Help JasonD figure out his job woes

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i had a job interview today and i'm trying to figure out if i'd want to take it if presented to me. help a brotha out.

so i've been unemployed/ freelancing (web design) for the past two years now. i'm not making tons of money, but surviving. i get to sleep till 10 every day and usually work from home in my underwear. it's not a regular gig at all. some weeks will be 40+ hours, but then there will be stretches where i won't work for a few days, weeks, or (right now) a whole month. most of the time it's a steady 20-30hrs a week.

i really don't like the work i do. my boss is an asshat and there's very little creativity allowed. usually he sits over my shoulder and dictates what colors things should be and how big and all that (pretty sucky, but i've gotten used to it).

but i really want something steady. i want to know that there is a paycheck on it's way. i wouldn't mind actually having people around when i'm working.

so today i had an interview for a freelance to full time gig at a design company. i will definitely be making more than i make now (not tons more, but more). it will be regular and i'll get to be social again. but the work seems really menial. they want to bring me in as a production worker. it's kind of a step down, but they said that once i'm in the company, they'll try to bring me into more creative areas and there's a definite chance for upward movement.

so i really want a job. do i take something that i may not be very fufilling just because i need the money. or do i stay with something i don't really like and keep my freedom to do what i like during the day?

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:34 (twenty-two years ago)

take it, everyone promotes from within. you know what it's like out here for this industry. Plus you'll have benefits and you've got to appreciate being able to go to the doctor.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

your boss looks over your shoulder while you sit in your underwear?

Speaking as an unemployed person, I'd take the job. You might lose some freedom, but on the other hand the economy might not get any better anytime soon, and freelance work could dry up. Steady pay and good benefits are easily taken for granted when you have 'em, but when they're gone they're missed.

― hstencil, Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

i got married this july just so i could be put on my wife's insurance plan.

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

but her job (same place as gygax!'s) is doing a huge amount of layoffs and she might be kaputs.

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

and not because you love her? Shocking!

― hstencil, Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Jason, for my sake and my wife's sake and the sake of everyone else in the Bay Area (and the world) looking for a job, I think you should take it. I quit a steady job in my field and haven't got much but shit freelance work or temp jobs since.

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i wish i could just get an allowance

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

shit, i'll even make the bed every day

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 18:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i did what you're considering, jason - and it all depends on the company you wind-up at. i'm making alot more now and, working in design, it's always helpful to have others around for input and such. i don't like this whole getting up at 7:30 (okay 8) estee, but i can't stand freelance work.

― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I would take it. You can even tell yourself it's just for a 18 monthes or something, long enough to take advantage of whatever benefits and take a REAL vacation. Freelancing/unemployedness often seems like a vacation to other people, but it's a million times more relaxing to take time off when you know you can still pay the rent next month.
At least, that's what I imagine. Haven't had a holiday in 2.5 years.
I am a dull boy.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

2 1/2 years, are you mad¿¿¿
why¿ do you "enjoy" work or some crap¿

― dyson (dyson), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

take it take it take it. you can always quit if it's really bad. solid things in this market are few and far between.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm technically part-time (on the clock 29 hours, exactly one hour short of qualifying for vacation/health/dignity benefits), and then I freelance to same place on the side, and frankly, I can't afford to take a holiday. But if I quit smoking, which I plan on doing starting Saturday, I will be able to save some money.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Jason, I realized my above post sounds like you should take this job for everyone else's sake. What I should have added is that you must of course take it for your own reasons. Didn't want to come across whiny and self-centred, even though that's probably what I am.

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:42 (twenty-two years ago)

also, you can continue to freelance on the side = network and build relationships for the hopefully inevitably brighter future.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:46 (twenty-two years ago)

oh, here's something i forgot to mention. the freelance/ contract gig that i have now, i've had for two years now. i'm always afraid to try something new because if i do hate it, will i give up something that's kinda regular? they're gonna go and get someone else to take my miserable job and then i'll be even more shit out of luck.

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I hear you on that one!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 19:58 (twenty-two years ago)

they're gonna go and get someone else to take my miserable job and then i'll be even more shit out of luck.

Even better reason to take this new possible job, then: everyone I know (that's working) has to juggle doing the bits they enjoy with their day job. From what you say, the freelance position might end. Then what? I'm guessing you are an independent person that doesn't want to live off his spouse. Tried and true: work this new job for possible advancing. You'd have better luck, than if you trawled through the Classifieds cold.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 20:26 (twenty-two years ago)

i have job woes:(

― ... (gareth), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

You REALLY need to talk to my friend Jeremy (you big flake).

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 23:55 (twenty-two years ago)

who's Jeremy?

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 2 October 2003 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

if he's a man with a job, hook a brutha up

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 2 October 2003 01:57 (twenty-two years ago)

He's the guy I keep telling you you should talk to but you end up messing up at work and having to stay at home working instead of going out and having a drink with us.

IN FACT, one of the bands that he's been designing for is playing the parkside tonight and i'm gonna head over in a couple. they put on one of the most "inspired" performances i've seen in a long time last year and they + the parkside = a recipe for rock intensity.

check your email.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:13 (twenty-two years ago)

i have a second interview tomorrow

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

hopefully, this will turn into job whoa's

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 2 October 2003 17:37 (twenty-two years ago)

haha

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 2 October 2003 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

oh by the way, the bass player got three teeth knocked out 2 songs in last night and he only lasted a few songs after that so you didn't miss too much.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 2 October 2003 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I have not had an interview since I lost my job; it's been over three months. I don't even know what to do anymore, and my state of mind couldn't be worse. I feel like a dead man.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 2 October 2003 19:24 (twenty-two years ago)

If it's any consolation, I feel kind of similar.

― adaml (adaml), Thursday, 2 October 2003 19:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I mean, it's not like I didn't know the job market here was bad, and it certainly isn't any better in London...

― adaml (adaml), Thursday, 2 October 2003 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

OMG!! OMG!! I GOT ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH A BETTER COOLER COMPANY ON MONDAY!! SOMEONE LOVES ME!!

― JasonD (JasonD), Friday, 3 October 2003 00:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Nobody loves me.

― Sean (Sean), Friday, 3 October 2003 01:55 (twenty-two years ago)

sean, if i get the cool job, i'll give you the sucky one. k?

― JasonD (JasonD), Friday, 3 October 2003 02:47 (twenty-two years ago)

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