Better Luck Next Time

Recently I was called in for a job interview. Now even though I wasn't actively searching for another job this one I was being asked about seemed like a change in pace, in a completely different field, and I went ahead with accepting the interview. I figured it couldn't hurt to see what was being offered, right? If I were to be offered the job I still had to see whether it was something better than what I currently had. Whether it was even a good fit for me. Worst case I'd wasted thirty minutes of my time. Best case I'd be making a career change.

So, a few weeks ago I met with the owners one night after work. We spoke about the job, the hours, and the pay. We spoke about family, and how long we had all been in the area. It seemed less like an interview, and more like I was just having a random conversation with two people I had just met. I was told that the person who would be given the job would technically be the only employee. The position was new, and so I asked about vacation/sick time to which they said they had never had to offer it before which was a bit if a concern for me as I have a little one. Overall, I felt that it went well, and both owners said they liked me. Still they had to interview two other candidates. I thanked them for their time, and left it at that.

Now, I've been at my current place of employment for almost seven years. It's steady, and it's routine. I enjoy the people I work with, and wasn't sure if I was ready to say goodbye. So, after I had gone to that interview I thought about asking my current employer about the possibility of a raise. I hadn't received one in over two years, and I know the market right now was down so I hadn't pushed the issue. Well, when I asked my supervisor about it I was told that I had capped out pay wise. Well, more like I questioned whether that was the case, and it was confirmed that I was correct. Even after he tried to convince the owner that I should get one it was denied on the grounds that I wasn't taking on any new responsibilities so there was no need to give me one. Just FYI that statement was crap, and showed how little the current owner knows about what I do. Anyway, I was informed that there would be no more raises for me, and I had climbed as far as I was allowed to within the company. For someone who has a single income run family, this was not something I wanted to hear.

A day later, I received a call. "We'd like to offer you the position. This is the starting pay. Think it over. We understand you need to go over this with your family, and just let us know by the end of the day what you decide." I was excited. I was nervous. The pay was a little less than what I currently make, but after six months I would be making more. I thought it over, spoke with my family, but still my main concern was no sick time. So, at the end of the day I called them back, "I would love to take you up on this job offer. And I know I'd be your only employee, but I was wondering if I made it a year with your company if we could revisit the topic of sick time? If not, that's fine. I will figure something out, but I'm definitely still wanting to take the job if you'll have me."

They asked when I could start, that they'd go over the sick time topic with someone who does their HR stuff, and then get back to me. Well, forty-eight hours later the job offer was retracted. "I know we told you to think over the offer before you gave us an answer, but when you didn't immediately say yes and then asked about sick time we reconsidered whether you'd be a good fit. The job was given to someone else, and they will be starting in two days. If it doesn't work out with that person then we'll reconsider giving you a call back." Y'all I would be lying if I said I wasn't bummed out. Especially at first. The income in the long run would have been better, and would have eased the strain a bit. After I got off the phone with them I felt like I had ruined a potentially great job offer by not just saying yes. I felt like it was unfair that I was even in the situation where sick time was even something I had to worry about when it came to accepting a job offer. But it is because I can't afford to make under a certain amount each week. That's my reality.

The truth is I don't have that second income to help lessen the weight of my financial burdens. If I miss a day, or my daughter gets sick and I have to stay home I lose out on bringing in a full paycheck. If that happens then I have to decided on whether a bill goes without being paid, or if I scale back my already low grocery budget. At least where I'm at right now I have paid time off I can use. So, I was just trying to be honest with them. And so even though I was bummed about having that opportunity taken away I felt like maybe it just wasn't the right decision for me at that time. So...better luck next time I guess. I'm optimistic that there will be another door opened for me when the time is right. Or maybe this company will contact me again in the future? Who knows? Everything happens for a reason though, and I just need to trust in that plan.