have worked lined up. I have... options? What is this? The recruiter that I work under at Kelly Services now, Amy, has found a position for me for 8 months at GMAC in Orland Park. I would be in the field of finance working my way through the system and getting experience in the field I studied in for three and a half years. Perfect! What isn't to love about that?
Today, while running back down to Frankfort to take care of some additional paperwork so that I can actually start getting paid for my work, I was offered an additional position--to work internally at Kelly under the recruiters and trainers.
What the hell. What do I do now?
I never ever considered that I would have the power, as a recent graduate, to choose where I want to work. But what's worse... what if I pick the wrong one?
Okay... pros and cons: At Kelly, I simply adore the people in the office. I've met Joy, Amy, Tom, and I sort of met Russ. They're all terrific. I can't work with people I can't stand to be around. It's a great deal of administrative work: filing, data entry, scanning, telephones, customer service... all of which I can do to some extent. And as a staffing company, they understand the importance of thorough training. There are software training modules online, and I'm sure they'd be willing to help me train in other skills as well. Joy and Amy appear to have my best interests at heart. Amy has offered me three assignments already (took a marketing one over the weekend--easiest $44 EVER!) It will be full-time (the job at GMAC will be full-time as well, so we can probably discount this perk), so I will not be bored at home (...I would begin to go postal if I had to spend all of my time at Nana's. It just wouldn't fly too well). My people skills would develop, and there is nearly unlimited room for advancement. I wouldn't always have to stay in Frankfort--I could take on work in Glenview (ughhh Cubs territory) to be in their financial resources branch. There are great benefits... if you are full-time.
And the cons for Kelly: It may not turn into anything full-time in the end, but that is the same for GMAC. I would be working on being an "Amy temp" because she is going to be on maternity leave. It isn't within the field that I studied in (could be a pro... something new?). Constantly busy--multitasking is a must (I know how to do this, but will it be that stressful?). Amy says that if you internalize the stress and take a lot of the problems on as your own, you will not make it... I tend to do that. So is it a good fit? And lastly, the commute...
It's not a long drive to Frankfort. And I love driving, but it's going to put a good deal of wear and tear on the car. My goal is for it to last another 3-5 years. That may not happen if I'm adding 200 miles on it each week. I've looked into getting an apartment or sharing a room somewhere closer (there are some small places in Lockport that I looked into that are pretty cheap, but I think it would eat up too much of my spendable income). Eh. Living at Nana's may be the best option, financially right now. I would force myself to save $700 a month because I would not be paying rent. That would translate to $3500 by the end of the year. That's a nice emergency fund. Or a down payment on a new car. I need to figure out what my plan is as far as leaving Nana's goes. 2 years maybe? Ugh... she's moving... :-/ What is really annoying is that Dad and I lived, literally, just down the street from the office. Sucks. He's in Frankfort now, but he can't stand it. Even if he finds work in the area, he will not stay here.
Oh, right. Apparently, the computers freeze up a lot at Kelly. Fun!!
And now for GMAC... or what I know of GMAC anyway.
The pros: It's finance, so some entry-level experience in my field. Good stuff. Full-time, $14/hr. Orland Park, so not a horrible commute, really. It may turn into full-time after the contract (8 months... ending in March-ish?). No guarantees. Just like with Kelly.
The cons, supposedly, are that they are sometimes notorious for picking on temps... that is to be expected, I suppose. If you have a question about how something is done (i.e. "What if we do it this way?"), you may get shot down because you may be talking to someone resistant to change, more than likely. If you need to find information, sometimes they are not very direct with you. Exciting.
And that's kind of all I know about GMAC. Amy could only tell me so much. I'd really like to go in and talk to people who have worked there, but that's kind of against the rules. So... there goes my wanting to compare apples to apples.
I am trying to think long-term too. What will it mean if I forgo an opportunity in the finance industry? If it has been too long since I obtained my economics and finance degree, will I be shut out of the finance world for good? Do I even want to do finance? Mom suggested today that it doesn't seem like finance is really my passion... and she may be very right. I don't really know exactly what I want to do. All I really love right now is traveling and reading. Neither of which you can really do and get paid for it.
What will it mean if I get into HR? I never studied HR or psychology in school. I know that statistically, we will switch job paths three times in our lifetimes. So I may not be in HR forever.
My gut is telling me to at least try working internally at Kelly, and to see if it's something I want to do. They could find another finance job for me later on, right? Even if working internally is only temporary, something new will come along. I know that I can deal with people. I did customer service for five long years. This is a different kind of customer service. In a recession in retail, people just bitch about prices. In a recession in staffing, people will bitch that they have a family so you NEED to help them find work. Do I choose that, or the possibility that I may not like the people I work with at GMAC and risk not enjoying the career path I'd chosen for myself as a 19-year-old girl?
I'm just not used to having a choice. Mom suggests I go with Kelly. Dad suggests I keep looking. For the first time since I decided to enroll in North Central College, this decision is mine and mine alone.