Offered Small Job, Don't Want It, Is That Wrong?

I've been 'on sabbatical' more or less for the past few years. I left a good paying job four years ago. I took a year off, worked 9 months, and haven't worked for about two years now. I am living off savings and theoretically starting a company, which I don't really work on that much.

A former boss has asked if I would be interested in setting up computer hardware and giving a tutorial on using it for her current company. I used to do that kind of work when I first started out in IT, but I really don't want to do it anymore.

I can't see this job bringing in enough money to make it worth my time and did not particularly enjoy working for this former boss. Don't get me wrong - I like her - we just have very different work styles. I'm guessing that I would have to make at least 3 trips (45 minutes round trip each), each one for 1-2 hours.

There's a part of me that feels like it would be incredibly stupid to turn down work that pops up right in front of me like this -- but another part of me that thinks it would be stupid to waste my freedom doing something I don't want to do.

I really do not want to do this kind of work in the future, so it's not like I want to get my foot in the door or gain references.

Just to add something else: I can't tell if I don't want to do this because of anxiety or if I am being reasonable. I will need to get a job/income in the next 12 months but every time I even think about that, I sort of shove it to the back of my mind because it makes me unhappy.

Hi Hvert... I can see where you're coming from, and if you're still doing ok (not desperate for the money), I can't think of a reason for you to feel bad about turning down the job. As you said, it's not work you're interested in, you're not building new skills or adding to your resume, you're not making new connections, and this isn't someone you really want to work with more in the future. I think it's fine to say no to things like that, things that really don't seem to have a future or go anyway.

Again... as long as you don't need the money, and it seems like you don't at this point.

Would it make you feel better to start setting some goals for things you DO want to do professionally? Either things you'd like to do for your business, or things you'd look for in a job? Not even necessarily doing them... but just starting to put some thought into them and getting clarity on that?

Useful to have some recent work experience on your cv when see a job you really want. Reasures employers. Three sessions a fairly painless way to do this.

I don't need the money, but it would probably be better to have it in my pocket. My boyfriend gave me a mini-lecture tonight and told me that I will be sad when I have burned through all my savings for nothing.

I do need to start setting some goals. I have been drifting aimlessly for too long and it's very, very hard to get back on track. I kind of just fill my days with nothing in particular, small gardening/cooking projects, too much web surfing, some volunteer work.

I think I am going to email her asking for more information and giving her an hourly rate.

You haven't worked for 2 years, someone is practically handing you a job and you're considering not taking it because you'd like to really be doing something else? Stand back and take a look at what you're giving up here. I don't think you said you were rich. In which case, I would recommend you pounce on that job offer. It's only temporary and you really need to get back into the swing of working at something, anything really. A few extra dollars wouldn't hurt. You'll have plenty of time to be looking for the ideal job after this gig is up. JMO

Just to reiterate, it's 3-6 hours worth of work + nearly 3 hours of unbillable driving. Not a job or anything I would put on my resume, just some pocket change. I am not rich, but I am nowhere near desperate.

You are right that I should just do something to get back in the swing of things, and the money won't hurt. I can think of it as volunteer work that I get paid for. It's not that time consuming and I have a lot of time to spare.

And who knows, doing her this favour might lend you a good word somewhere else or lead you to meet someone that helps you in some way.

Yeah, I was kinda thinking that too. Networking is really hard for me right now because I have no idea what I want to do. I fill my days up with interesting stuff (sometimes), but I am not sure where I want to go careerwise next.

I did get more information from her. It sounds like this may lead to a full-time job, which doesn't reduce the squeamish feelings.

Hvert - the longer you so without working, the harder it becomes to go to back to work. Research supports this - people who have not worked for 18 months or longer are likely never to work again.

If you really plan to return to work and are not independently wealthy, taking this position just would be a good opportunity to build some 'work muscle'. If you look at it that way, it really doesn't matter what type of work it is. And if it does become a full-time position, you don't have to take it.

You will probably have to work through some fears and anxiety if you do accept this job but that is part of why it would be important to do it.

Yes, this huge gap makes me nervous. I was basically always working from 16-32. I worked full time non uni jobs as an undergrad and a grad student.

I do not want to return to work as I knew it before. The thought of going back to that makes me so ...nervous? anxious? not sure what word I want here? that I postpone thinking about what I will do instead. It's like I start to think of my Plan A and then this voice in my head just keeps saying that I will fail and have to go back to Plan B, working a day job.

But obviously if I do nothing, Plan B becomes the default.

It has been a long time since I generated income via work as opposed to gambling in the market, so doing this would probably be good for me - even if it just reminds me that I really don't want to do that kind of work anymore. The sudden imminent dread of being trapped in an office all day may motivate me to really start thinking about my next steps, something that is way overdue.

Yep ... maybe the best thing about doing what we don't want to do to is that we learn or confirm what it is that we really do want to do.

As Lao Tzu said "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

I got another small job offer today -- this is too bizarre.

I can see those thoughts being more intuitive rather than anxiety, Hvert. Though it could be like what Little Lulu had said.

Just because something pops up like that doesn't always mean that it's meant to be. My last job had just popped up and I didn't like as well as my current which I had to put more effort into finding.

I would suggest maybe taking a piece of paper and writing the positives and negatives if you still want to question it after reading my post. Or otherwise just take it and find another job in the mean time of working there.

I think you are right, just because it pops up doesn't mean that it is meant to be.

I'm going forward with the first job I didn't want (and still don't really) because I have no real good reason not to and she is a friend as well as a former boss. I quoted her a high hourly rate, sort of hoping that she'd say no, and she didn't blink.

I've thought about it some more, too. My reaction to the second job offer was very different. I'm looking forward to that one - it's more aligned with the kind of work I want to do.

Ten years ago I had a technical job that left me on call close to 24/7, 7 days a week. My next job I *was* on call 24/7 and all too often had to troubleshoot at 3 AM.

So now just the thought of another job that has anything to do systems or network administration leaves me cold - and wanting to run for the hills.

The other replies all make sense. In an economic sense, don't let this turn into structural unemployment. Statistics have shown that people who are chronically out-of-work lose the motivation and skills to re-enter the workforce and this difficulty is directly related to the amount of time spent unemployed. It's good that you're now considering taking up the offer, if not for anything but possible networking opportunities. I certainly would not enjoy the travelling, but if you intend to join the IT industry again this could be a start.

Give it a try and good luck!