Thoughts from the Coordinator desk pt. 1
As much as things change, so they stay the same. That’s the saying, right?
Well, here I am at work (day job), before my day technically starts, so I thought, why not get this over with…maximizing my time and all that. Though the difference this time around is that I really only have twenty minutes to try and form a post, without (as usual) having a topic in mind, before I actually have to move on to more important things…things I get paid for.
That said, this’ll no doubt be a shorty of a post. And since I’m uber pressed for time (the above took way longer to formulate than it should have), why not just talk about this job and how it’s been going so far.
I’m almost exactly three months in (which in itself is crazy! That’s ¼ of a year, goshdarnit!), I’ve got the (still lengthy) commute under control (thank goddess for the kobo), and I have two weeks of (unpaid) vacation coming up at the end of next month (with three-day weekends standard till then and beyond [oh part-time work!]).
I can honestly say that I like this job, though the honeymoon is over and my gushing over it has long since dried up. Every day I make more progress digging into the mess that was left by the high turnover rate of past coordinators and smoothing things out, while still completing my daily tasks (paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, emails). Every day new stuff comes across my desk or voice mail, with the promise of more exciting stuff (research! Grant applications! Events!) to come.
I mostly work alone, except for the day or two when the director, our GA, and/or a project manager or principal investigator stop in (to deliver more paperwork, usually), which I like…though sometimes lunch is a bit lonely.
It is low-to-no stress, offering moderate responsibility, and moderate complexity. More creative tasks would be appreciated. And less air conditioning.
Ultimately, to keep me here, all I need is more hours or a higher wage. Then it would be perfect. Right now the minimal income is cutting it, because I’m still working another job (with another, the receptionist position, on the back burner/as a standby). In approximately six weeks, however, the research assistant gravy train stops in the yard and I lose a large portion of my income.
Tutoring more students in the fall remains a valid and likely plan, but ever since I first reflected on cobbling (working multiple jobs to cobble together a career/income) I have dreamed about not having to do it! This job gets me two steps closer, but one step back.
The hours are great, the people are great, the support I provide is for causes and folks I believe in…it’s, as I said, nearly perfect. If only it could be perfectly paid as well.
My time is up, but this post makes me realize that there’s more to this topic/job to discuss, especially since I complained so long and loudly during the job-searching process that preceded my hiring. You readers deserve some updates and celebration.
Next time…maybe…
