I was hired on a part-time basis several months ago with the expectation that the job would become a full-time position. I’ve just been offered the full-time job — but for $10,000 less than what they originally told me. They said there might be bonuses involved to make up the difference, but there are no details or promises. I feel as though they weren’t honest with me. Can I negotiate this? Should I accept it in good faith, or just move on?
One can always try to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment — the worst that can happen is the employer says they can’t make any changes. Unless there was some miscommunication from the beginning, if you feel the discussion was clear and they reneged on what they told you, then that is no way to begin a new commitment with an employer. Regardless, you need to think about your career narrative that you will tell to future employers — and if you just quit, it’s a harder story to explain to a future employer. Try to negotiate a better package if possible, accept the commitment to go from part time to full time and see how it goes.
I am interested in a civil-service job but don’t know where to begin a job search or what tests or qualifications I need. Are there any good-paying jobs working for the city, and do you have any advice about how to pursue them?
The definition of “good-paying job” varies by individual, so that part of your question is impossible to answer. For most New York City government jobs, applicants are required to take and pass a civil-service examination as part of the hiring process. If you pass the test you are placed on an
eligible-to-hire list, which is ranked by test score. Even if the test is given, it doesn’t mean there are many positions available for that test, so the wait could be months or longer before you are called for an interview. There are also jobs that do not require an exam. The city actually has a great Web site where you can find information about all of the city agencies that hire — which positions they have available, how to apply, etc. You can check it out at www1.nyc.gov/jobs/index.