As simple as a random phone call my job/career could change..

Would you go from a "job" making $20/hr. Part time no benefits, vacation, etc... with the potential of becoming a "career" position starting in the 30's topping out at over 60K in the next 25 years or so... But you don't when you would ever reach that Career status.... I'm sitting at 4.5 years right now... and 6th in seniority... Roughly looking at 5-6 more before becoming "full time". But job security is good (USPS) but certainly not Promised.

VERSUS

A Union Labor job, full time, benefits, 401k, starting out at $17/hr... topping out at $17.75/hr. Job security is unknown. Mon-Fri normal hours with overtime in the summer. Boring job, day in and day out, but a known income...

Right now, I can make $300 on one check and over $1000 on the next. My average yearly income doing what I do now is right around $25k VS. Jumping into 35K with possible improvements in position... but not much, Probably 40k at best. Longer drive to work... but hey, I drive all day with my job now...

Just interested in your thoughts.... I received the call tonight at 8:30, I have to be their at 8am in the morning to talk about it if I want the job... Just word of mouth, I've never once submitted a resume...

I've talked it over with my wife... and after all the what-ifs.... Right now... I feel I would be better suited to make the change if it's meant to be.... I'm headed down in the morning to interview. Wish me luck and say a prayer... I'm just gonna put it in the Big Man's hands and let things fall how they may. I'm not good with change...

 

Hard to say without knowing the whole story. Both have advantages & disadvantages.

Good luck either way

 

Benefits with normal hours without the failing USPS looming over your careers head (no offense meant whatsoever, I just see them having to scale back majorly to stay operational at the rate they are losing money)...I'd say is definitely worth the $3/hour. Normal hours means you have plenty of time for a side job if money is a problem too.

 

Go with your gut, usually it is right

 

Very tough question and one that I don't think anyone can answer except for you and your wife. Good luck in the interview tomorrow!

 

I'm praying, my brother!

 

Tough call that only you can answers. Wishing the best for you though !!

Tim

 

Options, options... Good luck on your decision, as some have mentioned, go with your gut.

Something to think about though... Sounds like you have some numbers based on how long you think it would take to get full time... Obviously as you know, the USPS has been loosing money for years... What do you think will happen with Saturday delivery? A lot of people don't want it to end, but doing the math/financial numbers - think its at least a possibility that it could happen in the next few years?? Would that impact your decision... Guessing the sorting center closures won't affect your position\seniority either then?

I've got an uncle that's a mail carrier... Also took him a while to get full time, but he loves it now...

 

Tough call so all I can offer you is a "good luck".

 

A $10k salary increase is a good jump.

 

But his work load doubles... when they're not laid off. LOL It would depend on what the job was. Is it seasonal, manual kick butt work or what. You could take the union job and you're now at the bottom of the food chain in a struggling economy. If they have cut back/layoffs.... last ones in are the first to go.

 

That's a huge factor in my decision... if they took out saturdays I would have no doubts going into this new job. But do I think it will happen... well, I really don't know, nor do I know if it would negatively affect me or not... If they did cut out Saturdays, It could go a couple of different ways.... Processing centers have nothing to do with me, but Saturdays have everything to do with me..

Really It's a risk whether I stay, or go...

I start Monday, I'm going to still work a few Saturdays at the PO, make sure everything is going kosher with the new place before letting go of the P.O.

 

It is indeed... I can take +10k now or +40k down the road... It's truly a gamble.

 

Congrats on the new job!! Right now, having a job is a good thing...having a job with good benefits...is even better and hard to come by. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Maybe this job opens the door for even bigger opportunites down the road, if not in that specific place of employment, maybe elsewhere. I think you played your cards right by not burning that bridge at the PO and keeping that on the back burner. We all know there are no guarantees in life and sometimes you need to take that leap and have faith that everything will work out the way it suppose to.

Again...CONGRATS!!!

 

Wait, so this new job, you would be stuck at that salary...for your entire career? No room for advancement?

 

Very Little... I'm not seeing 65k in my future as I would after 20 "career" years at the P.O. If it stays in tact.The 4.5 I have in now, mean Nothing.

I can't see it going much over 40-45k in advancements... But then again, I could be wrong... the person I know that works there, used to be in the shop... he now sits behind a desk. But were only looking at 10 employees per shift.

It's not a Ditch digging, labor job... I'll be in a machine shop, working with stainless steel.

 

You may get ahead the fastest if you take this job. While you're there, take a look at all the other tradesmen around you and see if you can pick one you like and try and get into it. Without college education, trades are the way to go. As long as you are going to bust your a$$ you might as well like what you do.

 

Is there anyway to pick up enough hours on the side to stay on the seniority list with the PO?

 

I work part time at a restaurant and mow a couple of yards... and do other odd jobs as needed... But, that kind of schedule is getting old, and still doesn't add up, I make do, sometimes better than others But I'm ready for some regularity in my life...

I think I'm aging...