The Issue: Taking a Stopgap Job

An out-of-work copy writer with mounting personal debts must choose between a lowball sure thing and a higher-paying possibility

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Colleen O'Henry* loved her job as a $68,000-a-year advertising copywriter at a large ad firm in Boulder, Colo., and was anticipating a healthy 5% to 10% raise as her review period cropped up.

But then the economy got in the way. The firm lost some clients, and O'Henry, 42 and single, found herself on the unemployment line and scanning Monster.com and other Web sites for leads. She quickly discovered many ad agencies in her area were laying off workers or imposing hiring freezes. But one good prospect came her way: a promotional advertising manager position that paid $75,000 at an insurance company not far from her home.

Although the first interview went well, she hedged her bets by applying for several lower-paying, grant-writing positions. In desperate need of funds, nonprofits throughout the much of the U.S. were hiring grant writers like crazy, and people with backgrounds in copywriting made especially enticing candidates. Sure enough, O'Henry was offered a $55,000-a-year position at a local school for the arts. She asked for more; the school raised the offer to $58,000 but said that was the absolute ceiling. If she accepted, she could start the job immediately.

Mounting Expenses

By this time, O'Henry owed Cobra four $400-a-month payments. Combining her Cobra, mortgage, and car payments, plus the cost of food, fuel, and incidentals, her expenses far exceeded her monthly unemployment income. "I hate the thought of taking the job at the school and then quitting if the insurance company comes through," she told her best friend. "I'm basically an honest person. But what if I don't get the job? A lot of people are competing for these slots. How long can I wait by the phone? I need money now."

Her best friend, as well as every other friend and family member who knew about her situation, basically said the same thing: "Take the job. Your first responsibility is to yourself. If the other company gives you an offer, you can worry about it then."

With a guilty conscience, O'Henry accepted the position at the school and started the job the following week—all the while hoping to get a second interview from the insurance company. Did she do the right thing?

Next: Read career coach Liz Ryan's analysis.

*This case study is based on a true story. Names and some identifying details have been changed.

Rebecca Reisner is an editor at BusinessWeek.com .