Totally lame request for career advice

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Ok, I’ll try not to be too long-winded here. I’ve been going through a very difficult time and suddenly am facing a fork in the road and could really use some perspective.

I currently work part-time at a small museum of history (staff of 3, very few visitors, etc.,) as a program coordinator. I make very little money but there is a lot of flexibility in the position and I really enjoy the social aspects of the job, as well as feeling like I’m doing something good for society.

However, the last few months had been very stressful in the job and basically I got so frustrated with the management and my co-workers that, together with the low pay, I started looking around for another position. I got an offer very quickly from an attorney as her legal assistant. It’s just a one-person firm, and there is a strong possibility she will help me get trained to become a paralegal, which I realize will increase my income potential down the line. The position also pays a little more than what I’m currently making. It could also be a great opportunity for me to create my own position, especially since she seems willing to train me as we are able.

Well, after I gave notice at the museum and told them I’d be leaving to work for the attorney, apparently they held an emergency board meeting and decided they had to keep me “at all costs”. They called me at home and asked me to accept the position of Director of the museum, which is basically double the pay for only 24 hours a week (4 days/week). They also promised they would even try to look in the budget to increase the pay in late spring. I was shocked.

First, this means that they will be asking the current director to step down (which really needed to happen anyway) and we hope to retain her in her old position, which is my current position (confusing enough for ya?) if she will agree to work under me. The 3rd staff person has resigned and we want her to leave anyway, as she was really causing many of the problems.

Still, it opens up a huge can of worms. Am I ready for a supervisory position, psychologically? I have really struggled with depression a great deal over a long period of time, have a 1-year-old at home who means everything to me, and I also have skills in website design and a real estate license. Those are things that I could always try to capitalize on when my son is a little older, but for now I just need a steady income and a job that won’t make me too crazy. I really feel torn. I guess my heart is tugging me toward the museum, but there’s really a lot of stuff at the museum that makes me crazy, and it will be a huge difference suddenly being “the boss”. I’m only 29, don’t have a college degree, but I am very smart and have a tremendous amount of office experience/skill. I think I can do this… but I also think being a paralegal may be sort of exciting, or could lead to something great down the road.

Wow, if anyone is still reading this, thanks! and sorry for being so long-winded! I’m finally getting the hang of getting my son to sleep and then quietly getting on the computer (if I try to get out of bed, he wakes up, grr) and this is the most typing I’ve done since he was born!

So, paralegal or executive director of the Byron Museum of History??

Oh yeah, to throw more into the mix – my husband and I are doing the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and are quite strapped - we are selling our house and greatly reducing our spending, but I still need to work at least a little for us to “make” it. So the money really counts here.

2

I know enough people who have been really miserable working for attorneys that I will vote for you to stay at the museum. If you had already worked for attorneys before and knew it suited you, my advice might change.

However, I see a huge red flag in the former director working for you. Who on earth thinks that’s going to work? I wouldn’t even bet on that working if she had come up with the idea herself. If I haven’t made this point clearly enough, you might try posting a poll in IMHO - Former Boss Working For You? and see what the teeming millions think.

3

I think these are both great points. Ordinarily I would never think the director situation would possibly work, except that in this scenario, the woman who has been director wasn’t really suited to it, and knew it, and was miserable in the job. She has repeatedly said that she just wants to go back to what she used to do, and that she only took the director job because of the money. So – that point is actually the least of my worries with the museum. I’d hope that she would stay, at least for a while, since she is essentially the only link to the past in the museum (I’ve only been there 5 months and there has been so. much. turnover. that no one else knows how to do everything) – so she could be a valuable asset as long as she agrees to stay and work with me.

I’ve also noticed some red flags with the attorney’s office. She seems really great and I felt we “clicked” during the interview, but several offhand comments have been made by her and her current assistant like “assuming we get along ok” and “if we work out”… which leads me to think there’s a reason we wouldn’t, you know?

Ah. Baby is stirring. Off to bed.

4

OfficeGirl, I know how immensely flattered I would be if I were offered a “we must have you!” executive director position.

However, you’re dealing with a board that doesn’t know how to manage an ineffective director. What would have happened if you hadn’t made noises about leaving? The board will have control over your destiny, it appears, but doesn’t know how to provide direction and feedback.

The paralegal job could lead you to something that satisfies your wish for public interaction and need to be part of the greater good, especially since it’s a one-person firm.

5

Hi OfficeGirl. Congratulations on the offer - if it were me, I’d take the position as Director. The changes they’re offering to make show that the Board understands just as well as you do the problems your musem is facing. And are willing to make changes!

If my experience helps - I’m 26, and have been the manager of a small science centre for about six months. I’m the only full-time staff member, and there’s about 8 part time and casual employees. I too did the, “can I be a manager?” soul-searching thing - I think it may have helped, rather than hindered, that I’d not worked in the centre beforehand.

Also, in case this makes any difference to you, it’ll look super on your resume to have that internal promotion, especially when you start to do great things!

6

Do what you feel is best. But from my experience working in the world of law offices, if you haven’t done it before, I’d watch out. I don’t know every paralegal in the world, but I know a bunch of them in various law firms, and their level of satisfaction and happiness seems to be far below the norm. They always seem to be doing much more work than they signed up for, while their bosses are teeing off for a round. It sounds like you are much wanted and valued at this museum. But there is probably one answer that has felt better all along…go with what feels best.

7

My mother’s advice:

list of + for each job, list of - for each job, ++, --, compare

Mine:
think yourself in each position. Which one makes you heart beat faster? Unless it’s from sheer terror, that’s the one.

8

I vote for staying with the museum. Paralegals get dumped on like you wouldn’t believe (I’ve been one) - even by “good” attorneys to work for. It’s an extremely stressful job, which can require random, unplanned overtime. I’ve known loads paralegals, legal assistants and legal secretaries and very few of them have ever been happy. Not to make sweeping generalizations (but I am…) lawyers can be difficult to work for. And if the assistant is already making comments about whether you’d get along, I’d be careful.

It sounds like they value you at the museum and you’re doubling your salary and only working four days. I sounds like a good deal to me.

Good luck whatever you decide!

9

I’d go for the paralegal spot.

  1. It is a skill that is useful all over the country. Plus, free (or nearly free) training.

  2. Your baby will grow up and start school. It sounds like you plan to work as he needs less full-time attention. The paralegal job sounds like something you can grow into as your little guy grows.

  3. Will that be the end of the road for you at the museum? Is that museum experience transferrable to a bigger museum gig somewhere else?

  4. The idea of the current director working for you sounds like massive trouble.

  5. If you are worth so much to them, it kinda sucks that they didn’t treat you as such until you told them you were leaving. I know it happens all the time, but that kind of thing really pisses me off.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

10

To he honest, I both envy your position and shake my head at it. On the one hand it’s really nice to feel like you’re truly needed and that your current company wants to keep you at any cost. Plus, the title of Executive Director, for howevermuch it actually means in practical terms, would look pretty good on a resumé. Plus plus, being boosted to a position of authority, it is natural to feel nervous and question your ability to perform in that capacity. You’ll be telling others what to do, and may even be responsible for having to fire someone at some point. Hard to think about, but such a position of authority will serve you well later on in future positions. You just have to sit and consider where that career path could take you and whether it’s a direction you want to go.

On the other hand, where was this show of appreciation before the threat of you leaving showed up? I agree that the board sounds either like it really doesn’t know how to properly leverage or manage its manpower, or they’re just not paying any attention to it. With such a small number of staff, that doesn’t speak well of the board.

Then there’s the legal assistant position. There’s lots of room to grow there, and tremendous salary potential down the road. It’s not as broad a career path, but potentially it’s a much more rewarding one. From legal assistant to paralegal, and perhaps from there to law school in whatever discipline you choose to full-fledged lawyer. It’s a long road but ultimately it could be an exciting one and eventually a high paying one.

Were it me I’d be kinda torn too, but if I had to look at it objectively without regard to where my sense of loyalty or friendship may lie, I think I would have to lean heavily towards the legal assistant role. It’s not quite as safe as the other direction, but it would seem to me like a better career choice in the longer run.

IANAL, YMMV, contents may have settled during transport.

11

Stay where you are. The hours are great for taking care of your baby. If you go w/ the attorney you’ll have more childcare expenses. It’s likely that the law office job will be lots of thankless work and very little training. A one lawyer office doesn’t leave a lot of time for training and special attention. It also sounds like the money is better where you are, plus you like what you’re doing and feel useful, I doubt that’s going to be the case in the law office.

12

I’d think twice or three times about the director position. If you’ve only been there 5 months, but they are desperate enough to offer you the director position to keep you, it may very well be a position that is impossible for anyone to do well–especially for someone with no more experience than you have in how to run a museum.

(On the other hand, I personally, am jobhunting, and I know that I want a position with more structure and guidance than I think this director position offers you.)

I wouldn’t worry about what your experience could bring you to down the road, I think paralegal has an obvious career track, but museum director to management someplace else (but still probably small business) or administrative assistant or something is not impossible (Remember: you should focus on the transferrable skills you develop, not what the title is. Program director, museum director, both involve a certain amount of decision making. And working on a staff of three means that you can show that you are willing to do whatever needs doing.)

I don’t know that legal assistant is a good fit for you. You’ll have to make that decision yourself.

But based on your description, you could find yourself working as director, wanting out even worse than you did when you started looking for a new position, and yet feeling responsible for the museum and thus have trouble leaving(emotionally, as much or more than practically). And following in the footsteps of an ineffective director who will be working for you and yet be your consultant on how things have been done, does not sound like a recipe for success to me.

13

I think you should give serious consideration to how you handle stress in the workplace. Most legal assistants function in fast paced environments where they are under very high pressure to perform quickly and flawlessly. Often their employers are under similar stress. Sometimes working for a highly stressed person can be very challenging – and I don’t mean that in a good way.

If you are comfortable functioning in that sort of a stressful environment, then you would do well as a legal assistant – some folks thrive on the job. If you are not comfortable with that sort of environment, then keep clear of the legal profession – I have seen it destroy people.

14

What’s your health benefit status? Does your husband’s job cover them? Does either position offer benefits? Are they better than your current ones?

Just something else to ponder.

15

Awesome points have been made all around, which have mainly served to give me more to ponder at this point.

My health benefit status won’t change either way – husband and I have been self-insuring now for over a year and will continue to do so, and neither position can offer any help there.

As to how I handle stress – I generally handle most kinds of stress pretty well, but do have some psychological quirks involving sensory input. I’m pretty sure I’m on the autistic spectrum disorder, and you could also say I might even have sensory integration disorder. So, some things really really get to me – mostly manifested in people making noises with their mouths while eating, or any sort of repetitive type things.

I know it will be a bumpy road if I stay at the museum. In a way, the legal job feels “safer” at least for the short term, because I know that I will wow this woman with my office skills. (She currently has an almost non-existent “system” in place for her bookkeeping that just boggles my mind to even think about.) Her current assistant spent hours entering a check register’s entries into an Excel spreadsheet that contained NO FORMULAS (because she didn’t know how to do a formula) and was using an adding machine to make the calculations. It was taking her a whole morning to calculate a running balance… when I showed her the simple function for that, it blew her mind. Never mind that I can do Quickbooks, you know?

Agh. Work summons.

16

Ask yourself “Where do I want to be ten years from now?”

Which of these two positions moves you closer to your long-term career goals? If you really want to be a paralegal, this is a great opportunity to get started along that path. If you really want to run the museum and can see yourself doing that happily for many years, take their offer and stay.

17

Advice I got once: in the presense of a tie, take the opportunity that you won’t have again. That may apply here. I don’t know your area, but I would assume that if, in 5 years, you decide you want to be try out the legal field, I’m sure you could find someone to hire you. Especially with your experience. (I mean, it doesn’t sound like this offer took a long time to find) The chance to run a local museum seems much more unique. Good luck, either way they both sound like great opportunities.

18

bump
So any decision yet?

19

After hemming and hawing WAY too much, I tentatively accepted the position last Friday. The Board held a special meeting last night, where they spent an hour grilling me and then another hour deliberating, then called me back in to formally extend the offer, effective immediately. I took way too much time to arrive at this decision, but am so glad it’s just done. I hate agonizing over things like that.

Only 24 hours a week, twice the salary, and a pretty good chance of increased pay in April or May! Plus, the **instigator **will be working her last day tomorrow and the former director is taking her old (and my old) job back, and seems HAPPY about it. We’re going to try to use a staff of just 2 instead of 3, and then just really nurture our volunteer staff to help fill in the gaps.

I’m excited… and stressed! I have so much work to do now! Thanks to everyone for your input… some of it really helped.

20

I think you made the right choice. The very best to you.