posted 10-14-2005 08:35 PM            

The second offer is with the local pharmaceutical company.... for twice the pay! But here's the kicker... it's a 6-month assignment and then I'll be right back where I am now-- no job come spring!

What do I do? Take twice the money and pray for the best or take the permanent job and hope for frequent raises?

Why oh why oh why can't this get simpler?

I want a real job with real benefits! The doctor's office gives a monthly cash allowance for "benefits"-- I suppose I could buy my own health insurance. Of course, the temp job offers no benefits... no sick leave, and the likelihood of being hired permanent is scant...this company doesn't typically hire its contractors.

posted 10-14-2005 09:00 PM         

Have you ever thought about a rep for somehting like Baush and Lomb or a different contact lens company? I have a friend who works for BAush and Lomb (sure I spelled that wrong) she said they are always looking for reps with sales expr. and the pay is really good and they offer her benifits.

posted 10-15-2005 09:03 AM            

Even though the money is good, these temp assignments keep me in this holding pattern. I can't tell you the despair I felt when I was literally escorted out of the building the day that last assignment ended. I knew I was facing what I had been doing for 2 years... searching for work during and between temp jobs.

Grace, Wouldn't office management experience be great? I'm wondering if it'll open more doors than technical writing. While the latter may be more lucrative (not necessarily more interesting or fun), there are so few jobs and the competition is incredible. Bottom line with pharma companies: I don't have a scientific degree, so I'm not going to land those high-paying medical writing jobs.

I am so confused! The only real lure to the pharma co. is the pay---and this is tough as broke as I am! I think I'd enjoy the doctor's office job more... I'd interact with people instead of complete isolation in a cubicle staring at a computer the entire day.

Oh-- then there's this. My child support is based on our respective incomes. If I keep getting temp jobs... which in this case there were 5 months of no income between... I am going to be assigned an earning capacity based on these temp jobs. In the real world, in a permanent position, I wouldn't make nearly as much (and I've been told as such by the pharma co). The hourly rate is jacked up so the temp agency gets their cut. So, I would be assigned an earning capacity that is way higher than reality-- and my support would be cut accordingly. Then, there I stand without enough to live on. If I take a job that is more in line with permanent reality, the court will look at that (if I haven't already dug myself this high-paying illusory hole).

I appreciate your help in this! I am so stuck.

posted 10-15-2005 03:14 PM            

And YES, technical writing is BORING!! It was hell sometimes spending the whole day... often for days at a time... without interaction with people. I spent 2 1/2 writing from home-- all by my lonely self-- I need to be meeting people!

I think this opportunity with the optician is going to be really interesting. They want to train me in all apspects of the optical world. It'll be neat! I am pretty excited to start work on Monday.... busy inventorying clothes, tiny bit of shopping, etc.

Wish we could all pop a cork and celebrate!

posted 10-18-2005 04:20 PM            

I'm just so torn.... I think the doc's office is going to be crazy-busy for such little pay. The doc's wife sounds impossible to please, makes racial and social status remarks (I hate that!!), and criticizes all the other staff behind their backs. Honestly, I don't know if anyone could please her. Plus, I was told I'd need to work late on Mondays and-- oops-- she slipped Weds. eves on me today, too!

I haven't declined the pharma writing job yet. I asked the recruiter to try and find out the possiblilty of that becoming a permanent position, but I suspect predicting that will be hard.

Do you guys think I'm making a mistake taking the doc's office job? With neither job offering benefits, the way I see it I'm screwed either way.

posted 10-18-2005 08:42 PM            

On a side note, doctor's wives are the hardest people to please. They are all horrible in the work environment. I worked at a vets office for 2 years. When I got preg. his wife said "Just cut back her hours, she isn't going to be here much longer anyways!" She was awful. Trying to run the office from home---just awful, but the work was fun and the pay was pretty good.