I had two job interviews last week... need some assistance

"WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe" (wesbarton89)
08/24/2015 at 14:20 • Filed to: None

Pretty good chance I’d get hired at either one. But I’m not sure which one to take, if I do land both.

First up was an old call center job I used to have. Government contract, full time, weekends off, Federal holidays off and paid. $9.36 an hour starting out, with yearly raises. I did really well at this job before. I left it 4 1/2 years ago, but I remember most of the job pretty well. It’d be, at least for the first year, a 12:30pm-9:00pm shift, M-F.

Second one is CVS Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician. Could be full time but more than likely part time. Pay is somewhere between $10.50-$11 an hour starting out. Part time is up to 35 hours per week. I do need certified, but CVS pays for my certification, and I have 6 months to get it, if I get hired, and I must re-cert bi-annually. Being a pharmacy tech, I can imagine, is a much more demanding job, but it’s also more of a long-term thing right now. The pharmacist (who my family has known for years, and who I am on a friendly first name basis with) was almost begging me to take the job because of how much he always liked me and my family, which isn’t a bad thing. Shifts are long though, up to 11 hour days, and one or two weekends a month, which wouldn’t be too bad.

I’m just not sure which one I should take. I could technically work both jobs. I could do CVS from say, 8:00am-12:00pm (my fiancee starts work at 8:30 am, and my daughter is starting school in a week), and the call center from 12:30-9. I wouldn’t see my family any less if I did CVS in the morning, but I’d be afraid of getting burnt out quickly doing two jobs.

Let’s say I do that. My weekly income, figured at $9.36 for the call center, and $10.50 for the low end of CVS, would be somewhere around $585 before taxes, in comparison to my current of $370. That’s $215 more per week without taxes, so almost $900 extra per month, which, after taxes, would probably be more like $700 extra per month than what I’m bringing home now.

If I were able to do CVS full time, it would be $50 more per week than what I make now, which would still help. No matter what I choose, I’d be in a better situation financially than what I am now. Advice?

Ugh, adulting and making choices be difficult.

DISCUSSION (18)

CB > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 14:22

What benefits does CVS offer? Do benefits at either jobs transfer to family members?

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 14:25

I’d say give both a try first. Sounds like the extra money would be a big help. Then if it’s too much, and you’re finding yourself getting burned out, put in your notice at one of the two jobs. Keep whichever job has the best potential in the long term. Does either job offer better benefits than the other? Even if one pays more, better benefits at the other could make up for that difference; especially medical benefits, and even more so with a child.

Best of luck to you!

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > CB
08/24/2015 at 14:28

I’m not sure about CVS. As far as the other, the only benefit that would transfer would likely be health insurance, which my fiancee already has through her job, and my daughter has insurance as well, so that’s not really an issue.

CB > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 14:29

Alright, fair enough. Good that it’s covered, then.

Trunk Impaired 318 > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 14:30

Basically a pharm tech here (technically im an intern but I do the same job) and it’s pretty stressful. The job itself isnt too bad but dealing with people who have no idea how things work is very taxing. Also, CVS as a company isnt the greatest, of course this varies from store to store but for the most part its about the last pharmacy Id choose to work for. I think in the long run the government job is probably the better bet despite the lower pay, mainly through job satisfaction, benefits and less stress.

Just my $0.02

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 14:46

I’d imagine that being a pharm tech would afford much more opportunities to you on down the line than a call center would. Plus the fact that you know the person you’d be working for, and the fact that you get paid more seems like a winning combination to me. Try something new man. Good luck, keep us updated!

deekster_caddy > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 15:15

Sounds to me like the pharmacy tech is the way to go - there is a better career path there than at a call center if you want to pursue it. Good luck!

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 15:27

I had a whole long story of my job choices typed up, but I decided it’d be better to just simplify the lesson. Go with whichever one makes you happier. The work environment is key. If you work in a place that is soul-sucking and that you hate seeing every time your shift rolls around, then it doesn’t matter what the pay is. You’ll never be happy there. You can’t put a price on mental stability and happiness in the workplace.

wiffleballtony > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 17:17

Why not just get a McDonald’s job for $15 an hour?

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > wiffleballtony
08/24/2015 at 17:23

That’s a great idea! /s. Except, they don’t pay $15 an hour here. Plus, I have a personal standard never to work in fast food.

I’ve heard so many horror stories about working there, lol.

wiffleballtony > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 17:57

My comment was largely facetious. Where is “here”? Most call centers in my area are 15+

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > wiffleballtony
08/24/2015 at 18:00

I figured it was, lol. And “here” is western MD. I have 6 years of call center experience and make $9.25/hour. Of course, cost of living isn’t too bad here.

wiffleballtony > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 18:02

I’m in AZ, you can probably get close to 18 per hour here with that experience. Cost of living is cheap as well.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > wiffleballtony
08/24/2015 at 18:04

That would be nice. My mom actually makes $20 an hour as a private nurse, a job that she’s been doing for well over 20 years. My stepdad makes around the same, as a sheet metal worker, which he’s been doing for 30 years now. Their incomes would be way higher where you’re from, based on what you say.

wiffleballtony > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 18:16

I started in a financial call center with no experience back in 2007 at $16. I imagine pay has gone up since. Granted I left that job after 3 years to pursue a different field.

NotRichBMWOwner > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/24/2015 at 20:45

Why not go to college? Those jobs pay pretty low with minimum potential for making more money in the long term. 4 years now will be worth it 20 years from now. Also, there are factory jobs that pay $12+/hour with no experience needed.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > NotRichBMWOwner
08/25/2015 at 08:53

Factory? I’m not really mechanically inclined to build or work in that environment. But I absolutely plan on giving college a second try, probably in spring of 2016.

NotRichBMWOwner > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe
08/25/2015 at 15:11

Good! It is definately worth it in the long run.

You don’t need to be mechanically inclined to work in a factory. Factories train operators to do all kinds of stuff from running reactors to putting product in boxes. For example, my brother made good money passing transmission gears through a go/no go guage and making sure one way clutch spring were in the right orientation for the loading machine. The worst they can say is no and the best case is you get a good paying job.