We survived and everything worked out, but I am tired and have a raging headache. Tomorrow we do it all again. It is tough being a single mom, and I will be glad when DH gets back.
As soon as I went in today they put me to work. As I suspected, I didn't really get a formal meeting to determine exactly what they wanted from me. But Name Partner stopped by my office and said that he though they would keep me as contract labor for 30-60 days and then decide where we would go. He warned me that there would be plenty of late nights.
Later, the Partner with whom I am working now stopped by and gave me a little more info. They want to give me more stability than I had before, so I will come in every day. I never really said anything to them, but I was not to thrilled when I was working for them before and never had any notice--so that part is definitely good. They are also getting me a parking card instead of validating every day and a building pass so that I can get in and out after hours. I think these are all good signs.
I just wish they would be a little more specific about my permanency prospects, but everything they are saying seems positive. I think maybe they are just apprehensive about replacing a 3rd year associate with a first year. Or, as one of the secretaries pointed out, maybe they are just trying to keep year end finances in check.
To complicate things further, I got a call today for an interview. I only applied for the job out of desperation. It is in family law, which is really not my preference, and it is for a non-profit which means low pay--probably half what I am making doing contract work. (I really didn't go to law school for the big bucks and would happily take a gov't job, but I don't really want to work for peanuts doing something I'm just not interested in.) So now I don't know what to do. Do I go ahead and try to schedule an interview while I am contracting just to see what happens? I think I would be in a better position to negotiate for permanency with a job offer in hand. Do I turn it down and gamble that my contract position will work out? Will it piss off contract firm if I am still interviewing since they are indicating that they are interested in me? (Ok, I'm not so worried about that one, since they have made no real commitments--and I would definitely go on an interview for a job I really wanted.)
3 comments:
I'd say do the interview, but only if you have the time. You aren't interested in the job, it's crappy money, so the best you can hope for is yet more interviewing experience.
Sounds like good tidings for the holidays though! Even though the late nights will suck, at least you'll get some extra money for the holidays.
1) I say do not do the interview. If you know in your heart that you don't want to do family law, why waste their time and yours?
2) Yay on the long-term contract!! Be aware, though, that "late nights" can mean "all-nighters", or at least it did for the contract staff at my last (mid-size) firm. You might want to prepare your family for that reality, but I think that if you do the hard work now, it can only help you down the road. At a minimum, after two months of work, these people will have some basis upon which to recommend you. If they can't make you an offer, you should ask (insist?!) that they put in a good word for you with some of the other law firms in your town.
Wow, this is a challenge. However, if it were me I would use the interview invite as leverage.
Since your not interested in family law anyway, I would go to partner and tell them that you have recieved an invite to interview for a perminate position with a local firm.
You would prefer to work for contract firm if the opportunity presents itself. And ask if that option would be on table in the near future. If so, you plan to cancel if not then interview.
Just my two cents.
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