Hesitation Accepting Job - Big Sticking Point -Advice Appreciated!

Hi Everyone - So happy to have found this forum.

I'm re-entering the field after a long absence (to raise my children, one of whom has special needs). While I have excellent experience, skills and training, I've been out of the loop for a long time, am a white middle-aged female/mono-lingual in an area where there's a lot of talent: university town, multi-cultural/bi-lingual applicant pool, etc. I'm considering accepting a job and have one nagging reservation. I don't know how much clout I have given my deficits (yes, I really see them that way!). However the issue is important to me.

Job is w/ a non-profit that needs a program director, supervising 2 caseworkers - the population is low income urban, lots of domestic violence, other victim issues. Part time, no benefits.

I'm competent, OK w/ no benefits for now. However, I would be in one open space w/ my two supervisees and there is only one therapy space for all of us to share (caseload is about 30 per week between us all). All spaces are *really* depressing. (And I've worked in gritty places and cushy offices).

Non-profit work spaces like this always strike me as disrespectful to professionals and clients. They reinforce the idea that "poor" clients only deserve depressing spaces and that lots of us settle for them.

I'd like to bring this up in final negotiations but am concerned that my
point will be taken as a criticism, I mean it to be self-advocacy, advocacy
for my supervisees and clients.

The setting is an old agency, kind of has a "we've always done it this way" feel while being quite relaxed at the same time.

Thanks! Would love the job but need some autonomy! Then again a former colleague reminded me "beggers can't be choosers" referring to the economy but also to my out-of-the-loop status ...

Hi thisiswater! Welcome to PC.

I have a question for you. Would it be possible to accept the job, give it some time to see how the non-profit works, what the prevailing sentiment is about the work space and go from there. Maybe what it would take is someone to take up the cause, even if on your own time, to apply a couple of coats of paint, bring in some nice pictures that you may have stored in your attic or garage...or find at garage sales for pennies. Maybe spruce it up with some fake or real plants to give it that "homey" touch and feel.

Maybe if you take up the cause, your 2 supervisees will appreciate it and join in. It doesn't have to cost a lot or take too much time and energy to make small but very subtle changes that can make all the difference in the world!

I wish you well and hope you can find a solution to this!

If you address it clearly as advocacy for your clients first and foremost, then I say go ahead and mention it, after all, it's for the clients too...

I volunteer at a non-profit and the office I work in was very depressing before I got here. It had no pictures, no color, no personality. Slowly but surly I brought in pictures from the dollar store, found one at a garage sale, and had them pay for some much needed office supplies. I think if you took the job you could slowly make it feel more homey and colorful. We also write alot of letters to alot of different stores for donations like paint, art, and other things. I hope you can find a way to work it out with the non-profit.