WWYD (Job Hunt)

[LuvOrlando]

Is the new town you'd be relocating to better for your career &/or for everyone else or not? Do you and your kids want to age in your current town or not? New job a better title, any other improvement?

You could tread water like this for years if you rent for a steady paycheck and peace of mind if college is on it's way, plus, just like you are wondering what is wrong with the job open for a while employers wonder the same about job prospects who stay still too long. I don't mean to be unkind but the nasty blowback I got for being a SAHM was unreal and unexpected so if you end up home a while have responses.

 

[sam_gordon]

Is the new town you'd be relocating to better for your career &/or for everyone else or not? Do you and your kids want to age in your current town or not? New job a better title, any other improvement?

You could tread water like this for years if you rent for a steady paycheck and peace of mind if college is on it's way, plus, just like you are wondering what is wrong with the job open for a while employers wonder the same about job prospects who stay still too long. I don't mean to be unkind but the nasty blowback I got for being a SAHM was unreal and unexpected so if you end up home a while have responses.

I'm not sure what "better for my career" would mean. I'm looking for a job I can retire at in another ~15 years.

As far as the family, oldest DD is on her own. DS is in his freshman year at college, so where we are doesn't really matter. Youngest DD, as I said earlier is a junior in HS. She does NOT want to move. We (DW & I) don't want her to move.

To me, titles don't mean a lot. Each company has different titles but same responsibilities. The company I interviewed with is supposedly a very good company to work for (not that my former company was bad) and I like what they've done with the facilities.

I agree I don't want my job hunt to go on for a long time, but I've officially been out of a job for 10 days now. I'm not worried (yet) over explaining a gap in my history. Ask me at the end of the year and I would have a different answer.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm not sure what "better for my career" would mean. I'm looking for a job I can retire at in another ~15 years.

As far as the family, oldest DD is on her own. DS is in his freshman year at college, so where we are doesn't really matter. Youngest DD, as I said earlier is a junior in HS. She does NOT want to move. We (DW & I) don't want her to move.

To me, titles don't mean a lot. Each company has different titles but same responsibilities. The company I interviewed with is supposedly a very good company to work for (not that my former company was bad) and I like what they've done with the facilities.

I agree I don't want my job hunt to go on for a long time, but I've officially been out of a job for 10 days now. I'm not worried (yet) over explaining a gap in my history. Ask me at the end of the year and I would have a different answer.

Other than this job, any bites at all last week, since I think this thread is a week old now. Even a contact?

 

[sam_gordon]

Other than this job, any bites at all last week, since I think this thread is a week old now. Even a contact?

Actually I have two Teams interviews today. Both jobs would require relocation.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Actually I have two Teams interviews today. Both jobs would require relocation.

In good news, even if you don't want to relocate, if you get to a salary discussion point in the interview, that should tell you if the 1st offer is unreasonable...

 

[sam_gordon]

In good news, even if you don't want to relocate, if you get to a salary discussion point in the interview, that should tell you if the 1st offer is unreasonable...

The offer I got last week is actually reasonable for the position. If it wasn't for the "two households"/commute issue (ie: I could actually move my family for it), I would seriously be considering taking it.

I'm still hoping that a job I applied to at the end of September (two days after it opened) works out. I even have an "in" at that company, but want to give it at least another week before reaching out to see what's going on. It's a job that *I* think I'd be perfect for, different enough (but not a lot) from what I've been doing to be "new", and I'd be based at home.

 

[Jangles]

The offer I got last week is actually reasonable for the position. If it wasn't for the "two households"/commute issue (ie: I could actually move my family for it), I would seriously be considering taking it.

I'm still hoping that a job I applied to at the end of September (two days after it opened) works out. I even have an "in" at that company, but want to give it at least another week before reaching out to see what's going on. It's a job that *I* think I'd be perfect for, different enough (but not a lot) from what I've been doing to be "new", and I'd be based at home.

 

[sam_gordon]

Keep your fingers crossed. Got an email saying they want to schedule a time to talk to me.

That's my ideal (at this point) job.

Another company contacted me and I'm booked to fly there on Friday for an interview.
Had an online interview this morning and they're hoping to hire to start 1st of the year. I think I did OK, not outstanding (of course I don't know how other candidates are).
Yet another interview (online) this afternoon.

 

[kymom99]

Great news! Good luck!

 

[mefordis]

I totally respect what you're saying. But trust me when I say there are no current openings in my industry that allow me to stay home. I am also looking at jobs that can leave me "based" at home, but travel for work. If we didn't have a HS Junior, moving the family would be more of an option.

I have a friend who used to travel during the week from NY to MD. He'd stay there for 4 nights then back home for the remainder. It wasn't ideal but he did it and it did pay off and he has no regrets. Plenty of people fly weekly for their job. I'd just view it as temporary until something closer to home comes along down the road.

 

[mefordis]

Keep your fingers crossed. Got an email saying they want to schedule a time to talk to me.

That's my ideal (at this point) job.

Another company contacted me and I'm booked to fly there on Friday for an interview.
Had an online interview this morning and they're hoping to hire to start 1st of the year. I think I did OK, not outstanding (of course I don't know how other candidates are).
Yet another interview (online) this afternoon.

Wow, the job market seems pretty good right now? That's fantastic news.

 

[SirDuff]

How was the interview? Other than the flight issues coming home

 

[sam_gordon]

How was the interview? Other than the flight issues coming home

It seemed to go pretty well. I would not be surprised to get an offer. I'm just not sure I can afford it. The "dual habitation" that would be required just puts a real damper on things.

But possible good news... I got a call from a former acquaintance just as I returned to my home airport. He is absolutely swamped at work and is going to propose to his boss that they hire me on a freelance basis (at least to start) to take take some of the load off. If I understood him correctly, his boss is at least willing to consider it. That job is something I would *LOVE* to do, again, would be a lot of travel, but I could live anywhere.

So I have two "opportunities" where I can be based at home but travel, another "opportunity" for a job in CA, but one that pays MUCH better, and might make the dual habitation thing work financially, and the Florida job.

The problem is the "opportunities" may result in offers and may not. I just wish I knew. Sort of like the original point of the thread, it's hard to turn down a (hypothetical) offer in the hopes a better job comes along.

 

[fly girl]

That is hard with the unknown. You just wish they'd offer it at the same time so you can make the decision that is best versus what is handed out first.

The limbo phase is rough. As I said before, listen to your gut. It is usually the correct choice. Good luck!

 

[TwoMisfits]

It seemed to go pretty well. I would not be surprised to get an offer. I'm just not sure I can afford it. The "dual habitation" that would be required just puts a real damper on things.

But possible good news... I got a call from a former acquaintance just as I returned to my home airport. He is absolutely swamped at work and is going to propose to his boss that they hire me on a freelance basis (at least to start) to take take some of the load off. If I understood him correctly, his boss is at least willing to consider it. That job is something I would *LOVE* to do, again, would be a lot of travel, but I could live anywhere.

So I have two "opportunities" where I can be based at home but travel, another "opportunity" for a job in CA, but one that pays MUCH better, and might make the dual habitation thing work financially, and the Florida job.

The problem is the "opportunities" may result in offers and may not. I just wish I knew. Sort of like the original point of the thread, it's hard to turn down a (hypothetical) offer in the hopes a better job comes along.

If you live in FL, I would rule out the CA offer now (if it comes)...CA is REALLY expensive vs FL, so I don't think what they offered would be competitive to the other jobs when you actually looked at cost to live and take home pay...

So, you still have one offer and some maybes...it sounds like a friend is trying to help with the freelance, but that will likely be financially worse and "stability" worse (freelancer is the easiest to just let go and stop sending work) in a lot of ways than what you already have, so again, it's one that would really have to be close in pay to even think about it, even though it's close to home...

Just my thoughts - the 2 possible offers with travel would have me waiting a few weeks to see what happens, but if nothing, I might take the one job you do still have on the table...as the weeks go, there are fewer and fewer you have to wait out for high school. In fact, you could negotiate for a Jan 3 start date or something later to make it even less time you have to hold 2 households to get out of the high school era...

 

[sam_gordon]

If you live in FL, I would rule out the CA offer now (if it comes)...CA is REALLY expensive vs FL, so I don't think what they offered would be competitive to the other jobs when you actually looked at cost to live and take home pay...

So, you still have one offer and some maybes...it sounds like a friend is trying to help with the freelance, but that will likely be financially worse and "stability" worse (freelancer is the easiest to just let go and stop sending work) in a lot of ways than what you already have, so again, it's one that would really have to be close in pay to even think about it, even though it's close to home...

Just my thoughts - the 2 possible offers with travel would have me waiting a few weeks to see what happens, but if nothing, I might take the one job you do still have on the table...as the weeks go, there are fewer and fewer you have to wait out for high school. In fact, you could negotiate for a Jan 3 start date or something later to make it even less time you have to hold 2 households to get out of the high school era...

A) I don't live in FL. I live in KY. Both FL and CA are more expensive than KY. Which leads to #2...
B) CA job would pay AT LEAST 50% more than the FL job. I was told the range for both jobs and the minimum for CA would be 50% more than the max in FL. But, CA does have an internal applicant they're apparently high on, so that may not matter.
C) The freelance thing, if it comes through would last at least until April, and can lead to a permanent role (and give me more experience for the resume). Even if the pay is lower than FL and CA, I don't have the "dual habitation" thing to deal with. That's a significant thing to factor into pay.
D) For FL, I am one of three candidates. I was the last one for an on-site interview. They will decide Monday who they want to go with. They contact that person and see if they want to continue the process. Then HR determines the pay scale (it depends on academic and career history). Then the candidate is told the pay and get to decide yes/no. Either way, I don't see postponing a decision for weeks.

 

[mefordis]

I'm not sure what "better for my career" would mean. I'm looking for a job I can retire at in another ~15 years.

As far as the family, oldest DD is on her own. DS is in his freshman year at college, so where we are doesn't really matter. Youngest DD, as I said earlier is a junior in HS. She does NOT want to move. We (DW & I) don't want her to move.

To me, titles don't mean a lot. Each company has different titles but same responsibilities. The company I interviewed with is supposedly a very good company to work for (not that my former company was bad) and I like what they've done with the facilities.

I agree I don't want my job hunt to go on for a long time, but I've officially been out of a job for 10 days now. I'm not worried (yet) over explaining a gap in my history. Ask me at the end of the year and I would have a different answer.

Do you do something that would allow you to contract/freelance? If so there could be no gap on your resume until you find a fulltime position working for someone else.

I worked in IT before being a stay at home mom and I set up my own S corp and had a handful of clients for about 5 years. That time on my resume shows that I was working.

 

[TwoMisfits]

A) I don't live in FL. I live in KY. Both FL and CA are more expensive than KY. Which leads to #2...
B) CA job would pay AT LEAST 50% more than the FL job. I was told the range for both jobs and the minimum for CA would be 50% more than the max in FL. But, CA does have an internal applicant they're apparently high on, so that may not matter.
C) The freelance thing, if it comes through would last at least until April, and can lead to a permanent role (and give me more experience for the resume). Even if the pay is lower than FL and CA, I don't have the "dual habitation" thing to deal with. That's a significant thing to factor into pay.
D) For FL, I am one of three candidates. I was the last one for an on-site interview. They will decide Monday who they want to go with. They contact that person and see if they want to continue the process. Then HR determines the pay scale (it depends on academic and career history). Then the candidate is told the pay and get to decide yes/no. Either way, I don't see postponing a decision for weeks.

So, if you're in KY, what is the one offer you have that requires the dual habitation that you didn't really want...I'm assuming that's not the Florida one, then...is that original one just gone now? Or is it one of the 2 "lots of travel" ones?

EDIT: Just trying to sort this out to advise:

Actual offer #1 2 homes needed somewhere
FL possible
CA possible
KY but travel 1 possible
KY but travel 2 possible
KY IC Freelance possible

 

[sam_gordon]

So, if you're in KY, what is the one offer you have that requires the dual habitation that you didn't really want...I'm assuming that's not the Florida one, then...is that original one just gone now? Or is it one of the 2 "lots of travel" ones?

EDIT: Just trying to sort this out to advise:

Actual offer #1 2 homes needed somewhere
FL possible
CA possible
KY but travel 1 possible
KY but travel 2 possible
KY IC Freelance possible

Job Offer #1: Subject of this thread. Turned down because the pay wasn't enough to support dual habitation.

Job Possibility #2: FL job that I think I'm going to get an offer.
Job Possibility #3: Travel job #1, no dual habitation required. I think I would enjoy this job. Don't know what the pay is yet though.
Job Possibility #4: CA job. Highest paying, but dual habitation required. This would be really intriguing, challenging, and fun (I think).
Job Possibility #5: Travel job #2, no dual habitation required. I would REALLY like this job, and think I could do well. BUT, it would at least start as freelance and go through April (if not longer).

If I needed to rank them, it would be #5, #3, #4, #2. But, as I was lamenting, all the timelines are different.

 

[sam_gordon]

Job Offer #1: Subject of this thread. Turned down because the pay wasn't enough to support dual habitation.

Job Possibility #2: FL job that I think I'm going to get an offer.
Job Possibility #3: Travel job #1, no dual habitation required. I think I would enjoy this job. Don't know what the pay is yet though.
Job Possibility #4: CA job. Highest paying, but dual habitation required. This would be really intriguing, challenging, and fun (I think).
Job Possibility #5: Travel job #2, no dual habitation required. I would REALLY like this job, and think I could do well. BUT, it would at least start as freelance and go through April (if not longer).

If I needed to rank them, it would be #5, #3, #4, #2. But, as I was lamenting, all the timelines are different.

And the search is over! #3 came through! I talked to #5 but they said their HR moves too slow and if I got a job offer I'm happy with, take it! Never heard back from #2 or #4.

Bad news is the pay is slightly less than what I used to make (~15% less). BUT, they would pay for my meals while I'm travelling (so that's a savings), and I wouldn't have to drive as far (used to be ~50-60 minute RT commute each day). So less gas and less wear/tear on the car. Put those two together and the pay difference isn't as bad. And it will be a lot of travelling (2-3 weeks/month). So "side" benefit is I get to accumulate airline miles & hotel/rental car points.

Waiting on the written job offer (got and accepted the verbal), but that is supposed to be to me by midday tomorrow.

Just wanted to update. Excited and nervous.