I’ve been avoiding this for a while, but it’s probably time
to tackle this head on. Jobs. I like mine pretty well. My boss and I get on
great, and as far as having to see someone 40 hours a week in an intimate 2
person office… well, I’m happy to say that we can still occasionally go out for
drinks with other industry people after work and not strangle each other daily.
It’s probably one of the healthier and more enjoyable employer/employee
relationships I’ve ever had.
However, there are still a few problems in paradise.
Being as it’s a small office (aka, the two of us) he is
clearly the boss/ owner/ person people call to talk to and I am the assistant.
I don’t MIND doing some administrative stuff and I’m actually quite good at it,
but the problem is that by being good at something I don’t particularly like, I’m
pigeon holing myself into a perma-executive assistant type of spot.
While I love having no structure at work and very much
appreciate the autonomy of having my own office and personal space, sometimes
it presents a problem. In a corporate world, I would have a job title, business
cards, some sort of probably written job description, and it would be
understood that raises and benefits are to come in a certain time frame. None
of these things are the case here. I don’t have business cards or a job title. Executive
Assistant, Marketing Coordinator, Office Manager, Project Manager, Personal
Assistant (occasionally) would all work as job titles. I wear basically all the
hats besides “owner” and “lead salesperson” although I suspect I would have
that one too if I knew a bit more about stones.
Also, I’ve been working here for a year (6 months PT, 6
months FT) and there are still no benefits on the table. I have had this
discussion with my boss a few times. He is “looking at plans” he says, but so
far nothing has come to fruition. It’s not an emergency since I am on my
parents’ insurance until I’m 26, but at the moment, this position doesn’t seem
to be built in a way that will make much sense long term. No retirement, no
benefits, and not particularly much salary either.
Unfortunately, all of our talks about these things tend to
go nowhere, which then makes me think I need to explore some new opportunities.
At least to see what else is out there. I like it here, but there is definitely
going to be some sort of ceiling on growth and I’m not sure I’m ready to hit it
this early.
So far my Aussie friend and I have had many discussions and
very little action on this topic. We’re considering a “Sexy Resume Party” in
which we update our resumes to go get our dream jobs (not that I have any idea
what that would be… another problem). Then, naturally, we will become rich and
successful and live it up in NY rather than just survive here. (Usually a lot
of wine is consumed and statements such as “I Love you, girl! I would hire you
in a sssecond!” are thrown around). There may be a few missing steps, but no
matter. I’m sure things will work out!
