Archive for the 'Uni/Work' Category
July 22 2010: High Distinction
Filed under Uni/Work with 6 Comments
I’m maintaining consistent marks in my ongoing studies in a Master of Human Services Management. I have to admit that it was a concern, as this past semester of study was the first where I was working a full-time equivalent of five days. While I’ve worked a lot (e.g. seven days a week) in previous semesters, three or four of those seven days would only have half-day shifts, so I’d essentially only be working the equivalent of four days. That type of part-time split shift work was particularly conducive to study – I’d work in the morning, and study in the afternoon, and vice versa.
My current work schedule isn’t good for study. When I leave the house at 7am, and get back at 7pm, the last thing I want to do when I get home is study. I want to have a long hot shower, to have a delicious dinner, to snuggle up in bed with a good book or with my boyfriend. I don’t want to get out the highlighters and pens and start doing my readings, especially as I already make the effort to do an hour of study each day when I’m commuting to and from work on the train.
Despite all the above circumstances though, I’ve somehow managed to maintain a High Distinction (the highest possible grade) for the past semester’s study. The pressure is on to continue at the same level of excellence for the next eighteen months!
July 8 2010: Work: Three Month Review
Filed under Uni/Work with 7 Comments
Following my annual review for one of my positions, yesterday I had my three month review for my second position. Again, I feel it important to let you all know that I’m awesome and invaluable. In any case, the main conclusion from the informal meeting is that they want to keep me on board and wanted to offer the flexibility to grow into other roles within the organisation, instead of taking on a primarily logistical events coordinator role. I’ll be playing a role in strategic planning, as well as taking a role in growing our online social media presence. Essentially, areas I’m interested in, and work I can enjoy.
Now, I was originally on a 12 month contract (to expire March next year), but they gave me the option of either going permanent now, or having my contract extended. I chose to have my contract extended until December next year. It’s perhaps against the advice of many career gurus: why be a contractor when you can have a permanent position and cement your role within the organisation? It’s because I know that come December next year, it’ll be time for me to move on to bigger and brighter things.
- I’ll have finished my Masters.
- I’ll have spent two and half years in one part-time role, and nearly two years in another.
- I’ll be at the stage where it’ll make more sense to take on one full-time role, rather than two part-time roles.
And to tell you the truth, I’m not the type of person who takes well to staying in one place for too long – I like variety, and though this is one of the largest disability service organisations in the state, there’s not much room for growth in the areas that I’m interested in. To avoid being pigeonholed in a dead-end job, I really need a larger, national or international organisation – they would be the only ones who have the scope to offer the type of long-term role I’m looking for.
So…yeah. I realise these work-related entries are probably boring everyone to bits, but that’s what my life mainly consists of at the moment. You’ll just have to deal with it.
July 2 2010: Work: My Annual Review
Filed under Money & Uni/Work with 5 Comments
You may recall that earlier in the year, I bemoaned my lack of appropriate renumeration for one of my part time jobs. At my recent annual review (by the way, I’m awesome and invaluable, just in case you didn’t know), I was granted a raise of 12%, bringing me up to a gross annual income of approximately $48,000AUD. I had been seeking a 20% raise to bring my salary up to par with the pay offered for equivalent positions in the same sector.
So what now? My annual salary is still approximately 10% less than my “ideal” salary for someone of my skills and education level, working in this sector. One could argue that with the national unemployment rate still relatively high (though Australia does have one of the lowest unemployment figures in the developed world), I should simply be satisfied with the very fact that I have employment which pays me enough to keep me self-sufficient and in the black. Or, one could be like me and be perpetually dissatisfied with what she has and continue to strive for bigger and better.
I am continuing to seek alternative employment. There are some minor changes – I am currently only applying for positions that will take me further in my career goal of working in community relations in the not for profit sector. In addition, I am only applying for positions that are offering a salary at least 10% above my ideal salary range (e.g. $58K-$60K pro rata) – when I change positions, I want to ensure that I am doing so with a clear salary increase. If I am unable to find something suitable, I will stay with my current position (there’s something to be said for familiarity) until I finish my Masters degree, at which point I’ll reassess my options. This is of course, assuming that other circumstances don’t change in my life, necessitating a removal to greener pastures.