Bad reference letter - advice needed

[Ddz]

Man, when are they going to make it so you can "like" forum posts? <3 you Permy

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

Lunch break menage y'all

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

How've you been btw ddz I don't think I've seen you in a bit

[Abandon]

mah nigga. I'm glad it worked out well, Luci, and i hope you land that sweet-sounding job.

[Lucienne]

Thanks! And even if I don't it was a really good experience and a proper boost to my confidence.

[Ddz]

How've you been btw ddz I don't think I've seen you in a bit

Been pretty good, and yeah I only really lurk general these days :S How you? Sorry to derail your thread Lucienne - I hope they make you an offer. Good to get thrown into the fire once in a while for a learning experience!

[Lucienne]

Not much to derail anymore, it all worked out for the best. Now I just need to find a way to get my boss to remake the letter. It shouldn't be too hard though, since he managed to even get my birth date wrong.

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

Been pretty good, and yeah I only really lurk general these days :S How you? Sorry to derail your thread Lucienne - I hope they make you an offer. Good to get thrown into the fire once in a while for a learning experience!

Other than being my beautiful self just been cray cray with the baby and music and such so things are well. Have not been posting really either until lately. Come back to the dark side we need more boobs in spam.

[Sera]

Luci that is a really great opportunity! I think you can handle it. Keep in mind someone will have to train you and show you the ropes to an extent, so IMO it is a bad idea to decline it based on the assumption that you might be overwhelmed or in over your head. Plenty of time to figure that out later. I agree with Ddz, just jump in, the worst that could happen is you learn a lot and realize it isn't for you and apply elsewhere with an even more boss looking resume.

[Lucienne]

Thanks, Sera. I found out today they actually called my references, so they're still interested, which is both exciting and very scary at the same time.
I also test worked at another place today, which went really well, and they basically said they want me, unless something goes horribly bad.

I've started considering the fact I might need to decide between the two jobs and I'm really not sure what I want.
One is probably a number one on my list of places I'd like to work at. It's a very classy restaurant with view all over the city, I've always loved the atmosphere of the place and I really liked the staff I met today. It's only a waitress position, however, they have two sommeliers and several head waiters, plus they'll be opening another fine dining place within foreseeable future, so there is a good chance I'd be able to advance slowly and learn things properly. The working hours vary a lot both mornings and evenings, with every 6th week scheduled completely off - not vacation, just scheduled that way. I could take vacation whenever I want to more or less.
The second one is an amazing opportunity, even if it scares me to death really. The place is great, I loved basically everything about it, the benefits are nice too, but I'd have to move. I'm afraid it would be extremely stressful. The working hours are 5pm-1am Tuesday-Saturday and I'd probably end up working whole lot more than that especially in the beginning, the place closes before Christmas and I'd be expected to take out all my vacation between December and March. However, during this time I could also take classes, practice somewhere, work on whatever personal development I want.

Both places will decide before the end of February, so I basically have a week to consider what I want and think is best for me, so I can give them an answer if I need to. I feel very torn right now.

[Ddz]

Best practice is to wait until you have an (or two) official offer(s) in hand, and weigh the benefits/drawbacks of both of them together. If you happen to get one offer, they will likely put an expiration date on it, and so then you will be left deciding whether to refuse it or not while waiting for the other...to an observer like me, they both sound like great advances in your career but only you know what you truly want to do. Sometimes being uncomfortable and testing yourself, and allowing yourself to be out of your comfort zone are the best ways to grow and mature in the business world. I do it every day, I do things that are scary, that I'm not sure about - and I get better. You probably know more than you think you do about doing the job properly and to the best of your ability. Always be progressing! Please do let us know what you decide in the end.

[Lucienne]

Thanks, I definitely will. It's going to be a really tough decision should I end up getting both offers. I wouldn't be disappointed if I only ended up getting one of them and wouldn't have to choose on my own.
As long as I don't miss both!

[archibaldcrane]

Take the bigger job if it's offered. It'll be a ton of responsibility and it'll suck while you get used to it, but 6 months in (assuming you know your shit) you'll be comfortable and happy that you are in such a good position. Does it pay better as well - or has that not been discussed?

[Lucienne]

I will be getting the higher end of the regular waitress salary, which is pretty regularly paid job in Sweden. It's more than I have now. Plus tips.
The second place asked me to email salary requirements, so I read up a bit on what's normal and gave them a range, and wrote it's hard to give an exact sum, since I don't know all the details, bonuses etc. If I get what I want it would be more. It's a much harder job though, so that's only natural.

[Ratatapa]

I would take the bigger job too. When you get the 6months done and the boss says OMG your so good, your self confidence will be even better.

Also you can't say. Oh i can't do this, unless you actually tried, you might be surprise how well people can perform

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

I would take the bigger job too. When you get the 6months done and the boss says OMG your so good, your self confidence will be even better.

Also you can't say. Oh i can't do this, unless you actually tried, you might be surprise how well people can perform

Except for in your case and the FF14 forums it went the complete opposite and you lost the job.

[Ddz]

I will be getting the higher end of the regular waitress salary, which is pretty regularly paid job in Sweden. It's more than I have now. Plus tips.
The second place asked me to email salary requirements, so I read up a bit on what's normal and gave them a range, and wrote it's hard to give an exact sum, since I don't know all the details, bonuses etc. If I get what I want it would be more. It's a much harder job though, so that's only natural.

They will only consider the lower end of your range in most cases. People are willing to flex to a lower pay if a) the work environment is great and b) they will gain valuable experience. I think at least the latter is true in your case if everything I've read is accurate. Most times, candidates are offered something close to their walk-away rate, and then the deal is sweetened with perks of the work environment, or sign-on bonuses (at least this much is true in the USA) - I do technical recruitment for a living nowdays, and so this is my experience recently. I've had to brace a lot of people on taking a hit on their desired salary, or even taking a hit on what they were making previously; sometimes getting them to see a bigger picture is difficult. As long as you are gainfully employed, having room for career growth, go for it.

Wanted to add another thought: It seems that as long as people are doing meaningful work, salary plays a smaller role in deciding which offer to take...

[Senji]

I would take the bigger job too. When you get the 6months done and the boss says OMG your so good, your self confidence will be even better.

Also you can't say. Oh i can't do this, unless you actually tried, you might be surprise how well people can perform

And if you can't do your job, just ask the BG tech forums and they will do everything for you while you still collect.

[Drakath]

Best of luck to you Lucienne ^^ I'm confident you'll make the right choice!

[Arvin]

that job sounds bangin, good luck