In A Pickle

[RNadine21]

To make this story as short as possible, let's go bullet point style

 

- I earned my Master's this May, and since then have been working two part-time jobs. Both are in my field and both are temporary.

- I got a full-time job which requires me to move back home (still waiting to hear when, and so far it's a verbal acceptance). I'm not excited about this job. It's in my field but not exactly where I want to be (I do know there is room for growth though). I'll be making less than I am now in a much more expensive area.

- Now all the sudden other opportunities are popping up. One application has been forwarded to the next step in the hiring process, I received information on a job that would very much utilize my skills, and now my supervisor tells me there has been thought to extending my current position until the end of the year.

 

I don't want to move, but if I have to I want to be excited about the job I'm moving for (which would be the other two opportunities that have come to light). I'm not excited about the job I've accepted, but at the moment it was my best offer.

 

Basically, how do I proceed from here?

[MsDarjeeling]

Well I can't tell you what to do, but you have to decide if its worth letting go of the full time opportunity to take a chance on the other possibilities.  Also the full time opportunity isn't guaranteed as there is no written offer letter and no start date.

 

While I'm not in your field I've been in your shoes working a couple of part time/temp jobs and trying to decide if I should take the full time job that would be ok or wait for something I was passionate about.  I've also picked both options and had mixed results.  Sometimes the full time opportunity was horrible, other times it was more amazing than I expected.  Other times waiting for something better led to something amazing, other times it led to nothing but the possibility of unemployment when my part time/temp jobs ended.

 

If you'd rather pass on the full time job, then consider how you will get by if/when your current jobs end.  Do you have savings?  Will unemployment be enough to tide you over until you find something.  Are there expenses you can cut if necessary?  Have you been expanding your network to increase your odds of getting something, even if its another part time/temp job?

 

If you take the full time job, then consider what growth opportunities there are.  Are any of those opportunities something you want?  How long will it take for you to get there?  Until you're able to move up will you be able to learn new skills and network with new people?  Can you adjust your budget enough to survive on less income?  Are the benefits good?  If that job ended suddenly would you have other opportunities in that area?

Edited August 29, 2013 by MsDarjeeling