Changing jobs?

[MisStarrlight]

As most of you know, I work for MAC. I have a degree in art education (and am only $100 away from getting my teacher's certification). But I can't seem to get a job teaching (or maybe I am subconsciously sabotaging myself cause I don't know that I can handle a classroom), so I'm a 24 hour artist....I really enjoy my job, but lately it's been getting me down. This month has been really slow, the customers are driving me nuts with their personal color acceptance issues & I have been feeling like I have hit a brick wall in the company.
My trainer & my manager both think I can go far in the company, but I can't seem to move beyond that 24 hour position. I recently had a 30 hour position taken out from underneath me (they got rid of the position entirely instead) & got passed up on a Product Specialist position. I have my eyes set on training (mixes makeup & art teaching in my head), but I don't know that I have the patience to wait it out until a position opens & I can get there. As well as I am paid, it's just not cutting it. I have been out of college for a year now & I am having trouble with realizing that I really am just working a part time retail job. I guess I would be ok if I could at least get a full time position (and benefits), but there are none in the region opening at all.

So I'm to the point where I need a second job. I really don't like the idea that I am going to have to work two part time jobs, 7 days a week just to be financially content. So yeah, I put my resume into work at Staples. I have tons of management experience (have been an assistant manager of some type at every other job except MAC). My boyfriend said that I have a really good chance at being hired as a manager there. This would mean over 40k a year, benefits & all of that crap.

I don't know if this is the best decision though & was looking for outside opinions. Should I wait it out for something to come up at MAC or take this opportunity w/ Staples?

The Staples job would give me the financial comfort that I'm looking for, but it's not my passion. I don't know if I can be unfulfilled like that for the foreseeable future. I am having a hard time knowing that I have spent so much money on schooling & am ending up at a job that people can get without even a high school diploma...maybe I'm a bit elitist here, but I have a hard time with the fact that I have put myself into debt for the rest of my life & have spent so long in school to waste my life away in retail (and not even fun retail). Granted, I would put in to be an ops manager so I would have the least customer interaction as possible, but still.....

 

[Beauty Mark]

Welll, think of it as a transition. A lot of PhDs get stuck with less than stellar jobs.

If you want something that requires as BA, you could always try admin work. Very boring, pay is all right, but they require a BA.

Would you have time to freelance or otherwise use your artistic abilities? Have you considered trying to teach an adult ed art class or something of that nature, to adjust to teaching?

 

[*Luna*]

Honestly girlie... I don't think you should take it. It's not where you want to be and it won't make you happy. Sure the extra cash would be nice but it's not worth the time you could be using to persue your passion instead. You never know, a full time possition could be right around the corner.

 

[amoona]

Ok hun so I've seen what you can do and you are sooo not Staples material ... you're totally MAC trainer material! That's actually a position I've been inquiring since starting with the company and hopefully in the future that's where I'll go.

Would you want to relocate or do you wanna stay in NY?! I know it gets hard financially but sometimes it's worth a lil sacrifice. Just from knowing you on here I can tell that you have the skill, knowledge, and obviously educational background to go far with MAC or any other make-up company you find yourself in.

I'd stick it out, or even relocate if you would be willing to.

 

[Bernadette]

I do not think you should take the staples job. I think you will be totally unsatisfied and miserable there.
With your education and your artistic abilities I really think a training position with MAC is where you belong. I know it sucks waiting, especially finanically but I think it will pay off.
Other than what you are doing now, I would make sure that every single person you come into contact with that works for MAC, knows your goals. I would talk to the trainers when you have the chance and ask them for advice, tell them about your education etc.
Hang in there.

 

[Krasevayadancer]

I understand how tough of a situation you are in. I would say that you should hold out to do what you really love but unfortunately sometimes you have to be practical and take money matters into account. If you think you can realistically hold out until a better mac job comes up then by all means wait. If not, I say try to find something you can do temporarily