What is Your Employment Situation?

[Greyson]

I am employed full time but have been at a 15% reduction in pay for the past year and a half. In January it will go to only a 10% reduction in pay.

I don't like it but I know I am still lucky and no matter what happens "out there," I will keep my self respect in knowing, I am doing what I can like most of us here are doing.

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by Greyson

I am employed full time but have been at a 15% reduction in pay for the past year and a half. In January it will go to only a 10% reduction in pay.

I don't like it but I know I am still lucky and no matter what happens "out there," I will keep my self respect in knowing, I am doing what I can like most of us here are doing.

Wow, six years later things have changed a bit. I am retired from that career, in graduate school full time and working part-time. The sort of work I do part-time has been traditionally for entry level young people. Not anymore. I cannot tell you how many adults with higher education scramble for these jobs. Well at least here in the SF Bay Area. The economy still has a long way to go.

[RockOn]

I went from software contractor to permanent full time employee in 2009. I knew I'd get a healthy pay cut but with raises and promotions since '09, I have exceeded original contractor salary. I did not have as much what I call "play money" there for awhile but manageable. I like the stability I have being a permanent employee, good benefits, generous holiday and annual leave, Blue Cross Blue Shield ... I cannot complain at all ... but I will ... I miss the thrill and fast pace of the contract work even though it was terribly stressful at times and people seemingly were more back-biting. A big plus at my current job is that for someone like me who seems to get into trouble periodically for being "mouthy," you would just about have to snuff someone to get fired. Overall, I like the job I have today just fine.

[Zimmeh]

I have had several jobs since I joined the planet nearly seven years ago. I currently work full time at Starbucks and even though the job doesn't pay well, I really enjoy it. I am becoming very good at latte art and talking to people about coffee. I have a bachelors degree in business information systems from DeVry University. I was never able to find a job in that field but I use my education in computers to help train my coworkers on point of sale computer programs.

Zimmeh

[girlin2une]

I am employed full time in work that I love and find very fulfilling but in a workplace that I hate. I am a teacher. It brings immense joy to me to know that I make a difference in the lives of the children I teach, but I yearn for a change. I realise just how blessed I am to have a full time job with benefits. After all, I have my own young children that rely on me.
I want to go back to school. Of course 40 isn't too old to go back to school right?

[JDeere]

Right now I run my own petsitter and housesitting company. But will be looking to get back into the workforce in the next month or so.

[imperfect_cupcake]

Other: I am a student

I work part time under the table in my area of study.

When I pass my boards I will be self employed. I'll have to pay rent for my biz, business licence, LTD license, malpractice insurance, college council fees, plus insure my hands, and pay my own holidays and sick days. If I am off more than a week I have to hire a Locum. I also have to hire an accountant familiar with this kind of practice, and pay a laywer for consultations over insurance companies issues and court requests.

And pay off my student loans of course.

But! I get to do a job I absolutely bloody love and I don't have a boss. I'm my boss. That's a big deal to me. After decades of shit management folk who micromanage and having to do things the way other people want it done (aside from when I did sex work, that was a brilliant aspect of that job, being the boss and telling people I didn't want to deal with to fuck off), I don't have to have someone breathing down my neck anymore. People thank me. People talk to me like I am a human person. Like I have a brain in my skull. They don't constantly interrupt me, talk over me, or ignore me. I feel valued and I LOVE my patients.

[imperfect_cupcake]

Originally Posted by girlin2une

I am employed full time in work that I love and find very fulfilling but in a workplace that I hate. I am a teacher. It brings immense joy to me to know that I make a difference in the lives of the children I teach, but I yearn for a change. I realise just how blessed I am to have a full time job with benefits. After all, I have my own young children that rely on me.
I want to go back to school. Of course 40 isn't too old to go back to school right?

Nope! I was 43 when I started my full time program. I'm 46 now.

In class there was a 50 year old woman who had moved recently from China doing the program. Imagine that - being in a foreign continent, their language is a second language and now you have to learn medical terms and everyone is half your age. She had my deepest respect.

It's hard. But well worth it to go back if it's what you want