I have been vague about my job because I have been talking a lot of shit about it and don't want it to get back to my bosses. I think it's unlikely that it will, but still. However, this newest event is impossible to explain without more information so here goes. I might delete this later.
I work in a public library. It used to be my full time job but now it is my part time. I have a MLS but I am not a librarian. I used to be a paraprofessional, but as a result of the restructuring we did earlier this year I am now considered in a clerical position.
I did not feel great about that but I went with it because I thought I would become a librarian soon enough and it wouldn't matter. Then I didn't become a librarian. I probably wasn't even considered-but that's another story.
The main reason I decided to stay on part time and continue to work 60 hours a week is because I was still getting to do some skilled work. Most of the time I work at the public desks were 80% of what I do is circulation-checking people out and renewing their books. I didn't spend two years a tens of thousands of dollars to do that. BUT, one day a week I get to drive the bookmobile AND I LOVE IT.
I get to select books that rotate into the bookmobile collection; I develop personal relationships with customers and personally select books for them to read; I rotate books off the truck when it is appropriate and I get to feel really great about what I am doing. It makes up for the other 3 days when I am not being challenged professionally.
Last night my supervisor told me that I was going to start splitting my route with a new driver. Once he is trained I will go every other Saturday. She needs a backup driver (reasonable) and the person nominally in charge of the vehicle itself doesn't want this person to only drive once a month (also reasonable) and the person they chose can only do Saturday route (same as me). All of it is reasonable but when I got off work I burst into tears. I am so disappointed.
I have been an outspoken supporter of the restructuring; I mentor my colleagues, offer positive, constructive criticism about the new policies and try not to complain about my schedule. I have shown leadership during the transition. I have been one of the biggest cheerleaders.
But, since my previous position was the first of it's kind and is what the transition is based off of, I initially was trained in more places than anyone else. that meant it didn't matter what my preferences were, I was placed where they needed a body while the rest of the library got caught up in training. And I was fine with that because, again, I thought it would help me move to a higher position. But it hasn't. And won't. And now I get to do the thing I enjoy the most only half the time-which won't allow me to build any relationships with my patrons-who aren't even mine now.
It looks like instead of quitting in 22 weeks, I will be quitting in about 11. So, at least that is something to look forward to. I don't know how it will work out financially, but I am quitting once the new driver is trained. The new driver that doesn't have a MLS and doesn't have as much experience as me. (It's not his fault. I am excited for him that he gets to learn this too because I know he is jazzed for it.)
This main thing this will change is going to visit my family this summer. Plane tickets alone will be about $1000 for the 3 of us and I just don't know how we'll do it.
So, there's that. This library is like a bad ex-boyfriend that I keep running back to no matter how many times he break my heart.
The end might be sooner than I thought
December 10th, 2015 at 05:39 pm
December 10th, 2015 at 05:58 pm 1449770316
I would suggest spending some of your newly available time trying to accumulate small amounts of cash, which could add up to enough cash to drive to your destination, rather than fly. If you need ideas for that post here and ask for suggestions, look back on my blog under the snowflakes tag, think Swagbucks, Ibotta for rebates, saving what you saved with coupons, interest on a savings account, credit card rewards (but only if you can handle it), and selling things.
December 10th, 2015 at 06:04 pm 1449770687
Driving isn't an option, it would take minimum 2 days each way (it is a 30 hour drive) and I don't get that much vacation time. We've floated the idea last night of spending our summer vacation at my partner's dad's which is within driving distance and then trying the holidays with my family but there are issues with that, too.
I do plan on selling a ton of my stuff once I am down to regular hours. And I am already doing swagbucks and Ibotta, but imagine I will be able to do a little more when I have more time.
Right now it is make do and try not to spend any more than is necessary...
December 10th, 2015 at 06:13 pm 1449771224
December 10th, 2015 at 06:41 pm 1449772907
December 10th, 2015 at 08:54 pm 1449780857
December 10th, 2015 at 09:15 pm 1449782102
Family is important, but it sounds like a real luxury to make it work this year. Sometimes we have to make these sacrifices. Remember it's just one year. Hang in there.
December 10th, 2015 at 10:14 pm 1449785689
December 11th, 2015 at 01:41 pm 1449841316
December 12th, 2015 at 05:10 am 1449897015
December 14th, 2015 at 05:58 pm 1450115936
December 15th, 2015 at 07:21 pm 1450207304