Job Benefits

“Hardly a competent workman can be found who does not devote a considerable amount of time to studying just how slowly he can work and still convince his employer that he is going at a good pace.” – Frederick W. Taylor

“Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.” – Fairlane

*quick disclaimer, wordpress doesn’t want to let me put in paragraph spaces today so you’re going to see a lot of > this stuff. if i was a better computer person, i’m sure i’d figure out a better solution much easier. c’est la vie.

First the important news, I still haven’t slept a full night. The Olympics are still on and I’m still going for the gold in “falling asleep on the couch with my dog”. Bobsled, alpine skiing, womens figure skating, sports that I’m not sure what they’re called, I’m right there right in the thick of it. By the time of my next post it should all be over and I’ll be sleeping soundly.

Ok, now onto an attempt at a real post. I saw that the good people at Pepperdine linked to my blog today on Facebook so the pressure is on to come up with something good. Its a thought that’s been rolling around in my head lately so here goes..

When you’re looking for a job, be it your first job or your next job, I think there is a tendency to focus on salary. Especially if the advertised salary is a number that really gets you excited. I know for me I instantly start to day dream about all the sports cars and speed boats I’d suddenly own. But any job is much more than just pay and these other factors need to be considered.

Take me for example (since this is my blog and I’m typing and you’re reading) and my job at the Township. Though my pay is certainly fair and I would never complain about it in the least, I do occasionally say to myself, “Self, that education you went out and got was not cheap. It was supposed to be an investment. Shouldn’t you be getting a little more back on your investment?” And with that I start hitting up job sites and search engines and wondering what else is out there. I know the smart way is to work your contacts and network but that leaves behind a certain footprint. As in people saying, hey did you know so and so was looking for another job? Oh really? I’m so and so’s boss, I didn’t know that. Besides, I’m lousy at networking.

Back to the point.

So I start looking at other jobs. The city I live in, York, does not take up much importance in the universe. What I mean is, if I want a bigger pond to swim in I’m actually going to have to go to a bigger pond. Just a half hour drive to the north is the state capital, Harrisburg. Just an hour to the south is Baltimore Maryland. Either one a hot bed of bigger better shinier fancier more impressive sounding things.

And that’s about when the problems start. If I went someplace else, I’d lose my benefits. No not health care and our really great dental plan, I’m talking real benefits. Like the fact that right now I work 4 miles from where I live. I actually go home for my lunch break. If the cable repair man needs to stop by, I can leave work and 5 minutes later I’m there to let him in. There are many other benefits to living and working so close together. Need to stop at the store after work? Maybe a dentist appointment over lunch? Everything is nice and contained in about a 10 mile radius for me. The gym, the grocery store, the post office, etc. The amount of stress relief and time management benefits here cannot be underestimated. Add in the local connection of working for local government and the house I just bought two years ago where I keep my bed and all my stuff, and I’m a regular local yocal (thats supposed to rhyme, some things don’t translate well to the entarweb).

What it comes down to is how much of a life do you want with your career. Or how much career do you want with your life? Maybe for you current students the answer is something like, “I’ve lived in a dorm room for the past 6 years so another few years in an apartment following the right job from place to place is fine by me”. Yeah I remember those times. But just consider this, eventually you’ll put down some roots. So consider the benefits of the place you’re in when you do.

Now….if any of you smart computer types out there know why I can’t get a space between paragraphs (probably because of some dumb box I don’t have checked somewhere) please feel free to educate me.