[USER]

Not sure if it’s ok to ask here, but I have no one else to ask…
I’m looking for ideas/excuses to delay accepting a prospective job offer.

I just hit a major middle age milestone birthday this year and I’m looking to get back on my own two feet financially, which will include finding a job and building a career at my age — I don’t mind that at all.

In fact, I’m excited about finally getting to really work and test my mettle in carving out a professional identity actually.

And fortunately, I look much younger than my age (I’m told late 30s – early 40s), so that should hopefully help to extend my career longevity a bit.

I interviewed for a position with a small non-profit recently. And the pay is far from what I would likely command without the career break on my resume, but it isn’t bad (I would likely reach $100K in a year or two), hybrid work, steady hours, within walking distance from home, in an area I have experience and interest in, it would be a pretty easy and nice transition back to the office for me.

But because of the company’s small size, I will definitely have to look elsewhere for mentorship and professional development.

I have a good feeling that I may get an offer from them within the next week or two.

Concurrently, I’ve also been working with a recruiter to get into finance, and she’s getting me in with a global alternative investment company which I believe would be life-changing, especially if I get a permanent position there, which I’m planning on!

But to start, it would only be daily administrative support temp work and the pay is only about 1/2 of what I would make at the other place.

It would essentially be a foot in the door of a global financial giant.

The pros of working there would be greater chance of finding a mentor and lots of options for career development within the company — it’s also where I want to spend the majority of my work days, steeped in finance, so I can learn — I have a lot of catching up to do re career development and building my net worth.

Right now it’s -$43K.

I would like to hold out for as long as possible for the finance career option to take shape a bit, even it it’s just to temp there longer-term (like for a few months because I’m pretty confident that I would be able to turn it into a permanent job there.

But I also have an immediate need for steady income and the non-profit offer is more solid and it would be a pretty good set up financially and work wise for where I’m at now.

I guess the non-profit job would mean security and pretty predictable work life and the finance path is unknown, but would be packed with lots of career options, great prestige/name recognition and higher compensation as long as I keep aiming high and working at it (I’m very excited by that idea for me personally!, my only concern with that is possibly needing to juggle parenting a young adult that has been through the ringer because of the other parent using our kid to try to retain control of me ).

I guess in addition to ideas for excuses to delay a possible job offer, I’m also looking for career advice as well, take the job at the non-profit or pursue the financial giant, especially if they at least offer long-term temp work?

[Lauren]

I don’t know your background/experience, but to me it sounds like a stretch to go from an administrative role to a finance role, unless you have the right education and prior experience.

Do you have that?

[Christine]

I would recommend that you take the full-time role available and start get back into the professional groove while leaving things on good open-ended terms with the larger company.

Something to the effect of: “I am going to go with the full-time opportunity, but I do want to re-express my interest in working with your company.

The work is interesting to me and I know I could provide immense value via (insert something relevant here).

Please reach out if any full time roles open up with this team/department.

I will also continue looking on the website.”
As a hiring manager myself, I totally get it when someone takes a full-time role over a consultant role.

But I find that the way you leave it with the hiring manager or HR, it leaves an impression.

And I think it’s totally OK to say that this particular offering they have right now is not the right fit, but you do see yourself at this company and you want to be there eventually.

When I have an opportunity and I’m looking for someone to fill the position, my mind tends to jump to those candidates who left saying they really wanted the position.

[Kristin]

There are a few things you might want to consider before burning any bridges.

First, how did you become involved with the recruiter?

Do you have education, training or work experience that make you confident that you would undoubtedly be on a trajectory to higher earning, a prestigious job title, etc?

Have you familiarized yourself with the job description and qualifications for the positions you are hoping to escalate into, (without taking the word of the recruiter)?

My concern is that a company like the one you have described will likely have many applicants with finance, accounting or business degrees, potentially even MBA’s.

From the wording of your post, it sounds like your goal is to learn about finance, which leads me to believe that you don’t hold a degree or certification in a related field.

I’m not trying to discourage you, because I have no idea how this company hires and promotes. But, I do know several people with positions at well-known financial institutions and all of them got to where they are via BS, internships, some have MS and all have gone through rigorous training and testing for various levels of certification.

I think it would be a good idea to do some research and make sure that this potential really exists and take a realistic look at what steps you would have to take and the potential timeline for advancement.

Don’t take the recruiter’s word for it, because he/she makes their money by filling the position that is currently open.

They have nothing to gain or lose by hinting that an internal promotion is possible.

Again, not trying to discourage you, because maybe there is a path to the career you are seeking that begins with temporary administrative support.

But, if the position you ultimately desire requires lots of training and certification, additional education, etc, then this has to be considered in your comparison of the two opportunities.

[Molly]

The global investment job doesn’t sound appealing at all. They wouldn’t make it temp and they wouldn’t pay that poorly if they had legitimate retention plans for people in that role.

It’s the kind of job you get pigeonholed into and then you’re not taken seriously on internal applications.

I’ve worked at a few global corps and only a few times seen a temp hired on permanently, and only then into another lower paid admin role.

[Oz]

I love this scenario and thank you for sharing. Fundamentally I see this as a choice between stability ($100K nonprofit job) vs growth (new finance gig). One of my mentors once told me that people tend to fall into 2 camps in their career, “earning” or “learning.”

When I was hungry to break into a new industry, I chose “learning,” took slightly less pay to work at a firm that would quickly build my portfolio (I’m in UX design).

Now I find myself in the “earning” camp, or as some people in tech like to say “rest and vest.”

I still enjoy my job but it’s not my main driver anymore, and I’ve prioritized stable earnings vs sacrificing my energy to, let’s say, direct design at a startup.

Just my 2 cents and hope these mental models offer something to you.

[Jill]

Non profit for sure. Would never trust a company to promote from an admin job…

especially if you’re female and good at the job.

[Channing]

I agree with everyone here. The nonprofit sounds far more appealing. Get the experience and the stability then reassess what you’re wanting in a year or two.

You can get mentorship anywhere and if the nonprofit is stable it’s very likely you’ll find it there along with the personal development you’re seeking, it may not just be obvious or in the way you expect.

One of the benefits of nonprofits is they are connected to all types of people from all sorts of businesses, the network is typical very extensive.

Additionally, large companies and esp recruiters are notorious for getting you in “on the ground floor” with the idea you’ll move up and the reality is extremely slow, if at all.

Corporate culture is very different than it was even 10yrs ago.

The likelihood that you’ll get stuck at admin and have trouble crossing over, esp without taking on additional schooling is high, not to mention you won’t see any significant increase in pay.

If this second company really is the dream you need to get experience elsewhere, & make as much as you can with a different company so you can come in to company #2 at a much higher rate and in a role more in line with what you’re actually wanting.

Don’t start at the bottom if you can help it.

But honestly, the real opportunity sounds like it’s with the first role.

[Christina]

What kind of mentorship do you expect the company to give you if you start as administrative support and what area in finance do you want to develop a career in?

Do you have any finance background?

I personally would take a permanent job with benefits if I were in your situation.

My priority would be steady income and to build my resume.

Temp positions are just that, temporary.

Nothing is guaranteed even if they tell you it will turn into a permanent position.

[Jenny]

Don’t put all your hopes on this one potential opportunity. If this is a third party recruiter, they get paid to put someone in a seat and are not looking out for your best interest.

Do you know anyone at the company?

Are you sure it is a supportive culture where people may be willing to mentor an admin?

I don’t know this company but the industry has a reputation of long hours and more of a cutthroat sink or swim culture.

Definitely take the nonprofit offer if you get it.

Then keep looking for other opportunities to get into a more ideal position.

[Jeffery]

Recruiters are a red flag to me. They’re going to paint an overly optimistic view of any potential opportunities they bring you, and it sounds like you’ve fallen for it.

Even if the job pans out, you’re not going to learn what you want to learn from that type of company.

You’re going to get a very limited, biased view of the financial world based around that company’s products.

You’d be better off going to work for a broker-dealer or RIA as an assistant to a financial advisor if you want to learn about broad personal finance while on the job.

Or you could just read about it in your personal time

[Mary]

I would take the job at the non-profit and spend time networking and looking for a mentor in the industry you’re interested in.

Build skills, knowledge and contacts that can help you land a permanent position in finance in a couple of years.

As a temp you may not have a lot of opportunities to be mentored.

Sending good vibes your way – sounds like an exciting time!

[Tatiana]

I would take the job now. I’d want the steady income with all the wonderful add-ons the job has plus I could start getting out of the hole right away.

The longer I wait for a better opportunity, the longer it takes to start saving and paying things off.

You can always go into the dream job down the line but in the meantime there’s income and security.

[Hyai]

I have worked at an investment bank (front office), currently work at a commercial bank (risk management), have advanced quantitative degrees and certifications.

Bluntly speaking, I am really skeptical that a temp admin that takes pride in doing well in finance courses in high school is going to get any serious consideration or mentorship.

I would strongly recommend taking the FT job and maybe keep studying finance-related subjects – see if you’d be able to digest CFA or CAIA exam topics.

If you find that you have strong aptitude then maybe see what your options are in the financial industry.

[Roberta]

Can you answer the question for yourself – “What Does Good Look Like?” for you now.

Throw it all up all over the table, no holds barred, just write (not even necessary to write full sentences at this point), just get everything in your mind out on the paper

(A big easel paper on the table, so there are no restrictions on how you have to write, what position you have to stand etc), get it all out of your mind.

Then when exhausted and emotional, with complete emptiness in answer, come back for the next step! Enjoy the process if you choose to accept!

[Chilling]

Take the non profit job to build your resume and have a solid income, then also take finance classes / get a degree to later transition into your desired career.

Also of course continue to network by joining finance groups / meetups and potentially finding a mentor.

I really don’t see a part time admin job translating into an amazing full time career anytime soon…

there are lots of people out there with the right experience and education for a hedge fund to hire.

They’re most likely not looking to their admin staff to fill those positions.

(I work for a large financial institution and at least in my area of work, we only hire people with a Masters or PhD in a quantitative field.

Some groups hire people with a Bachelors but generally they are looking for top students / solid work experience)

[Sarah]

I think that no job will ever offer everything you’re looking for. The non profit would give you the income you’re looking for and it’s always easier to apply to get a different job while employed than unemployed.

You can always look for mentorship through other avenues, like a professional organization or networking.

It’s truly up to you, but a temp job to me doesn’t sound like a position that will give you enough experience to give you an edge for the position you’re looking for.

I might be completely wrong, but just my 2 cents.

[Allison]

Agree with the others, take the full time position. I’m assuming you need benefits, and often temp jobs don’t offer these or if they do they’re often bottom of the barrel insurance, ability to invest in a 401k but no match, and no vacation.

Respectfully, if your only financial education was from high school 20+ years ago, things have changed drastically and you may not have the requirements for the role in finance you want.

Additionally, companies typically don’t invest extras/training in temp workers as they may or may not keep you and you may not have time for that with the responsibilities of your admin role.

There are so many resources for you to learn on your own and research minimum requirements for positions you desire.

[Beth]

Accept what you get from them & keep looking. Do what’s best for your new life.

[Cris]

What gets you excited? What do you really, really, want to do? Do that.
I only do things that get me excited and I decline everything else as it’s not worth my time being unhappy or disinterested.

Decision making becomes a lot easier when you set boundaries/rules for yourself.

And don’t forget, the most successful people in this world are risk takers.

Best of luck!!

[Amy]

Why did you apply for the non-profit job? People who work in non-profits tend to have a greater sense of purpose than just making money.

That’s the opposite of the finance world.

What do you think you will gain or accomplish in the finance field that is worth sacrificing a good paying job in the nonprofit world for?

[Author]

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