Weigh my Options

Although I'm still very much interested in going to barber/cosmetology school and working in that career feild, I've been having some difficulty achieving this goal and I blame the fact that I've been so bogged down with two jobs and not making any decent money. To solve this problem I figured I'd try to find one job to make as much if not more money than the two jobs combined. I interviwed for two government jobs about a month ago and even accepted the possibility of becomming a manager at my retail job. Anyway, now things are somewhat falling into place, but with each possible opportunity comes advantages and drawbacks. I split it all up into three categories so one can follow......

THE JOBS

Possible job # 1 is for the Division of Rehabilitaion Services (DORS). DORS is a government agency that provides funding for disabled individuals and for many of the provider agencies like the one I currently work at. I went for a position of VR Specialist. As a VR specialist, I'd be doing case management and ensuring that my clients are recieving the appropriate services. This job pays $33,000/year, offers great benefits, and I liked the idea of how as I'd train I'd acquire my caseload instead of just having 100 plus individuals dumped onto me and told to get busy. The drawbacks of this job include, the job is way up in Timonium, MD which is about an hour drive for me and with the rising costs of gas that the extra $ I'd be making could all just go for gas and for car repairs. Also, I know the traffic can be horrible on many days and I could be sitting in traffic for maybe 2 hours at a time.

Possibble job # 2 is for the Department of Social Services (DSS). Again, this is anohter government job and it's responsible for providing services for disadvantaged people. I applied and interviewed for a position as a Career Counselor. As a Career Counselor, I'd be a case manager and responsible for coaching individuals into finding gainful employment and working them off of goverment funding. I'd most likely be working with individuals who're recieving welfare or are homeless. This job is right in Annapolis and although I'm not sure what the pay scale is. When I applied for anohter position there last year the starting pay was $15.00/hr. The only thing I'm not too thrilled about this job is that at the interview I was told how this is a developing position therefore I'm not sure what type of traing I'll recieve and the idea of having 100 plus individuals dumped onto me and the stress of finding them all jobs could be overwhelming.

Possible job # 3 is a management position at my retail job. My manager offered me this position when I tried to apply for the Human Resources position. He told me that I'd make a beter manager and the starting pay is $30,000-32,000/year which is about what I'm making with both my current jobs combined. Anohter perk was that if I were to run my own business/barber shop, this job would provide me with valuable experience. The only thing is that this is a very high stress level job and as a manager I'd be required to work many LONG hour days. Also, I'm not sure how flexible it would be when/if I start cosmetology/barber school.

WHERE I CURRENTLY STAND AT EACH JOB

At job # 1, I got a call yesterday (9-30-05) and I was offered a position, but not the VR specialist. Apparently the powers that be at DORS had already hired for that position, but since they "liked" me they offered me a temporary position I guess as a VR specialist assistant? This job will still pay the $33,000/year and have the same type of responsibilites/training, but the position is about 6 months and offers no benefits. On the plus side, this will be more $, valuable experience, and it could lead to a perminent position. On the other hand, I'd have to give up my current job which is providing me with benefits and I'd probably have to still keep my retai job on the weekends as something to fall back on if I'm not hired by DORS or have difficulty findng anohter job after the job ends.

At job # 2, I got a call on Wednesday from the lady who interviewed me at DSS. She said she forwarded my resume/appplication to the hiring manager and gave a strong recommendation. The only thing is this hiring manager is currently on vacation and won't be back in the office until next week. I just hope they don't forget about me.

At job # 3, Yesterday, I took the aptitude test and I'll probably get a call telling me the results. I will say some of the questions were pretty hard while others were purely common sense.

MY DECISION AS OF 10-01-05

I'm thinking I'll call DORS on Monday and accept the temporary position because it will provide me with valualbe experience to put on my resume and it's a $3,000 increase which can help pay for school. Since my retail job has been good to me (for the most part) and offers me a discount, I'll most likely keep that on weekends, but only work half days probably a shift like 4-10pm that way my days aren't completely wasted. In the meantime I'll wait and see if DSS calls me or if I'm offered the management position and if the benefits/hours/money is right, I'll definitely accept.