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Job Questions: WWYD?
Okay, here's the complicated story:
I'm waiting to hear back about MFA applications. The plan was for me to be a SAHW and work on my writing career for a while (freelance + personal essays/novels). Financially, we can do this.
Last fall, however, I was working as a special consultant/contractor for a tutoring center I LOVE (we'll call it "Center A."). The job ended in Decembe, but we now have news that we may be able to extend the project/finish out the year with it. It would only be 20 hours per week, probably three days, and the days/times are flexible each week (i.e., I can work MTW one week and TWTh the next week if I am taking a long weekend or something). However, we won't know if the job at Center A gets approved or extended until sometime next week probably.
I also had an interview to be a tutor at another place (we'll call it "Center B"). I'd expressed interest in Center B last fall well before the SAHW/Writer plan was even discussed since I was still working on my thesis and just needed cash. They weren't hiring. I just went in for an interview with them this week because they contacted me again. The job with them is tentative -- it's all dependent on my availability during the week/if they have holes in their schedule. They need to know my availability on Friday.
Center A is a job and place I love, but the contract may still fall through. Center B is a job I think I'd be good at, but I'd be brand new/learning the ropes. Center B also pays only about $13/hr and it would likely be less than 15 hrs/week of work (most likely 6-10). Financially, we're fine if I don't take either job. I don't really want to be working 30+ hours per week, which would happen if I ended up with both jobs.
Basically, I want the job at Center A, and if it worked out, I'd probably only want that job. It pays well enough to help us pay off our debt a lot faster, and it's a job I want. But, I need to let Center B know my availability by the end of this week. Would you:
1) Tell Center B I can't give them my availability until I hear about Center A?
2) Give Center B availability around when I'd likely be working at Center A?
3) Tell Center B thanks for the interview but I'm pursuing other opportunities and won't be availble?
4) Ask Center B what hours/holes in the schedule they think they may need me to fill and see if those hours would work for me before telling them if I'm available or not?
5) Something else?
Please help. I'm so stressed I can't see straight.
Re: Job Questions: WWYD?
If it were me, I'd do option 1. Since you're not gung-ho about Center B anyway, it shouldn't matter if they're not willing to wait until you hear about Center A the next week. I imagine they will wait though and then you can discuss your availability when you have a better sense of it.
You're in a pretty good position here. I can't think of any down sides, even if you end up with neither job. Hope you hear from Center A soon!
My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
My 101
Center A has offered me the job; it's just pending HR approval. We just don't know if/when HR will get to it.
I agree with V. Option 1 is what I would do if I were in your position. Hopefully they'll be fine with waiting and if they aren't, it isn't a big deal since it isn't the job you truly want.
I like this option best. Tell them your availability for now and, if it changes, tell them that. You could even tell them "this may change."
<a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="D
Update: I'm working at Center B for sure and Center A for 99% sure.
Center A still has one more beuacratic red tape line to cross, but it's likely it will. I'll be working there 3 days a week (for about 6.5-7 hours/day). Center B is a done deal. I'll be working there whatever 2 days a week I'm not at Center A.
Here's what happened:
I e-mailed Center B last night and told them I wouldn't know from Center A until next week. I told them if they needed to move forward without me, I understood, but if they could wait, I'd like to still work there. They called me today and said they wanted to hire me if we could make the schedules work out okay. Before I got that call, I confirmed with my boss at Center A the proposed schedule, and she said she'd be willing to be flexible so that I could do both. So I called Center B back and let them know that. So my schedule is still up in the air in terms of hours and days (which days I'll be where), but I do know it will be between 4-7 hours per day, M-F.
Thanks for the advice, ladies! I'll keep you posted as to if/when Center A goes from 99% to 100%!