Job offer, what to do... Care to weigh in?

[grace0418]

There is a strong likelihood that a decent job offer is coming my way. I've been working as a freelancer for a year now and I love it, but someone from a creative agency said there is a job available and someone who works there specifically recommended me for it. Of course, that's always nice to hear (and I don't even know who the person is just yet).

The problem is that, in general, I love freelancing. The downside of freelancing is the uncertainty of work, no bennies, no paid vacations. The plus side is FREEDOM, no commute, no petty office politics, and LOTS of money if you can keep busy. So far I have been keeping pretty busy, but I'm a little slower now than I'd like to be. Which scares me a little.

So my first order of business was to tell my rep that I couldn't take less than $X. That's weeded out a few job offers in the past and made my decision easier. She said that number wouldn't be a problem. Damn. Okay, so the commute might be an issue, which is something to consider. But if the pay and benefits are good, it might be hard to turn down.

I'm definitely going to go in for the interview, it never hurts to have the conversation. And I've noticed that my general ambivalence tends to make me more attractive at interviews over the people who are super eager to get the job.

In this economy, it seems smart to take a full-time job. But I really do love my life right now. What would you do?

I suppose the other option would be to possibly negotiate part-time work, or some freelance work from them. If they'd be willing to do that that might be the best of both worlds.

[Tobin S.]

1. My only concern would be health insurance

Do you have it right now? Maybe from your partner's employer? Or maybe you've bought it privately? That's the only thing keeping me from being self-emplyed right now. I have a pre-existing condition that costs $400 a month to treat. Through my employer's health insurance plan I pay $85 now. I might be able to make up the difference with a pay boost from self-employment and my odds of being hospitalized for the illness are slim, but if it does happen, I'm looking at a minimum of a $12,000 bill if I don't have health insurance coverage. Currently I'd pay around $2400 for the same stay.

As you might guess I'm kind of disappointed right now considering current events.

[grace0418]

3. I am on my husband's health insurance, but that is still a consideration because

he and I have been struggling lately so there is a possibility I will not be on his insurance forever. I hope that's not the case, but it's certainly in the back of my mind. Of course, I don't even know how good the benefits are at this job yet, so that my be a moot point. Thanks though.

I understand your disappointment. If we could actually get decent healthcare for all in the country, I wouldn't even think twice about going back to full-time office work.

[Brickbat]

2. I'd make a strong play for getting them as a client.

I say that as a fellow freelancer. If you don't have to take a job (because you need the income or health insurance) and you're happy, talk about what you can do for them as a freelancer.

It's a great position to be in, lucky you! If worst comes to worst you could take the job for three months and see what you think.

[grace0418]

4. Thanks Brickbat. I know, it is a nice position to be in, although I have a few clients

that I wouldn't want to lose unless I was pretty darn sure this full-time job would be a good fit for a long time. They're good clients, pay on time, pay decently, and they love me. If only they gave me a little more steady work I wouldn't even be considering other options.

Anyway, I will definitely go in for the interview and see if I can get a read on their willingness to give me freelance projects or even part-time work. I would be willing to work in an office 2 days a week, which would still allow me to do freelance the rest of the week. A little stability mixed with freedom, might be a nice balance.

[MicaelS]

6. Take it...

Use the opportunity to do plenty of networking. Get to know as many people as possible, you'll never know when you might meet a potential client you otherwise might not have met. And the more valuable you show yourself to be as an employee, the better your chances of becoming a freelancer for this company in the future.

[dembotoz]

5. what about remote office

sort of live like a free lancer but have a real paycheck and maybe benifits

commute on occasion....

[grace0418]

9. That would be pretty great. I would love that.

It's hard to get, but if they like me enough maybe they would be willing to consider it.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. You don't sound ready to take a full time job with them.

One of your concerns is the commute, another is autonomy. You mentioned negotiating part-time or freelance work, but you also voiced concern over the slow pace of the freelancing. If you like the offer put on the table, try to negotiate telecommuting for a least one or two days a week.

I was consulting and really liked it, but at a point where the jobs were drying up I was offered a good job with excellent pay and benefits and took it. It was hard at first but then it became the new normal. I banked a lot of money and made high contributions to a 401K. When it was time to move on I left with several of their clients soliciting me for consulting work (there was no binding noncompete agreement and the work the clients offered was too small scale for my previous employer to have been considered, so no conflict of interest issues there.) I went back to consulting earning more than ever before. YMMV.

[grace0418]

11. Thanks Gormy Cuss.

I will definitely feel out my options when I go in. If they really like me and whoever recommended me really wants me there, then maybe they'll be willing to negotiate. But yeah, unless the offer was really spectacular, I don't feel like I'm ready to go back into full time office work.

And really, my concerns about it being slow are really just me freaking out. I've already made plenty of money for the month, more than I even expected to make. January and February are notoriously slow while people get their new year up and running, so the fact that I've had as much work as I've had for the past month is a pretty good sign for the months to come.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. Would you have to face the issue of whoring yourself?

.
I had a pretty solid shot at a high-paying creative job in advertising
partly through my abilities but the "in" to the firm would have been
nepotistic (if that's NOT a word, it is now -- feel free to use it).
.
I was fine with that. But I KNEW that I would have been expected to
work on cigarette campaigns and the like and, knowing mysel... KNEW
that the joy of creative work would have seduced me into selling
Marlboros to infants, if that's what I was asked to do.
.
Didn't put myself in that position.
.
I saw FREEDOM as one of your benefits of freelancing. Did that include
freedom of choice as to what you would be helping to promote? I kinda
assume so and it should be something you consider as an important factor
in your job satisfaction.
.

.

[grace0418]

10. None of the products this company produces are particularly egregious. I know what you mean

about working on cigarette campaigns. I remember when I first got into design professionally, the cigarette companies were doing the coolest, most interesting work. I knew a few people who got put on some campaigns and really struggled with it.

My current clients are pretty innocuous as well. So far I haven't been asked to work on anything to which I am strongly opposed. Well, I take that back. At my last job I was asked to design some "inspirational" gift items to be sold at Walmart. Organized religion and Walmart, two things I really don't like. But I got taken off those assignments really fast because I always made them too "new age-y" and definitely not cheesy enough.

[elehhhhna]

12. Have them put you on retainer.

[grace0418]

13. Thanks, elehhhhna.

I think I'm going to try something along those lines. :hi:

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

14. Throw out a few of these ideas and see if they bite;

"Can I work at home and do a tele-commute thing"?
"My work flows easier and I'm more creative with a VERY long leash. How does that fit with you guys?"
"The commute is a killer (if it really is), can I get mileage or a bus pass?" (or whatever applies where you live)
I'm sure you can think of more........... :)

[grace0418]

16. Thanks! I will try something along those lines.

It's weird, when you're somewhat ambivalent about the job, you feel a lot more confident negotiating. And you're much more enticing it seems.

[rurallib]

15. And this is why health care reform is SO important

That would give you a little less to worry about, and one less reason to be a wage slave.
Therefore it is one of the biggest reasons Repugs must tie HC to a JOB.
I got no advise. Freedom is wonderful. But you can always quit. Be nice if ther was some sort of middle ground as suggested earlier.

[grace0418]

17. I totally agree.

It's really my husband that worries more about the uncertainty of my position. He says he feels much more pressure to stay at his job and make sure he keeps his insurance and salary. I'm actually okay flying by the seat of my pants, but I hate to see him so stressed out. If there were national healthcare, that would be a huge weight off of both of us. But that doesn't look like it's going to happen any time soon.

It does suck, because I work very hard at what I do. I'm not lazy or looking for an easy way out. I just find that I get very restless and unhappy the longer I'm in an office environment. I am so much happier and more productive when I can make my own schedule. It doesn't seem fair to me or to my employer that I am supposed to turn on the faucet of creativity at 9 am and turn it off at 5pm with no deviation (except of course to put in overtime, never any deviation in *my* favor).

[NNadir]

18. Two of the most difficult and unpleasant jobs I had, I was heavily recruited for.

For the worst one, they flew me to Europe for one set of interviews with their company President, with whom I spent a long night drinking along with the fellow who would be my immediate boss.

Some of the feedback I got from that interview - with the US contact - was that it was great I could function so well after a long, long, long night of continuous drinking.

I'm not a prude but I'm kind of fond of my liver.

That was a huge red flag, but they made me feel so important and vital (with everything else), promised me the world, high pay, etc, etc, etc.

My meeting with their bean counter should have been another red flag. That little brainless bastard kept going over my expense reports like I was a thief - which I was not. It definitely wasn't a pleasure to travel on their behalf.

I took the job, and found myself compelled to party and party and party and party, sleep a few minutes and then participate in highly technical meetings all day long.

It was a big mistake. I aslo learned why the company so desperately thought they needed me so bad. Their problems were way to big for any one person to fix, at least a person who wasn't running the company.

I'm not advising you, but keep your eyes open. Money is often not a substitute for peace and freedom. Make sure that your joining a company not as a savior but as a participant in a plan to grow.

The other job that I was heavily recruited for - by my boss who was a very good friend - went bad when his boss fired him because I was doing such a good job that they felt they didn't need him. His boss basically screwed her way to the top and she was, to put it mildly, psychotic. They fired him, made me do both jobs with a relatively modest pay raise and increased responsibility that made me feel like shit because of what they did to my friend.

I was recruited for another job that was, in fact, quite nice though, for a number of years.

[grace0418]

19. Very interesting insight. Thank you.

I don't expect them to recruit me so heavily that I'm flown to Europe, ;) but you raise a good point. There are a lot of intangibles to my current situation. I am happier, career-wise, than I've ever been. I can't take that lightly. And honestly, the thought of getting up and commuting every day makes me a bit nauseated. The more I think about it, the more I thing that I can't do it again, at least not right now. I will try to negotiate for some freelance work, but the office environment would have to be a dream come true for me to give up what I have now. And I don't see that being very likely.

Thanks, and I hope you're happier with your work situation now. Your comment about the bean-counter acting like you were a thief reminded me of my last job. My boss was CONSTANTLY suspicious of everyone's activities and motives. She was constantly checking up on you to make sure you were working, if you ever questioned anything at all, she replied that you must not have enough work to do if you have time to ask questions. Even though my whole department always met even the most insane deadlines and created mountains of beautiful work, we were always treated like irresponsible children just looking for an excuse to slack off. It was ridiculous.