what am I feeling? is this pain? Is this panic?

[offbalance]

Consider this the official announcement.

Okay, so I've been temping at Harper Collins for the last couple of weeks. And while here, I poked around on their HR boards, looking for a means to go from temp to perm. (Which is akin from going from the Earth to the Moon, but I had to try). So I found a job opening in the contracts department and applied for it. I had two interviews for it (both of which went very well.) NOW, I just got a call, and the HR person told me that they would like me to temp in the position for an 'undetermined' amount of time, just to try it out. And that I'm 'definitely a finalist' for the position. And I start Monday. WTF?

I'm still worried about jinxing myself. I don't know if I should be talking about this yet. But I figured if I had to choose between this and exploding, this would win. So I don't know what's what. Don't congratulate me yet. There's no celebrating to be done. But yeah, that's what I've been spazzing about of late.

(and if I don't get the idea of wanting french fries out of my head there will be problems. Big ones.)

Comments

[octette]

i would be very very suspicious of this.

Re:

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

why is that?

[octette]

b/c it means you still won't have healthcare or benefits, and they'll be paying you by the hour instead of a salary (which, granted, might end up being more money), and also it means they can fire you at any time without giving a reason.

Re:

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

1. I have healthcare through a program called Working Today. Yes, I pay for it myself, but it's there if I need it. and it's reasonably priced as health coverage goes. (It's full medical, dental and even vision.)
2. Welcome to my past 6 months. I know what it means to be a temp, as I've been doing it for quite some time now. The same was true of all of the other temp things I did.

I'm not putting all of my eggs in one basket. I'm just looking at this like another long-term temp assignment. (the last one of those I had was terrific), and it would be experience either way.

[octette]

sharon, chill out. i didn't say you shouldn't take it. i just said you should be wary, especially if you're doing it through the company and not through an agency that would (theoretically) protect your rights.

Re:

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

okay, am chilled out. And I am doing it through my agency. But thank you for looking out for me, just the same.

[dotsomething.livejournal.com]

You should do it, it's a paycheck, plus it's experience even if you don't get hired.

But I have to say--I hate how they're doing it. It's this attitude--jump through our hoops of fire to see if you're good enough to step inside the building. Trial basis? WTF indeed. As if you aren't capable of doing the work.

This a rant from someone lucky enough to work in publishing, but during my temping days and trying to get INTO publishing there was a lot of that sort of high falutin' attitude. Of course, as job seeker you have to be humble and abase yourself--just don't forget YOU have the skills, you're talented and hard working and they would be LUCKY to have you an as employee. Just as you would be lucky to get the job.

(Gee, I'm tired from work, can you tell?)

Re:

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

You should do it, it's a paycheck, plus it's experience even if you don't get hired.
That's basically how I felt about it. :)

And I suppose I didn't talk enough about the interview I had with the guy I would be working for, and he said that he'd had a lot of turnover in the position, and a lot of people quitting due to the pressure of the job, and he'd been burned, and he wanted to make sure that he would get someone whom he felt could stick it out. And I think it's a good idea too - I get to see what it's really like, other than being stuck somewhere if it doesn't work out. I mean, I always thought I wanted to work in editorial, until I actually did, and almost lost my mind as a result. So if this is more of the same, I'd rather both the hirer and the hiree to find that out before any actual hiring. you know?

just don't forget YOU have the skills, you're talented and hard working and they would be LUCKY to have you an as employee. Just as you would be lucky to get the job.
:D thanks! *blush* and I agree. ;)