Wherein I am not sure if I made the right choice or not

[luzula]

Ack. I was offered a new position at work for which I don't know the English name, but basically you're part of a group that develops and oversees the courses at the department. Also there is some administration. I agonized over this decision for two days and then finally said yes. Previously I have had 80 % teaching and 20 % research, now I will have 25 % of this position, which will displace some of my teaching.

Pros:
- I like the people in this group; I think they will be fun and easy to work with.
- I like working in groups in general, and teaching doesn't actually give me much interaction with my peers.
- I'm interested in teaching/education and this will give me a broader view of the courses at the department.
- If you are engaged in your work and show some sort of organizational skill you will inevitably be asked these kinds of questions. I have already turned down one position because I had objections to it. And I do not want to be some kind of boss, because I have objections to that, too. I feel like I can't keep turning stuff down, and this is one position that I can see myself taking.
- The workplace wouldn't work unless people take turns with these kinds of positions. It doesn't have to be a lifetime thing; I can do it for a few years and then step down.
- I like the person who asked me and I didn't want to disappoint her - this is not a reasoned pro, but more like a contributing psychological explanation to why I said yes.

Cons:
- I will have a more uneven workload over the year: right now I have four courses over the year, now one of them will disappear, but OTOH I will have more work during the other three periods.
- My research will probably suffer. Before, I had time to do some research alongside my teaching, but now I probably won't. I'm not sure if I can do concentrated research when I have no teaching, and I'm afraid I'll lose the research time that I do have, if I don't publish anything.
- I do a lot of organizational work in my free time and I'm worried that will suffer, partly because of the uneven workload and partly because I'll get an overload of organizational work.

Augh. I kind of wish I hadn't gotten the question! Once I had, there was no perfect answer. : ( Did I do the right thing or not, O internet people?

Comments

[glitteryv]

It sounds like it was the right choice. Based on what you've mentioned, you're more than capable to do this. ^_^

[luzula]

Yeah, I don't doubt that I'm capable, it's whether I want to and should be doing it? But I guess we'll see.

[princessofgeeks]

I have no advice to offer but I am cheering for you all the same!

[luzula]

Thanks! I will take your cheering. : )

[china_shop]

It sounds like a good experience to try, with aspects you'll enjoy, and as you say, you can do it for a few years and then step down. :-) \o/

[luzula]

Yeah, I guess we'll see how it goes--I mean, I won't know until I try it...

[sage]

This sounds like maybe a curriculum development committee? Or something like that?

I'm curious about the weekly/monthly time commitment involved and if that changes from the beginning of term to the end.

And surely they won't begrudge your need to publish!

[luzula]

Yeah, I guess it's something like that.

There are some administrative things which I can do whenever during the year, which I guess I could then do when I have no teaching. Otherwise this position is partly unformed, since there's been a reorganization and nobody knows exactly how it will work yet. We'll see.

And surely they won't begrudge your need to publish!

Hopefully not! I feel a bit more optimistic about keeping my research time after talking to my boss.

[jesse_the_k]

This internet random says, "Answer hazy. Ask again later."

Are your previous objections to jobs like this political? As in, nobody should have bosses?

I agree with china_shop that it's something to try for a year. You'll know better what's involved. If you hate it then you have a genuine response to further invitations: I tried that for a year and I hated it.

[luzula]

Are your previous objections to jobs like this political? As in, nobody should have bosses?

I was asked about a position as a sort of anti-discrimination/pro-equality officer, but turned it down when I learned that nobody would be able to talk to me in confidence--I basically had to tell the boss about any problems whether the person with the problem wanted me to or not.

And yeah, I guess my problems with bosses as such are political--I have nothing against positions of responsibility as such, but not ones where you have power over people that haven't democratically elected you (i e bosses).

I dunno, I'd feel bad about skipping out after a year (if I didn't really hate it), because it would take some time to get into it. I guess we'll see how it goes!

[isis]

You'll find out if you did the right thing - see how it goes. And it's not forever, if it turns out to be not working for you.

[luzula]

Yeah. I guess I'd feel bad about noping out after a year if I don't like it, though, because it takes time to get into it. But I can't know if I don't try, I guess.

[seascribble]

It sounds like the sort of thing that SOMEBODY had to do, and it seems like you're very well qualified and will do a good job? It sucks that it might cut into your research time, though. *hugs* I hope it turns out to be not so bad.

[luzula]

Yeah, somebody has to do it, very true. And I don't doubt I can do a good job--I am good at organization/administration. I guess we'll see how it goes. And thanks for the hugs!

[lyr]

As you say, you can step down later if it turns out not to be something you like doing. So I say, best to take the leap and try it!

[luzula]

Well, I'd feel bad about doing it just for a year, because it does take time to get into something like that. But yeah, it's not a lifetime thing, after all.