Dog Community

Work Advice?

Anonymous

Posted : 7/23/2008 6:39:14 PM

I am so torn right now. I work at a dog wash where I've been since February. While on unemployment from losing my previous job, I took on this for something to do because I felt like a lump not working. I figured I would work part time there while I searched for a new full time job. Well, finding a full time job was harder than I expected. I ended up finding out about being a "Brand Ambassador/Promotional Model" through a girl I worked with. I started doing it, and the more promotions I did the more contacts and connections I made and now I'm very much into it.

Problem is, and I have spoken to the owner of the dog wash about this, most promotions are on weekends. I only am scheduled at the dog wash on weekends. Last week I said to her I don't want to screw her over when I'm scheduled to work there but want to do a promotion instead. She insisted she'd work around my schedule and insisted she keep me on. She does the schedules way in advance and I don't find out about promotions until a few days or a week beforehand, which always poses a problem.

Well I can't keep passing up promo jobs when I make triple doing that than what I make at the dog wash. I don't want to screw her over, but I feel like its time she hires someone else to take my place. I'm trying to think of the best way to word this so I can speak to her about it. I might tell her I would love to stay on as a "fill-in", but I don't know. I think a huge part of me wants to stay cause its easy, I get free dog baths (and her shampoo and conditioners are awesome), and I get wholesale on all dog food and pet products.

Ugh! I just want to make this work between jobs but I don't know if I can. I guess this was more of a vent than advice, but if anyone has anything to add that may help I'd appreciate it.

ron2

Posted : 7/23/2008 6:51:51 PM

You've got to do that which pleases you. And making money doesn't hurt, either. I know what it's like to need money. There are times when I think it would be fun to start all over and go through a mentor program and become a cert'd dog trainer because I have had such fun with it at home. But I am pretty sure I couldn't handle the paycut I would take. I have decades of experience in my trade and a big fat license and make a decent paycheck for my area and that makes it hard to quit what I'm doing. You, OTOH, have a chance to make more money than what you are making now doing something that you have come to like. As opposed to giving up a part-time low-paying job that you have also learned to like.

Whatever you do, it will be the right thing.

Sunshinegirl

Posted : 7/23/2008 8:02:31 PM

As a previous business owner I would say, be honest. Explain that you enjoy working for her and doing what you do, but that you need the additional income and you are willing to fill in as you are available. If you give her at least two weeks notice or more, I'm sure she will appreciate you being up front with her and the fact that you need the money. I had an employee come to me with a similar situation and I was not in a position to pay her what she needed. You need to do what is best for you at this time. Just speak with your heart, she will appreciate it, I'm sure.

Liesje

Posted : 7/23/2008 8:31:15 PM

I've been in similar positions and sometimes done what I thought was the right thing even if it didn't make me the most money and....I say you gotta look out for yourself. Bottom line is, jobs make money, you need money. I've always been a people-pleaser, but more and more I'm realizing that I need to be more assertive about MY needs and MY career. I agree with Sunshinegirl, be honest to the dogwash boss. Tell her you like the other job too (don't have to say "better";) and it pays in triplicate. If she can't beat that, can she schedule you weekdays, leave weekends open, and then if you don't have promos you can pick up hours if they need you or volunteer to sub for others?

I used to stress all the time about just applying for a new job, I thought somehow my boss would find out and hate me. Now I apply for jobs if I want them. I've applied for other jobs within my current organization and the head of HR has told me to do what I want, they don't look down on someone who wants to move from one department to another. My boss knows I work on the side more and more. He knows that tomorrow I'm leaving from work to go to an interview somewhere else. He knows that in Dec. DH will graduate and I will most likely quit if I haven't already. At my current job, we function as a team so if one person is gone, everyone else has to take on that work load (we do customer support so we can't just leave people's phone shifts open). My boss would rather me be honest ahead of time so he has some time to prepare than be thinking I love my job and then get a two weeks notice. Being honest about it has taken a burden off my shoulders and then I don't have to feel guilty if I DO take another job and have to leave my boss scrambling.

stardog85

Posted : 7/23/2008 9:07:52 PM

Can you ask to only be scheduled on weekdays when you're less likely to have schedule conflicts? Might be the best of both worlds...