. I interviewed today for what I would call a "survival" job. Meaning, it's not my field and not what I'd want to be doing for the long term, but it would do just fine for right now and the foreseeable future. Until the job market opens up again.
I came across it yesterday on Craig's List, emailed them and got a quick note back from someone saying when can you come in. I said how about tomorrow (meaning, today), and that's how it happened.
It's just a lowly transcriptionist job. Their client base is interesting - they do transcriptions for network TV shows.
I met with one of the owners of the company, who was very nice. The job offers several pluses. The hours sound very flexible. I could work days,nights, weekends, or skip some time, if I wanted to do my freelance writing.
They had me do a bunch of typing tests and they showed that I type about 90 words a minute (!!) with an accuracy rate of about 90%. He said "I like what I see, I like what I see." They pay by the word, and while he didn't tell me the exact rate, he said if I typed, say, 60 words per minute and was very diligent, I should be able to make between $16 and $18 an hour.
Like I said, it's not my dream job, but it will pay the bills, and these days, my goals are very humble. Just want to survive, pay the bills and keep myself going until the job market opens up a little and I get a regular, salaried job with the all-important benefits.
I can continue paying thru the nose for COBRA all through 2012, and through June of 2013, I think. Sometime before June 2013, I MUST find a job with benefits.
It's also casual dress, so I could wear jeans, if I wanted. It's about a 40-minute drive, right off the highway. To keep my gas costs down, it sounds like I could probably work 4 10-hour days if I wanted, rather than drive in for 5. I'm still not sure how much work there would be. He said it pretty much works out to be an average of 40 hours a week, but becus of the way the work comes in, there will be days I don't work, and certain "breaks." Not sure how long those breaks are, but I think I'd welcome them so I can attend to my freelance work, etc.
The other plus is that they would put me on payroll and deduct taxes from my check. I feel that's a plus, becus I just feel like I'm paying higher taxes (self-employment taxes) as a sole proprietor. This way, I don't have to worry about making estimated quarterly tax payments to the IRS. And when you're on payroll, it's something the Dept of Labor recognizes and gives you credit for (should I need benefits again down the road) When you do 1099 work, in the Dept of Labor's eyes, it's as if you didn't work at all.
He said he'd call me right after New Year's. They are hiring 4 transcriptionists. He has to interview 20 more people, he said. Down the road, I could possibly work at home, but not starting out. I'd have to buy my own transcription equipment, which he said costs about $300, but then I could work for anyone with it. (Truth be told, I don't plan on being there long enough for that to occur, but you never know.)
So, I would be very grateful if I got the job. In the past, I would've considered it "beneath me," but now I have absolutely no problem doing anything, just to earn some money. Once you leave the salaried corporate world, it can be hard to find any part-time job that pays over $10 an hour.
Interviewed for a Survival Job
December 28th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
December 28th, 2011 at 11:00 pm 1325113240
Sounds like this would be a good interim position for you and you would have a good shot at it.
December 28th, 2011 at 11:19 pm 1325114352
December 29th, 2011 at 01:51 am 1325123473
December 29th, 2011 at 02:21 am 1325125292
December 29th, 2011 at 03:04 am 1325127881
December 29th, 2011 at 04:35 am 1325133350
December 29th, 2011 at 10:31 pm 1325197860
December 30th, 2011 at 06:22 am 1325226130
With regard to the COBRA running out...you might call the insurance company you are with and start investigating their individual policies. I ran out of my COBRA back last March. The first two months of 2011, I paid $605 a month for insurance. After COBRA expired, I rolled into an individual plan with no preexisting condition exclusion (because I was rolling into the same company that I'd been with)...I had a higher deductible ($1500 rather than $500), but my monthly payments went down to $389.50. If your situation is similar it might make you feel less panicky about the through of using up the COBRA.