out of the blue job offer

[kitalyn414]

i got an email yesterday from an old boss. she said they had a full-time opening and would love for me to take the position. i was the first person they called. :) now, i absolutely LOVE the company. it is a small pr firm comprised mostly of women and they have the coolest clients. at first i told her no, that i'm applying for graduate film school and will hopefully be leaving in september. but then i started thinking... working there was the best job i ever had. i was just an intern and didn't even get paid for it, but i loved it anyway. as jobs go, it would be VASTLY better than my current job. i would have much more responsibility and the working enviornment is ten times better. the opportunity to learn is immense. i'm fairly certain it would mean a pay cut, but that really isn't my concern. i wrote her an email back saying that i thought we should talk more about the job before i refuse it. i have an "interview" (more of a casual talk) with them tomorrow at 10am.

starting in college, i had been working towards a career in the film business. right now, even though my job sucks, i'm working for one of the top movie studios. provided i get into a masters film studies programs, i would be moving towards a goal of teaching film on the college level. everything i have done during college and since, has been for a career in a film.

if i took this other job, it would mean a complete industry change. i would then start working towards a career in pr. i have no idea if that is what i want. i am now getting worried that i am just doing the film thing because it is what i studied in college. i sometimes feel like getting a masters in film is not a very practical thing to do, but have been going after it because i can't imagine things going along status quo and want to move out of LA eventually (a huge priority for me). pr would also give me the freedom to move out of los angeles. in addition, a good friend of mine is in pr and we have always dreamed about going into business together.

i guess i'm wondering if anyone has done a complete industry change in their career? i find it rather frightening. how do you know it is the right decision?

[pisces2473]

This happened to me senior yr of college--my internship boss from the previous summer called me w/ an offer. I had JUST sent in my deposit for grad school. I ended up going to school and then leaving a semester later, and I regret to this day not taking the job. I did go back after graduation and work as an intern again before I left for grad school...but damn...

Just thought I'd share my story. Good luck.

[Kitty]

I'd take the job.

[Skyblade]

Wow, congrats on the job offer. I used to work for a small PR firm while I was in college here in Santa Barbara. The job was really fun and so were the people there.
Perhaps after you speak with her you'll get a better idea of whether its really what you want. I wouldn't just drop your dream of being in the film bus either.
Ahh..decisions.

[cheshrcarol]

Congratulations! I'd say take the job. Especially since you want to get out of LA. You can go practically anywhere working in PR. But I would guess that working in the movie industry or teaching film is much more limited.

[wordsmith]

Each job I've had has been a switch of field.

[gluegun]

If I were in your situation I would take the job. The enthusiasm you expressed in your post shows how much you enjoyed working for the new company. I'm learning more and more that true success in life requires a LOT of flexibility. It isn't realistic to just map out a 10 year plan then expect to follow it to the T. You have to roll with the punches and take your opportunities as they come. You might end up in a totally different place then you expected, but as long as you're enjoying yourself and feeling challenged then it is all good. Yes, I would definitely take the job. Opportunities like that don't come along every day.

[kitalyn414]

thanks for the input!

the thing is, i guess i'm having trouble discerning what my "dreams" really are. is it really the film business? or is that just what i am comfortable with? it is like i have no idea what i really want. i'm worried that one of my two options (grad school... or career change) are just a diversion and i can't decide what is real.

[gluegun]

I know that this is incredibly corny (and I've had a hard time with it myself), but perhaps you should try to "listen to your heart". When you close your eyes and imagine yourself in either scenario which one feels better?

[LyraDora]

it sounds like this could be a great opportunity for you. changing fields may just be what you need to determine whether you're in the film industry because it's what you planned while in college, or if you have outgrown it. you can always go back into film business if you decide pr is not for you. i think it is really important to work in various fields before settling on one, because you figure out what's right for you. you also mentioned that you really like the people there & the job environment. that is definitely a big plus.

g'luck with your decision.

[bigboom]

id take the job...its not very often that you come across a job like that where you love it so much. but on the other hand this might be one of life's little tests to see how much you want a career dealing with film :)

[kitalyn414]

Originally posted by gluegun
I know that this is incredibly corny (and I've had a hard time with it myself), but perhaps you should try to "listen to your heart". When you close your eyes and imagine yourself in either scenario which one feels better? it isn't corny. i had a moment where i thought, "i need to go home and meditate on this."

[heatherf]

Take the job.

Don't people say- "Figure out what you love to do and find a way to make money at it." You loved working there. It wasn't "work" to you. You can always go back to school......

[pisces2473]

I was just gonna post something and then Piss and Vinegar stole my idea!!!! Dammit!

Yeah, Kita, you can always go back to school--but job offers don't pop up like this every day.

[heatherf]

GMTA

[shimmer728]

Exactly what Jen and Heather said. :)

Congrats!

[kitalyn414]

okay, so i interviewed/chatted with my former bosses on friday and it went really well. we get along so well and it was AMAZING to see how much the company has grown since i left. their staff has pretty much doubled!

HOWEVER, the pay cut is insane. what they initially offered would be a $13,000 pay cut for me! i told them that there is no way i could take the job at that rate, because i wouldn't be able to pay all my bills. they were REALLY understanding about that, saying that they agreed, but were following instructions from the company owner. SO, i asked them if they would be willing to go back to the owner and ask if she can start me at $30K instead of $25K. (supposedly there would be a raise in 6 months as well.) it would still be a major cut to my income, but would be manageable (i would have to scale my lifestyle back). anyway, now i am waiting to see what they say. hopefully the owner will be understanding that $25K a year is just not a livable wage anymore. if they don't come back with $30, then there is no way i can do it.

this morning i decided that if they can do $30K, that i will take it. all it took was one look at my cubicle to make up my mind. :neutral:

[and1grad]

Good Luck Kita!

[kitalyn414]

well, they wouldn't budge at $25K! :neutral:


i'm a little bummed, but not too much. it was a win/win situation. now i get to keep on making more money. woo hoo!



i think i'll go shopping. ;)

[Kitty]

Originally posted by kitalyn414
well, they wouldn't budge at $25K! :neutral:


i'm a little bummed, but not too much. it was a win/win situation. now i get to keep on making more money. woo hoo!



i think i'll go shopping. ;)

I'm happy you tried to negotiate. I tend to chicken out a bit when it comes time to negotiate.

Congrats!

[gluegun]

Yeah, kudos to you Kita for sticking by your guns. I'm sure that they'll be disappointed to lose out on you as an employee, but it sounds like you are doing the right thing.

[kitalyn414]

it wasn't even a matter of negotiation. it would have been financially impossible for me to live on $25K. my finite monthly expenses (rent, car, insurance, bills) would have exceeded my income. didn't have much of a choice but to tell them that.

[gluegun]

Well if they can't afford you then they can't afford you. Now go out and spend some money! :)