More on the job front
So I've interviewed and interviewed and interviewed some more (4 in total) for the job I've been doing since I came home in August. In the final interview the hiring manager said I had to commit to 12 months in this job. I told her I didn't know if I could do that since I'm thinking about going back and getting my teaching certificate. She said to think about it and let her know.
I talked to her again this week and I said I can give you 7 months. The alternate certification program at NKU doesn't start until this summer and I need a job until then. But I also told her I can't tell the future. Maybe she changes my mind and I decide account management really is my calling (highly unlikely but whatever) or maybe I don't get into the program this year. Maybe I get hit by a bus tomorrow and none of it matters. I would however really like the higher pay and benefits that come with a salaried position but I get that she wants to hire someone who she knows for sure will be long term.
If she decides she doesn't want to hire me full time she assured me that there is plenty of work for me as a temp. I would stay supporting the two account managers I support now until they hire someone long term and get them trained and then one of the account managers is going out on maternity leave soon so someone will need to help out on her accounts until she gets back.
I could have just said yes and committed to the 12 months and then kept looking but I didn't want to set up expectations and then burn bridges later if something else came up. What if I start teaching, realize I hate it, and want to come back? I'll still have that as an option this way. Plus it just felt dishonest to me. My one friend thought I was an idiot for not just saying yes and taking the job and other people have said they understand where I was coming from. The hiring manager thanked me for my honesty and said she respected that I needed some time to make a decision. She might decide to hire me anyway and either way I don't have to be secretive about trying to get into the alternate certification program.
Later that same afternoon I got another very nice email from my frustrating new program roll out customer (restaurant chain with the initials BM.) My account manager forwarded it to the hiring manager who emailed me with the message, "ARE YOU SURE? WE NEED YOU!" I wish this was where I wanted to be. It would make my life easier but I really don't want to do this job for the rest of my life.
In other job news - the English teaching job in KY didn't come through. Just as I suspected it came down to they really wanted someone part time and I just couldn't swing that. They did email me this week to tell me they are adding a full time administrative position supporting projects they have going in the US and Japan and with my account management background it would be a good fit. He's supposed to contact me once they have more concrete details about the position. Since it's a small company I might even still get to teach when and if they needed someone. *crosses my fingers*
I'm scheduled to take the GRE next month and I'm studying like mad for the math section. I'm not worried about the other two parts since I did well on them before but I sucked big time on the math. It's definitely my Achilles heel. So once the holidays are over I will start looking for a teaching position, take the GRE and maybe the Praxis, apply for the alternate certification program, get in, get certified, and start a teaching job next school year. That's if everything goes as planned. We all know how often that happens.
If not then I will continue at C-- or if the job in KY comes through at least I'll have something that utilizes my Japanese.
Oh and my dad's boss asked if I'd like to tutor his daughter in Spanish. $20/hour for up to 5 hours a week. I'm debating whether or not to take it but it would be good experience if I want to be a teacher. The downside is that she lives in Northern KY, which is pretty far from where I live north of Cincinnati, but she has her driver's license so we could meet somewhere closer. My dad told me no pressure but jokingly mentioned that they are laying people off and his job might depend on it. We'll see. I'm not hurting for money but the experience and extra cash might be nice.
So lots to be thankful for even though I hate being in limbo like this.
I talked to her again this week and I said I can give you 7 months. The alternate certification program at NKU doesn't start until this summer and I need a job until then. But I also told her I can't tell the future. Maybe she changes my mind and I decide account management really is my calling (highly unlikely but whatever) or maybe I don't get into the program this year. Maybe I get hit by a bus tomorrow and none of it matters. I would however really like the higher pay and benefits that come with a salaried position but I get that she wants to hire someone who she knows for sure will be long term.
If she decides she doesn't want to hire me full time she assured me that there is plenty of work for me as a temp. I would stay supporting the two account managers I support now until they hire someone long term and get them trained and then one of the account managers is going out on maternity leave soon so someone will need to help out on her accounts until she gets back.
I could have just said yes and committed to the 12 months and then kept looking but I didn't want to set up expectations and then burn bridges later if something else came up. What if I start teaching, realize I hate it, and want to come back? I'll still have that as an option this way. Plus it just felt dishonest to me. My one friend thought I was an idiot for not just saying yes and taking the job and other people have said they understand where I was coming from. The hiring manager thanked me for my honesty and said she respected that I needed some time to make a decision. She might decide to hire me anyway and either way I don't have to be secretive about trying to get into the alternate certification program.
Later that same afternoon I got another very nice email from my frustrating new program roll out customer (restaurant chain with the initials BM.) My account manager forwarded it to the hiring manager who emailed me with the message, "ARE YOU SURE? WE NEED YOU!" I wish this was where I wanted to be. It would make my life easier but I really don't want to do this job for the rest of my life.
In other job news - the English teaching job in KY didn't come through. Just as I suspected it came down to they really wanted someone part time and I just couldn't swing that. They did email me this week to tell me they are adding a full time administrative position supporting projects they have going in the US and Japan and with my account management background it would be a good fit. He's supposed to contact me once they have more concrete details about the position. Since it's a small company I might even still get to teach when and if they needed someone. *crosses my fingers*
I'm scheduled to take the GRE next month and I'm studying like mad for the math section. I'm not worried about the other two parts since I did well on them before but I sucked big time on the math. It's definitely my Achilles heel. So once the holidays are over I will start looking for a teaching position, take the GRE and maybe the Praxis, apply for the alternate certification program, get in, get certified, and start a teaching job next school year. That's if everything goes as planned. We all know how often that happens.
If not then I will continue at C-- or if the job in KY comes through at least I'll have something that utilizes my Japanese.
Oh and my dad's boss asked if I'd like to tutor his daughter in Spanish. $20/hour for up to 5 hours a week. I'm debating whether or not to take it but it would be good experience if I want to be a teacher. The downside is that she lives in Northern KY, which is pretty far from where I live north of Cincinnati, but she has her driver's license so we could meet somewhere closer. My dad told me no pressure but jokingly mentioned that they are laying people off and his job might depend on it. We'll see. I'm not hurting for money but the experience and extra cash might be nice.
So lots to be thankful for even though I hate being in limbo like this.