The cost of commuting

As I mentioned in the last post, I have a third interview Wednesday with a company downtown, WA, which contacted me through my school’s e-recruiting site. Though this is the third interview, I have not had the courage to bring up specific salary expectations, and I’m largely only going to this (I hope) last meeting to find out what they offer.

The office is located in Chicago, south of the Loop. I’d have to take a train from the ‘burbs, then take a bus or walk the additional mile to the company. The position’s 40-hour work week then stretches into an easy 60 hours away from home, not counting what-I’m-sure-is-required overtime.

Today I did a rough breakdown of costs, assuming a $40,000/year salary. (I have no idea if it will be more or less.)

Commuting costs:
Monthly Metra pass: $116.10
+ Daily bus fares for an average 22 days/month: $88.00
= Total monthly cost: $204.10
Total yearly cost: $2449.20

Time costs:
Work hours: 40/week (+5 for lunches)
+ Commuting: 15/week
+ Overtime: variable
= Total monthly cost: average: 60 hours
Total yearly hours: more than 3,180/year

If I divide the yearly hours into the yearly salary (less commuting costs), I arrive at my average hourly rate, assuming no extensive overtime: $11.80. Less than I’ve made for temp-ing, and less than I’d make proofreading from my house.

Maybe this would be worth it if the job were something I’d dreamed of having. But it isn’t. It’s an industry I’m not interested in. It’s a company that likes required social activities—Christmas formal, family picnic (all of which I’d be planning). And mostly, it only sometimes involves writing; largely, it’s a HR-marketing-personal assistant role. If it were closer, if it didn’t require so much time… maybe. But as it is? I’m pretty sure it’s not worth it.

I’m still going to the interview Wednesday, just because I’d always wonder. I’m not especially optimistic.

thoughts on the oddities of job-searching

I’ve been applying to and interviewing for jobs for about two months now. Everyone says the average job search takes three months, and I just finished my classes, so I feel on schedule. But in this current interim—no new job, no classes to attend, no homework to complete—I’m doing some serious reflecting. And I have to ask: has anyone else experienced any of the following, strike-me-as-weird situations?

Here, in random order, are my top-five weird job-hunting experiences (all true, with no embellishments, and all occuring in the past two months):

1. Interviewing for jobs I never applied for
Twice now, reputable companies with actual facilities and professional websites have sought me out regarding open positions. Company MM found me through my posted resume on Careerbuilder. They thought I’d make a good copywriter or researcher. Company WA noticed my resume on my school’s e-recruiting site; they interviewed only me for a marketing role they promised involves writing.

2. Awkward meetings
There was the guy who never smiled and had a weak handshake, the woman who wanted a “voice,” the company who completely changed the open job’s description, and the VP whose first interview with me lasted four hours.

3. Multiple meetings
For Company WA (see 1), I’m going to a third interview Wednesday. As far as I know, I’m the only person being interviewed. They also said (two weeks ago) that they wanted to make a decision quickly.

4. In-House Miscommunications
This one surprises me most, I think. At Company NC, the HR woman’s explanation contradicted the position’s manager’s explanation. At WA, the first VP said things contrary to what another VP did.

5. Slow, Slow Responses
There are jobs I applied for in April that still haven’t been filled. HR says they’re considering applications or planning to interview soon or (my favorite:) “we’ll be in contact soon.”

Sigh. I know businesses are busy and hiring a writer/editor/marketer isn’t Priority One. But, really, can I just say this? There must be a better way.

random thoughts

ON LAW SCHOOL: Last June, I took the LSAT and seriously considered law school for fall ‘07. Since then, I’ve decided against the idea for a lot of reasons, mainly money; nonetheless, it’s interesting that a school just offered me a large scholarship: they’d give me $20,000/year of the tuition’s $25,888/year. Basically, I could get the entire J.D. for around $16,500. Tempting, a little.

ON THE INTERVIEW: Lots of pros and lots of cons about yesterday’s meeting. The biggest drawback is the commute: 1.25 hours each way. Good pay and benefits, good opportunity for advancement, nice people.

ON GAS PRICES: If I had the energy, I’d make this a post of its own, but can I just put in another plug for my fabulous, inexpensive, diesel VW Jetta? I’m paying $2.89/gallon, here in Chicagoland. My friends and family are paying almost $4/gallon for their gas. My car gets 50+ miles to the gallon, and it’s reliable. Best gift I was ever given.

when bad news is good news

I made pro-con lists, got advice, further researched the non-profit, and still couldn’t come to a decision.  My gut said not to take it, but logic focused on its location, career potential, challenge.

Then I got the news, by e-mail, this afternoon: the company is pursuing other candidates—as in, they don’t want me. Hallelujah! Decision made.

Also: I have an interview tomorrow with a firm downtown. Expect a play-by-play tomorrow, I’m sure.

interview 5 or, fear

I don’t mean to make this harder than it is, but here’s the thing for me with job-searching:

When I graduated from undergrad in 2004, I moved home and job-hunted. I applied for all sorts of things, but hoped to write or edit. After several weeks of nothing promising, I got called about an editor position within a private investigation company.

The woman I interviewed with was fabulous: she and I had so much in common, and the job she described sounded good. They offered it to me, and I took it.

The next week, I went to my first (shortened) day of work: 10-4. And, I hated it. Hated it, hated it. The small company only had a dozen or so employees, yet in cubicles. The job turned out to be more tedious than I’d expected: conforming copy to match a template, over and over again.

I went home, freaked out, and called Awesome Interview Lady to quit. I never regretted it.

What I did (and do) regret, however, is that I took the job in the first place. I wish I hadn’t gone through that whole process, disappointing Awesome Interview Lady and myself. So now, when I interview for jobs, I always have an image of that first job in my mind. I can’t explain what this process is like really, except to say I look for a feeling–just this sense that the job is the right one. Is this normal/good/healthy? I don’t know.

Today I interviewed with a not-for-profit in the area, for a project assistant/writer position. I’d be writing in a much more business-y format than I’d prefer, I’d be reporting to one particular (self-described unorganized) person, and the job description remains fuzzy beyond that because it’s a new one. That warm, fuzzy feeling I’d hoped for isn’t there, but should I wait for it? Or is it better to take what you can, even if your gut is hesitant?

the end is the beginning

I spent the end of last week in Wisconsin, visiting my best friend and her husband and their beautiful new(ish) baby. {Sigh} If money were no object, I’d really fly away to new places every weekend—or most, at least. I’d see Baby more than once before his first birthday. I’d go to Prague. I’d know just how horrible my old roommates’s job in NOLA has been.

In reality, I suppose, I have everything I need. My friend’s baby is stunningly, amazingly wonderful, and I got to spend two whole days getting to know him. All for the cost of gas for 600 miles round-trip (I love you, my affordable diesel VW Jetta—you, with your only-one-tank-needed road trips) ($40). And I paid for one lunch ($11) and two admissions to a park ($3). All in all, not such a bad deal: $54 to see people I love.

A fringe benefit of the trip, I found, was the wonderful distraction from job-searching. My friends live in the country-country, as in—you pass ten farms and three packs of cows before reaching their street. They have dial-up Internet, no cable, unreliable cell phone signals. I hate it and love it, if you know what I mean. There’s the initial withdrawal and nervous cell phone checking, the itch to know if any job offers have been missed. Then there’s the relief, the peace of letting go of a few responsibilities in favor of marvelously satisfying ones like sitting on the porch and watching Baby giggle.

All good things must end, and I’m back in Chicagoland now. I have two more interviews scheduled tomorrow, and I’m hopeful, hopeful, hopeful about a job I have yet to be called regarding. Someone at the company visited my online portfolio three times, so I’m telling myself it’s a good sign and trying very hard not to count my chickens.

job-hunting 3.0

Source: school e-recruiting site

I have an interview scheduled Thursday with another magazine publisher. Less than a week ago, I applied for an associate editor position within their organization, through my school’s e-recruiting website. Yesterday, a woman from HR e-mailed me, saying that the position had been filled, but they’d still like to interview me and keep me in mind for future openings. I went ahead and called her back to set up a meeting–good experience, I tell myself.

I partly wonder if this is just a training opportunity for a new HR person or something. But what the heck.

job-hunting 2.1 or, what I learned from this interview

My interview today was with a company located 40 miles away from my parents’ house. Thankfully I left two hours early—my Mapquest directions were wrong, and once I exited the expressway I couldn’t reenter without going totally out of my way for a while.  When I called the company, they couldn’t even help me. Miraculously I arrived only 10 minutes late. (Lesson #1: Double-check directions beforehand and always leave a big time cushion)

Then the next problem: my e-mail said “enter through the north entrance.” Do most people just know navigational stuff like that? I parked in visitor parking and went to the closest door; there, fifteen suited businessmen gathered together, touring the facility (?) with a guide. Simultaneously, flower deliverymen moved in and out of the building, bearing vases holding the longest, most beautiful roses I have ever seen—they brought in at least 20 bouquets. I still don’t know why.

I went back to my car and called the office: was there a tour going on? am I at the right place? Yes, she told me. Come back and push past the men. (Lesson #2: Always bring the business’s phone number along.)

I came back in, introducing myself to the secretary, and waited in the lobby. Another fifteen minutes later, a second secretary took me to a completely unadorned office where a young, suited man sat with my resume.  He asked me to “describe myself” and warned he’d ask “funny questions.” (Was this the weirdest day or what?) When it was his turn to describe the company and position, nothing was as I thought it would be: the job was different, the company style was different, and I knew I didn’t want to work there. (Lesson #3: You just never know what to expect with interviews.)

He never asked if I were still interested though, only promised he’d talk to his supervisor, as he ushered me out of the room, through the halls of roses, into the lobby.  He said the hours are 8:30-5:30, and he swears he usually lets them go by 6.  “I’m not a micromanager,” he said.

In order for me to consider the position, if it were offered, I’d have to relocate. The pay scale probably wouldn’t accomodate that, so this is an easy decision: no.

I don’t really know if I’ll be offered the job, though: the interviewer was concerned about my five weeks left of classes, realizing I’d have to leave early twice a week.

Reason #216 why I love my school

My meeting at the career center went well yesterday: I met with the Assistant Director, and she gave me practical advice for revising my resume, as well as lists of places to look for job postings. I left with new hope, seriously excited about the future.

job-hunting 2.0

Tomorrow, I’m meeting with a career counselor at my university. I don’t know what I’m hoping to get from her, really, short of a “Well, we’ll hire you here, you’re so great!” (Sigh. I dream.)

I expect she’ll evaluate my resume and encourage me to go to job fairs. Other than that, I wonder what she can offer?

And on Thursday, I have another interview scheduled.
Source: Careerbuilder

This is for a writer/editor position within an accounting corporation. As the HR rep described it, I’d be rewriting business-language writing into copy that ordinary mom-and-pop shops can understand. The pay is $33-$35K, with benefits: those are the good things. The location is over an hour away, which means I’d have to painfully commute for a few months until I finish school and can find another place to live: that is the bad thing.