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Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:14 pm
by scarygirl
I know some of you probably think I talk too much bout my personal life here. I only talk about it because quite frankly I could use someone else's unbiased ear from time to time.

So it is like this. I just started working two jobs within the last week. These are both part-time, one is for a local computer repair place through a friend. This person knows that I am on the hunt for FULL time work with hopefully some benefits. She actually offered me a full time job eventually make around $12 to $13 an hr, but I declined because I am looking to do other things. She understand this; she knows it isn't personal. The second is Seasonal full-time at Lowes Hardware as a cashier. After training I can expect 39 hours a week.

Those other things don't include lifelong retail, just trying to make it through until a full time job opens it doors to me.

In the meantime, I may very well be receiving two job offers tomorrow.

One (the part time state job) I feel is definate as I got word that they checked my references today.

Job 1 is with the state of NC through the local water utility.

Pluses - All the people there seem like good eggs and match me personality wise. It is technically a state job that is eligible for the NC retirement system. After many failed attempts at getting on with City or State jobs, it looks like this is my opportunity.

Minuses - It is in their collections department, a position that just short months ago I failed at miserably. The again, it was for a RENT TO OWN furniture company. People need water to live right? All the employees look happy there too. The person that previous worked this position is still there, just part-time. The position is a job share so I would be working the other half of her shift

Pluses/Minuses - The pluses are even though it is part-time, just 20 hours a week, the salary is $14, 117 breaks that down to a little over $14 an hr. Not bad at all for a college town and a part time job to boot.

Pluses- It is my entry to the State job system.

Down side, with budget cuts what if I get stuck in part-time forever? On the other hand, from my research the utility is growing and the employee reviews seem pretty positive.

Down side, still working two jobs.

Job 2 is a full time admin job for a national blind/home furnishing franchise chain. This job is much closer to what I am good at, and I feel I have a much better shot at keeping it... The job is full time with health insurance, bonuses, and a salary. I don't know what the salary is yet, but money wise it should be more overall at least in the inter rum because it is full time. There is also the option of my working for them part time as well. So maybe I coulld do both? Then again I don't want to do that as I see it being a forever part time trap....

More pluses, I know the owners so I know what I am getting into.

The downside is their Sales Manager is visiting this week from across the country and is wanting to hire IMMEDIATELY. As in, he is calling the person tomorrow and from teh sounds of it he expects that person to accept immediately. What if the utility calls first before I have a chance to hear from the blinds franchise? He asked me if I had any prior commitments. I told him than other the part-time jobs I did not. One knows I am looking, the other I haven't actually started yet. Tomorrow will be second day of orientation. I didn't say anything about the interview for the state job

Do you have any tips on my giving the stall without losing the cheese. Would you take a part time job, even one less than ideal for the possibility of better things down the road? The retirement benefits are the biggest draw so far. The possibility of eventually going full time with full benefits is even better.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 1:33 pm
by Don
Do you know if the government job is Mon-Friday and will the hours be between 8-5? Basically, what I'm asking if you will have evenings and weekends off.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 1:46 pm
by scarygirl
Don wrote:Do you know if the government job is Mon-Friday and will the hours be between 8-5? Basically, what I'm asking if you will have evenings and weekends off.


THe hours are Monday through Friday, 1pm to 5pm. Yes, I would have evenings and weekends off with exception of an emergency situation.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 1:54 pm
by Don
scarygirl wrote:
Don wrote:Do you know if the government job is Mon-Friday and will the hours be between 8-5? Basically, what I'm asking if you will have evenings and weekends off.


THe hours are Monday through Friday, 1pm to 5pm. Yes, I would have evenings and weekends off with exception of an emergency situation.

Perhaps you can do retail during the off-time then?

To be honest, I have a government job and the people who work with us part-time WANT to be part-time. They don't even want to test for other positions, either because they don't want to make the effort or they don't want to get assigned to another office.

You have to make it clear in your interview the state that you WANT to eventually be a full-time employee and ask if they are going to afford you that opportunity by letting you have access to the in-house hiring boards that are available to employees only.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 2:03 pm
by scarygirl
I told them quite specifically in my interview that eventually I want to be full time, but would not turn my nose down at part-time to start. I asked them if there would be the possibility, and they said I could apply for other in house positions, and could very well be promoted down the line should I do well.

Don wrote:
scarygirl wrote:
Don wrote:Do you know if the government job is Mon-Friday and will the hours be between 8-5? Basically, what I'm asking if you will have evenings and weekends off.


THe hours are Monday through Friday, 1pm to 5pm. Yes, I would have evenings and weekends off with exception of an emergency situation.

Perhaps you can do retail during the off-time then?

To be honest, I have a government job and the people who work with us part-time WANT to be part-time. They don't even want to test for other positions, either because they don't want to make the effort or they don't want to get assigned to another office.

You have to make it clear in your interview the state that you WANT to eventually be a full-time employee and ask if they are going to afford you that opportunity by letting you have access to the in-house hiring boards that are available to employees only.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 2:43 pm
by Don
scarygirl wrote:I told them quite specifically in my interview that eventually I want to be full time, but would not turn my nose down at part-time to start. I asked them if there would be the possibility, and they said I could apply for other in house positions, and could very well be promoted down the line should I do well.



That's good. Once you're in you really have to be bad to not move forward eventually. Everything in Government jobs is geared to helping the employee advance.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:15 am
by scarygirl
So I am officially a government worker, will be doing collections. God help me!!
:D
Don wrote:
scarygirl wrote:I told them quite specifically in my interview that eventually I want to be full time, but would not turn my nose down at part-time to start. I asked them if there would be the possibility, and they said I could apply for other in house positions, and could very well be promoted down the line should I do well.



That's good. Once you're in you really have to be bad to not move forward eventually. Everything in Government jobs is geared to helping the employee advance.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:20 am
by Everett
scarygirl wrote:So I am officially a government worker, will be doing collections. God help me!!
:D
Don wrote:
scarygirl wrote:I told them quite specifically in my interview that eventually I want to be full time, but would not turn my nose down at part-time to start. I asked them if there would be the possibility, and they said I could apply for other in house positions, and could very well be promoted down the line should I do well.



That's good. Once you're in you really have to be bad to not move forward eventually. Everything in Government jobs is geared to helping the employee advance.



Good luck liz

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 11:09 am
by Don
scarygirl wrote:So I am officially a government worker, will be doing collections. God help me!!
:D


Welcome to the club. Hopefully, it works out for you.

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 12:24 pm
by scarygirl
Thanks Everett.

Everett wrote:
scarygirl wrote:So I am officially a government worker, will be doing collections. God help me!!
:D



Good luck liz

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:28 am
by Rick
Congrats! :)

Re: Does Anyone Here Work for the State?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 10:50 am
by artist4perry
Glad you found a job scarygirl! Teachers work for the state. Sometimes it can be a pain though...but a job is awesome!~