The vast majority of people who are unemployed will at some point find themselves in a position where they have to accept just about any job that comes along. Money has to be made, after all. If you do not receive any welfare or other benefits, you simply do not have the luxury to wait for something better to come up. However, if you are getting by, perhaps, through unemployment benefits, then it may not be wise to take entry level jobs just yet. After all, that would mean a significant setback in your overall career. Let’s take a look at some factors that you need to think about.
1.) Your Travel Costs
Gas prices seem to be going up quite regularly. Every week, you will feel as if you are spending more on gas prices. Professionals used to think nothing of having to drive an hour to get to work, but today, this is a bit different. Entry level jobs don’t pay as much, so you do really need to ask whether you will be financially better off at all, particularly if the location is quite far from your home. Of course, if the job is near or if there is affordable public transportation, then it may be worth it.
2.) Your Childcare Costs
If you have children, then you also have to consider how they will be looked after when you go to work. Again, entry level jobs don’t tend to pay a lot of money and if that salary has to cover childcare as well, you may not be left with much. Imagine a $275 a week job with three children, costing you $200 a week in childcare. That means you would be working for $75 a week.
3.) The Ability to Move Up
There are two types of jobs that can be classed as “entry level”. The first is made up of those that pay very little and that will never start to pay more. Fortunately, there is the second type that should perhaps be called “start level”. This means that you have the opportunity to advance within the company and with advancement comes better pay. If that is the type of entry level position that is offered to you, and the career advancement options are quite rapid, then it would certainly be an interesting position to take.
Indeed, the ability to move up the company ladder is perhaps the most important thing right now for anyone who is unemployed. Unfortunately, we simply cannot be picky and choosy anymore, because being unemployed means real hardship. However, if accepting a position on a low salary means that you can quite rapidly learn new skills and take on positions of greater responsibility later on, then you may just have to bite the bullet and agree to it. These are difficult choices to make, and you do have to consider the pros and cons of both options before you come to a final decision. And only your personal situation can be the deciding factor.
