I had a call the other week from a headhunter. I’ve been here before and the last time was a waste of my time – they didn’t even bother to let me know the outcome of the interview.
The job this company is looking to fill is within my area and I could do it easily – after all, I’ve done it before. A year ago, I’d have bitten their hand off. Today, however, my situation has changed. The bike training has taken up much of my diary and continues to do so. Yeah, sure, it’s not as well paid. Indeed, the post being discussed is potentially twice the income I am currently receiving from my hotch-potch of self-employed work.
But, I found myself agonising over whether to attend the interview they had arranged – having talked me into going that far. In the end, I decided that if it was that much of a decision, then, perhaps, it wasn’t for me. Recent events have caused me to re-evaluate my attitude to life and my career. I realised that actually, despite the potential higher earnings, happiness from day to day is more important.
When I contacted the headhunter chappie to tell him “thanks, but no thanks” he understood and asked two questions; do I know anyone else who might be interested and would I consider a fixed term contract or associate work? The answer to the latter being affirmative.
Interesting, though. They are struggling to fill it – but, then, I work in a small market. This has mixed blessings.
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Update; They ain’t giving up easily. They still want to see me with a view to a short term contract or ad hoc work. I might just do that. It’s the full time salaried return to the rat-race I’m baulking against.
“I realised that actually, despite the potential higher earnings, happiness from day to day is more important.”
If we could all reach that state a lot sooner in life, wouldn’t we all be a lot happier? 🙁
I’ve reached the same conclusion. I’ve stopped even trying to get anything above menial work any more. The eBaying makes just enough to live on and I’m enjoying it, the writing makes enough for a good whisky and might never make more than that, but there’s nothing else left that I want. The occasional science contract gives the reserves a boost. All I really need now is some kind of shelf-stacker job to give me a small, stable income. Anything else just causes more stress and costs me more tax.
I’m earning less than I have in many years and I’ve never been more relaxed.
Damn, much more of this and I’ll turn into a hippie!
“happiness from day to day is more important.”
A very bright guy who worked for me had exactly that attitude. It was quite a few years before I realised he was right.
If really genuine – GO FOR IT.
That’s the problem, though, isn’t it?
Scraping along is no fun – we were not quite in your situation, & things have improved, but we still need some more (if only one-off) money – & if only to stop the house falling down!
It is genuine and the company is one I have some respect for. However, I really don’t want the job. I’ve had enough of the corporate rat race.
It seems to me that the key is to have enough. Scraping along without having enough to pay the bills is no way to live. But having enough and having no desire for a bigger house, a bigger car or more impressive holidays is good. At my workplace, persons further up the pecking order than I am, go on expensive foreign holidays but take their electronic toys with them and carry on working. How sad is that?
I’ve just been headhunted too a few days back and it’s turned things upside down. Some offers are worth pursuing.
I get the disinterest in a full-time job, permanent (whatever that means these days) or contract but surely ad hoc or project based work is good. After all, what most of us despise is the pressure, stress etc. that comes from needing continuous employment. If you have something that you don’t have to keep going, then it’s all good. So, go for it but on your terms.
That’s precisely what I am planning on doing.