Thursday, April 30, 2015

And yet another new job

Here we go again!

That job I had been idealizing for a year? Turned out it was not all that. It was very junior, menial, boring. I've gotta say, it doesn't compare to the freedom of academia. Not that I needed the full freedom, but going back to not being able to make decisions, deferring to a boss, who defers to a boss, who defers to a boss to make decisions that I'm capable of making myself... Yeah.

I got a surprise though.

There was a job I applied for nearly a year ago that I didn't get because they chose someone more junior for the position. They would "keep my file on hand" they said. They always say that.

But they did.

A few weeks ago, I got a call from them out of the blue inviting me for an interview for a more senior position. I wasn't looking for a new job. I was really trying to make a go of this one. Since I'm so underwhelmed though, I decided to follow the process through to the offer, if there was one, just to see.

It turns out I got the offer. And I accepted it.

This job is not directly in my field, but it's close, it's research, and it seems to come with a lot more independence than the "dream" job that isn't. It also comes with a nice chunk more money. I'm not in it all for the money, but they made me an offer I just couldn't refuse.

So, here we go again. All I really want is a stable, reasonably interesting job with a salary that's reasonable for the training I have. This might be it. I have some qualms about it, as it's not quite my niche, but it's not a lifelong commitment and I'm giving it a shot.

I think I've given up on the whole "dream job" idea. Academia directed me into such a narrow niche that jobs just don't exist. This is a danger of following your interests to the fine point of specialization in academia.

Professional life after academia has proven to be tricky. I have no regrets of giving up my professor position though. Moving back "home" was something I needed to do. I wasn't willing to sacrifice my city for a professor job. I think I am willing to sacrifice my niche, at least for now.

Maybe I'm settling, but I'm settling for a little more this time, I hope. I've had excellent developments in my personal life, and that was part of the plan, too.  There's more to life than work now. I'm not living for work anymore. At the moment, I'm living for the weekends, which isn't good either. Can I strike a balance between the two with this new job?

I can't believe I'm giving notice again. This time, I'm cautiously optimistic that it'll be good enough.