Recently I applied for a job with Blue Cross Blue Shield and I have to say that I am excited about their interest in me. I have had two interviews and am waiting to hear back from them to see whether or not I have the job. The job that I qualified for was as a claims adjuster, which is something that I have past experience doing. I passed all my tests for this position and I believe that I did well in both interviews. I should hear something next week at the latest but I have to say that I am just a little scared about all the sudden changes that are going to have to take place if I get this new job.
First let me explain what situation that I am in now. I am currently working for a temporary agency as a temp. I have been with the agency for almost two years. For those of you who have experience with temp agencies you know that this is not a career choice, but a quick job when things are looking bleak. The assignment that I have with the agency I’ve had for over one year now. I work as an administrative assistant in the education and training department of a local power association. This job was pitched to me as a very short term assignment that would eventually be phased out completely. Over one year later and I’m still there, so much for phasing me out! When I first started working there I was full time 5 days a week. Then the workload started to dwindle and I was forced to go to part time hours. Now everyone knows that a person who works part time for any length of time gets spoiled. I have to admit that the few days recently that I’ve had to put in a few extra hours due to increased workload, have totally worn me out! It’s so sad.
This new job is going to be great because it’s more money, better hours, benefits and has room for promotions. My current job does not have any of these perks. I will never get a pay raise, I won’t ever be hired with the company as their employee, and I cannot get benefits because I am only a part time employee now. For the past few months that hasn’t been a big issue, but now it’s starting to get a little worrisome. My husband makes great money in the computer business so it’s not like we’re broke, but there isn’t a lot of money left over to put into savings for the things that we would like to do in the future (buy a house, go on vacation etc etc). Despite his valiant effort to be the breadwinner for our family, our needs have grown and I need to step up to the plate to take some of the burden off of his shoulders. I have no issue doing this but I barely have enough hours in the day to get the stuff done that I need to do now, how in the world am I going to have time to do things is I’m working full time?
This is my current workday schedule. I leave home at 7:20am every morning to get my little man to school and get myself to work by 8am. I work from 8am to 2:30pm with a half hour lunch. I then head over to the school, wait for school to let out, then eagerly await my little man to come to the car. We head home to do homework which is never an easy thing to get a hyperactive five year old to do. At 4pm I head to the gym to get my workout. I am back home by 5:30pm. Then I do dinner, dishes and get my son ready for bed by 8pm. I get him tucked in and read him a chapter out of his favorite book and finally have time for myself at about 8:30pm. It’s not a bad day and it flows very well from one task to the next.
However if I begin this new job my daily schedule will alter significantly. I have some of it figured out, and it’s not very convenient. I’d have to leave the house at 7am to get my son to school age child care before school by 7:30am (taking into consideration traffic situations). I then drive over to my new job and begin working at 8am. I work until 4:45pm, then have to go to the campus and pick up my son from aftercare. We head home in rush hour traffic and I am figuring on getting home around 5:45pm or so. Then I have to make dinner, do homework, bathtime and have him tucked into bed by 8pm. Reading the story will take until about 8:15pm that then gives me 15 minutes to go to the bathroom and change into my workout clothes. At 8:30pm I will head to the gym (Tuesdays-Thursdays) to work out for an hour, which will put me back home at around 9:45pm or so. I take a quick shower cause I’ll be sweaty after my workout and I might be ready to wind down around 10pm. This makes for a much longer day, that’s for sure. Is the new job worth it you might be asking? Well let’s just say is this way right now I make about $800/month give or take. If I get the new job I’ll make $1600/month give or take. I’ll easily double my salary. Plus the benefits will more than likely be better priced than what my husband pays so we can get insurance through my work, and not have to use his benefit package anymore. We will be able to save money and get old debts paid off quicker so our credit can continue the repairing process. I can’t think of a negative about switching jobs, except for not having a whole lot of time for downtime.
I will definitely let everyone know what the response is from Blue Cross when I get it, but until then I am going to enjoy what little spare time I have left before reality catches up with me. I still want to know when I signed the contract that said I was the responsible adult in this equation?
