I kinda sorta maybe have a job (AKA What would you do?)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Actually, I’m pretty sure what I’m going to do, but I’m still interested in hearing others thoughts.

Here’s the deal. Right now my primary job is as an adjunct voice teacher at a local university. My contract is half time, so I’m guaranteed a certain number of hours (12.5) with a cap (20). While the hourly pay is good, the hours are crap, and I only get paid eight months of the year.

So, I got my teaching certificate last year and have been looking around for a teaching job. I’ve gone on a few interviews, getting close on a couple of jobs but no official bites. In fact, the last couple have told me straight out that it was between me and one other person, but they were going with the other person.

I got such a phone call today. The other candidate is a half-time teacher in the same district, and wanted this other job. They gave it to her (internal candidates always have a leg up), but that means that there’s now a half-time job available that’s mine if I want it.

While I would certainly prefer a full-time job, the half-time job probably affords me the opportunity to continue teaching voice, which I love and gives me more opportunities (and resume fodder) for the future, and the voice teaching income would make up a considerable part of the short-fall. There’s also the fact that it’s a job, where future opportunities are not guaranteed. The decision is contingent on the salary and schedule (that is, if it allows me time to teach 12-15 hours of voice a week), but right now it seems like a rather attractive deal.

Anyone have any thoughts?

2

If the salary and schedule work out, I say go for it. Future opportunities might not be guaranteed, but you need money now.

3

I’m not sure whyyou wouldn’t take it. Would it preclude something else?

4

Mostly it would preclude me getting a full-time job for the next year should the opportunity present itself. There’s also the fact that in the long run I’d rather do high school than elementary. On the other hand, it’s getting a little late in the game. April is prime hiring time for teaching jobs, at least around here.

It would also preclude me having any free time (which would preclude me from reading the Dope entirely too much), but since that would go along with precluding me going into bankruptcy, I’m really OK with that.

Really, unless the salary is less than I expect (I’m more or less assuming that half time=half salary, but I don’t know how such things are structured) or the schedule is such that I can’t keep my other job (which seems unlikely, since that would mean essentially full time hours at half time pay, and who would take that job anyway?), I’ll almost certainly take it. There really seems to be almost no downside.

5

Do you actually sign a contract for a specified time period? If not, you don’t owe your part-time employer any more than two week’s notice, and even that as a courtesy rather than an obligation.

6

Teachers sign a one-year contract. I assume that applies to part time teachers as well. Theoretically you can break the contract, but it would cost you both money and reputation.

7

I learn new things every day on the SDMB.

8

Go for it!