My Question of the Day for 15 July 2010 – UPDATED
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My Question of the Day: Rolanda is tired of her boring job, so she decides to make some changes. She went to school to be an accountant, and she’s been doing that for the last five years, but she’s always had a passion and actually a real talent for fashion design, which was her minor in college. She sends out resumes and includes a link to her online portfolio of clothing designs she’s hoping to bring to life for some firm that will have her.
About two months later, Rolanda gets a phone call from a firm who’s very interested in meeting with her. She takes a few days of vacation from her current job to prepare for her interview and to go to the interview itself.
The interview goes exceptionally well, and the manager offers Rolanda a position on the spot as a junior-level designer. Before Rolanda can give her answer, the manager interjects that the position is unpaid for a probationary period of six months with the option of the company to let Rolanda go once that period is up if she doesn’t perform as expected. If Rolanda does perform as expect, she will be paid retroactive for the six months she worked without pay, and she will be given a starting bonus equal to 33% of her six months’ salary.
Rolanda asks if she can have a few days to think it over, and the manager says yes. The manager asks Rolanda to let her know her answer within the next four days. As Rolanda is riding home, she is torn about what to do. This is her dream about to possibly become reality, but there won’t be a paycheck for six months and she could possibly not see any pay at all if she doesn’t meet the standards.
What do you think Rolanda should do?
My 2 Cents: If Rolanda’s financially prepared, she should go for it. If she’s not, she should get financially prepared and try it again when she’s ready to sustain herself financially for six month. If this is her dream, she can defer it as opposed to totally ditching it all together. Maybe the firm willing to take a chance on her will bring someone else in for the time being, but they would be willing to give her another shot once she’s able to live without the paycheck for six months.
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I think it all comes down to Rolanda’s back-up plan. Does she have any savings to live off of over the next 6 months, or family/friends who will support her? If she has either, or both preferably, she should go for it. Fashion is a creative industry and a lot of times an internship is the best way to get your foot in the door. If it didn’t work out, she has 6 months of on the job training to help with future jobs. If it does work out, it is not an internship but a new career in the field she loves.
But it all depends on her ability to survive those 6 months, regardless of the outcome. If she can, why let her dreams go unfulfilled?
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LikeDislikeMy advice is this: If it’s her dream and she has the talent, she needs to go for it. I’ve been in a position before where I wasn’t making any money (I moved out to graduate school with $42 in my pocket after toying with the idea that I shouldn’t go). The satisfaction that I got from going was immeasurable and my experience has put me in the place to do what I want, when I want.
If she can’t afford it, then she shouldn’t go. However, my advice would be to seriously take stock of her expenses and then to plan accordingly. This sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity as well as an exciting life change, and I think she should go for it.
~C
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LikeDislikeIf there’s any way that she can afford to do it, then I think she should. She has acknowledged talent and has an actual job offer. Following your dreams always requires some amount of risk and that’s about the “safest” risk there is. Much more secure than striking out for a new city with no job lined up, which many people also do. So if Rolanda can find a way to support herself for those six months, she should go for it. Otherwise, she’ll spend the rest of her life regretting the fact that she let this opportunity slip away.
We tend to regret the things we didn’t do more than the things we did…
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LikeDislikeDepending on how BIG of a deal this is to her, I’d say go for it. But, I don’t know what Rhonda’s life outside of work is like. Can she AFFORD to go six months without pay? Rent, lights, gas, water, car payments, insurance, none of those things will go on a “probationary period” of six DAYS with her, so if she’s doing all of that herself, she needs to think about how those things will get paid. Family could possibly help, but does she have family, and are they willing? There’s a lot at stake, good and bad, that she needs to think about. Pray on it and then make the decision that feels right.
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LikeDislikeSix months is a long time to go without a steady paycheck. However, no one knows Rolanda’s financial situation better than Rolanda. I’d imagine she’d have to delve into her savings and possibly max out a couple of credit cards to finance her dream but it’s her dream. It’s a sacrifice but at least she’ll be able to pursue the career of her desires. If it doesn’t work out, well, her debts will remind her that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.
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LikeDislikeIf its her dream, she should go for it. Do whatever she has to do to make it happen. If that means moving back in with her parents, so be it. She should get at least a part time job to help with necessities.
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LikeDislikeMy first instinct is that she shouldn’t do it, but it doesn’t seem like Rolanda has any dependents at this point. Now would be the time for her to step out on that branch and take a chance. The alternative is her hating her work for the rest of her life, which is the choice most people make.
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LikeDislikeI don’t think she should give up her current job. You sometimes need that safety net. I would advise her to take night classes though or look for a local business opportunity she can do on the side through weekend events and night fashion shows. 6 months without pay is tough esp. if she has school loans coming her way (rent, groceries, utilities, etc)
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