Searching for a job feels like a sitcom (or a drama) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

IllinoisTVFan · 02-18-2020, 04:27 PM

So here's my story (apologize if it gets long I want to share the whole story). So I originally got a masters in what I love many years ago but when the economy was bad I couldn't get many jobs, also my skills were rusty so I needed to update but couldn't afford it. I decided to go back to school and decided on drug counseling because the program I really wanted that fit with my degree (online teaching and instructional design) seemed like a questionable choice. I start the addictions program and decide when I am almost done I really don't like most of the jobs in the field, and kind of lean towards marketing, education and research, things I have experience in but aim them towards social services.

After disappointment in not getting into the program I really wanted (the advanced counseling would have allowed me to start my own business, rejected because I stated I didn't want to deal with high crime areas), I started the online teaching and instructional design certificate and LOVED IT! It involves doing what I did before and everyone is great. I updated my rusty skills and created an online portfolio to show my work. I finish the drug counseling in 2018 and pass the state certification almost a year later, but put it off because I am getting interviews in my original fields (marketing and training). I finish the online teaching and instructional design program December 2019.

This gives you the background but basically I have been getting tons of interviews and received three job offers in addictions. One I immediately turn down because it's little hours and they were yelling at me at the interview. The other two I accepted with dread. The first one offered me the job the week after my interview and required a medical exam and background check after another, including reference check, employment, school etc. For two months I was in limbo and then they decided to rescind the offer. the day they rescinded I had 4 interviews that called.

The second is what I am dealing with now. I went for an interview last Wednesday and before the interview was over I was offered a job. She didn't even see my resume, just figured because I had the right credentials to offer me a job. I told her I had to think and after being rejected by a job I really wanted, I accepted (though she kept pressuring me to accept at the interview). Since then I've found out the job was 3-11 between Tuesday-Saturday in an area I know but not the greatest area (I grew up there). Also they haven't told me all the duties and it was mentioned I might have to drive people around in the company van at all hours of the night. I should mention the money is good and the benefits not bad which is good but still the hours make me wonder, especially since I would have to give up all my other activities including church (where I am very involved) and the library where I serve as a trustee.

Anyway, in the meantime I got a part time job watching someone who can't be left alone for long. The state is paying me to be a home health care worker and said I can work almost 40 hours. She lives near me (only a few blocks away), and I've known her and her family for years. The money is less than I would make at the other place but I wouldn't have to give up everything else. In addition, I have been getting many interviews more along with the jobs I want and the hours (basically 8-5 or around that).

Curious what would you do? As of now I am leaning towards taking the one job I dread but I really don't think it's right. It sounds like a supervision job to be honest. The counselor jobs there pay less and I suspect there is a reason they want to pay me more.

Foggy · 02-18-2020, 11:49 PM

I think you need to find out more about the job that is from 3-11 (afternoon to night hours) and what kind of people you would be expected to drive around.
What area would you have to drive into?
How safe would that really be?
Would there be anyway to get on to a different shift (daytime) after you had been there (say maybe 3 months) and had gotten your foot in the door (so to speak) or is that the only shift?

Once you have some answers, you would be able to come to a better decision as to whether it would be right for you.

As far as the Home Health Care Provider, make sure you know exactly what is expected of you to do.... would you have to do laundry,clean the house, fix meals, do dishes,wash and/or dress the person, run errands, do the grocery shopping or other shopping and what would happen if the person who is suppose to relieve you doesn't show up.
What to do if the person becomes physically violent?
My daughter has been a Home Health Provider, she got along great and one day the person started throwing things at her for no reason.
Things to think about!

I don't know if any of this would be helpful, it's your decision....choose wisely.

IllinoisTVFan · 02-18-2020, 11:58 PM

Thanks Foggy! The girl I would watch I wouldn't be expected to be anything but a companion. I've known her for years and I've been working with her so no issues, and she's not violent. It's more of a part time job but pays decently. Yeah before I start this job I asked them to send my a paper stating all my duties and where I would be expected to drive. I suspect I might have to drive to the south side of Chicago which is dangerous. Not sure if I could transfer after 3 months, I know they have a huge turnover, which might meant yes but on the other hand might just train me for 3-11. I'm in a position where I am getting many offers and have turned down a few so if this happens then something else will come along. I got a call for an interview today so hard to say what will happen. Part of me says to take the job and quit if it stinks but part says not to do anything until they tell me more. I'm also concerned that it's more advanced than what I want, they pay counselors a st rate and this is more which leads me to think it's more advanced, which I am leery about working because they are medicaid qualified which means a lot of paperwork. I know HR is supposed to call or email me so hopefully they will to clear things up.

Foggy · 02-19-2020, 12:17 AM

I know that money is almost always a major factor to determine whether to take a job or not, but sometimes the hours and days can be just as important.

I have been there.

IllinoisTVFan · 02-19-2020, 12:31 AM

Yeah the money is the big factor, the salary is really good. However, it's why I need to find out what that salary entails because if it deals with medicaid and paperwork (remember this is Illinois, home of bureaucracy) then I'll pass. I prefer a 9-5 job in something other than drug counseling so I'm not sure. So many things to consider. I had this happen a few months ago where I was offered a job and they wouldn't tell me anything. Long story short, after 2 months they rescinded so I think God answered my prayer.

02-18-2020, 04:27 PM	#1
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	Searching for a job feels like a sitcom (or a drama) So here's my story (apologize if it gets long I want to share the whole story). So I originally got a masters in what I love many years ago but when the economy was bad I couldn't get many jobs, also my skills were rusty so I needed to update but couldn't afford it. I decided to go back to school and decided on drug counseling because the program I really wanted that fit with my degree (online teaching and instructional design) seemed like a questionable choice. I start the addictions program and decide when I am almost done I really don't like most of the jobs in the field, and kind of lean towards marketing, education and research, things I have experience in but aim them towards social services. After disappointment in not getting into the program I really wanted (the advanced counseling would have allowed me to start my own business, rejected because I stated I didn't want to deal with high crime areas), I started the online teaching and instructional design certificate and LOVED IT! It involves doing what I did before and everyone is great. I updated my rusty skills and created an online portfolio to show my work. I finish the drug counseling in 2018 and pass the state certification almost a year later, but put it off because I am getting interviews in my original fields (marketing and training). I finish the online teaching and instructional design program December 2019. This gives you the background but basically I have been getting tons of interviews and received three job offers in addictions. One I immediately turn down because it's little hours and they were yelling at me at the interview. The other two I accepted with dread. The first one offered me the job the week after my interview and required a medical exam and background check after another, including reference check, employment, school etc. For two months I was in limbo and then they decided to rescind the offer. the day they rescinded I had 4 interviews that called. The second is what I am dealing with now. I went for an interview last Wednesday and before the interview was over I was offered a job. She didn't even see my resume, just figured because I had the right credentials to offer me a job. I told her I had to think and after being rejected by a job I really wanted, I accepted (though she kept pressuring me to accept at the interview). Since then I've found out the job was 3-11 between Tuesday-Saturday in an area I know but not the greatest area (I grew up there). Also they haven't told me all the duties and it was mentioned I might have to drive people around in the company van at all hours of the night. I should mention the money is good and the benefits not bad which is good but still the hours make me wonder, especially since I would have to give up all my other activities including church (where I am very involved) and the library where I serve as a trustee. Anyway, in the meantime I got a part time job watching someone who can't be left alone for long. The state is paying me to be a home health care worker and said I can work almost 40 hours. She lives near me (only a few blocks away), and I've known her and her family for years. The money is less than I would make at the other place but I wouldn't have to give up everything else. In addition, I have been getting many interviews more along with the jobs I want and the hours (basically 8-5 or around that). Curious what would you do? As of now I am leaning towards taking the one job I dread but I really don't think it's right. It sounds like a supervision job to be honest. The counselor jobs there pay less and I suspect there is a reason they want to pay me more.

02-18-2020, 11:49 PM	#2
Foggy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2014 Posts: 3,423	I think you need to find out more about the job that is from 3-11 (afternoon to night hours) and what kind of people you would be expected to drive around. What area would you have to drive into? How safe would that really be? Would there be anyway to get on to a different shift (daytime) after you had been there (say maybe 3 months) and had gotten your foot in the door (so to speak) or is that the only shift? Once you have some answers, you would be able to come to a better decision as to whether it would be right for you. As far as the Home Health Care Provider, make sure you know exactly what is expected of you to do.... would you have to do laundry,clean the house, fix meals, do dishes,wash and/or dress the person, run errands, do the grocery shopping or other shopping and what would happen if the person who is suppose to relieve you doesn't show up. What to do if the person becomes physically violent? My daughter has been a Home Health Provider, she got along great and one day the person started throwing things at her for no reason. Things to think about! I don't know if any of this would be helpful, it's your decision....choose wisely.

02-18-2020, 11:58 PM	#3
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	Thanks Foggy! The girl I would watch I wouldn't be expected to be anything but a companion. I've known her for years and I've been working with her so no issues, and she's not violent. It's more of a part time job but pays decently. Yeah before I start this job I asked them to send my a paper stating all my duties and where I would be expected to drive. I suspect I might have to drive to the south side of Chicago which is dangerous. Not sure if I could transfer after 3 months, I know they have a huge turnover, which might meant yes but on the other hand might just train me for 3-11. I'm in a position where I am getting many offers and have turned down a few so if this happens then something else will come along. I got a call for an interview today so hard to say what will happen. Part of me says to take the job and quit if it stinks but part says not to do anything until they tell me more. I'm also concerned that it's more advanced than what I want, they pay counselors a st rate and this is more which leads me to think it's more advanced, which I am leery about working because they are medicaid qualified which means a lot of paperwork. I know HR is supposed to call or email me so hopefully they will to clear things up.

02-19-2020, 12:17 AM	#4
Foggy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2014 Posts: 3,423	I know that money is almost always a major factor to determine whether to take a job or not, but sometimes the hours and days can be just as important. I have been there.

02-19-2020, 12:31 AM	#5
IllinoisTVFan Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 22, 2011 Location: South of Chicago Posts: 4,072	Yeah the money is the big factor, the salary is really good. However, it's why I need to find out what that salary entails because if it deals with medicaid and paperwork (remember this is Illinois, home of bureaucracy) then I'll pass. I prefer a 9-5 job in something other than drug counseling so I'm not sure. So many things to consider. I had this happen a few months ago where I was offered a job and they wouldn't tell me anything. Long story short, after 2 months they rescinded so I think God answered my prayer.