Advice please!

[IAgirl]

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Hello all!
I'm relatively new here and have never felt the need to make my own thread but I have a dilemma and would like some advice from the fabulous members of SDN. I'll make this short and sweet:

I'm graduating 1 semester early (this December) and have been frantically searching for a job to make some money in the semester I have off. As it so happens, after many fruitless interviews, I'm now presented with two job options.

Job #1 = PCT (patient care tech) on the Neurology floor of a hospital - fulltime position. I'll be making $11.15/hr and getting 40+ hrs/week.

Job #2 = Nannying for a single doctor mom. 2 kids - 12 and 6 years old. She's agreed to pay me $11/hr but I'd probably only be working about 30 hrs/week, possible more certain weeks but it would be variable. I love kids and this would definitely be a fun job for me but it's fewer hours per week and therefore less money...

Which do you think is the best option? I need to decide by Monday! I've already gotten one medical school acceptance so I no longer need to boost my resume but I feel like there are a lot of variables to consider...

 

[oran berry]

Given that you already have an acceptance, unless you need that extra bit of money, personally I would go with the job that seems more fun (nanny). You're going to be getting enough of medicine and hospitals soon enough, might as well enjoy your time away from all of it while you can. I'm only a pre-med though, I don't know much so I wouldn't take my advice that seriously! =)

 

[Catalystik]

Do both jobs come with health insurance/benefits you care about? If you are expected to drive the kids places, is a gas allowance added? Does either give you some flexiblity if you want to travel for a week or two and have an adventure? Would you be invited along on a vacation for the nanny job as a perk? Would you be paid "under the table" for the nanny job or be expected to submit your own social security/other taxes as an independent contractor? Does either require more nights or weekends when you'd prefer to have that time free? These factors can help you make a decision beyond the consideration of income alone.

 

[IAgirl]

Do both jobs come with health insurance/benefits you care about? If you are expected to drive the kids places, is a gas allowance added? Does either give you some flexiblity if you want to travel for a week or two and have an adventure? Would you be invited along on a vacation for the nanny job as a perk? Would you be paid "under the table" for the nanny job or be expected to submit your own social security/other taxes as an independent contractor? Does either require more nights or weekends when you'd prefer to have that time free? These factors can help you make a decision beyond the consideration of income alone.

In terms of health insurance, I'm still covered under my parents' plan so that's not an issue. For the nannying job, a lot of driving is involved but I will be compensated for gas money. Both jobs seem relatively flexible but in different ways. For the most part I'll be able to set my schedule at the hospital. If I want to work 12 hour days or do double shifts I can finish my 40 hours relatively quickly but if they need me for certain days/weekends (i.e.Christmas/New Years) being a newbie I would be required to work. For the nannying job, no holidays would be required and I was told I could help her out on weekends only if I wanted more hours - it's up to me. I really don't mind working on weekends but I'm not sure my parents are ready for me to be missing Christmas with the family yet...

I keep going back and forth between the two jobs because obviously they are both great opportunities and have different positives and negatives. The one thing I keep thinking about, however, is that by nannying I could directly observe the life of a mom/doctor and see what my future life will be like. Is that a silly reason to choose this job? (I should add that I've met the kids and they are absolutely adorable...)

 

[rafflecopter]

I would go with the nanny job. Seems like it would be more fun, and like you said, you don't need to pad your resume any more for medical school.

 

[shadowfox87]

The question is why wouldn't you do the Patient Care tech job? It doesn't matter about "padding" your resume. Any experience is good. You can make connections with people in the hospital and get exposed to technology and patients. Wtf will you learn from nannying 2 kids? Let me guess patience in pediatrics?

 

[Musclemass]

If the opportunity to work in a hospital isn't immediately of greater interest to you, why are you going to med school?

This isn't a choice you'll ever need to explain to anyone except yourself, so obviously that isn't a consideration. Granted, the position you're talking about is the lowest man on the totem pole, but still there would be things to observe and learn. Just sayin....

 

[dragon529]

Do whatever you think will be more enjoyable as the pay is relatively the same (minus side benefits from both jobs). Just make sure you don't burn out before med school in August.