The Great Insult
15 November 2004
Since I was offered a temporary job on Friday and I had until this morning at 8:30 to make my decision, I thought about working a lot over the weekend. While doing so, I found that I went through a whole range of emotions.
My first emotion could only be classified as excitement. I haven’t had such great luck looking for a job here in Germany, so when they asked me if I was interested I nodded “yes” with excitement. They were actually interested in me!
As they described the job (working at a call center and entering caller information in a database), my enthusiasm began to wane. As a librarian I have tons of experience working with all sorts of databases, so it was something I knew I could do with no problem. Unfortunately, they seemed to think I needed a demonstration that lasted an hour to figure out how to run an Access-based database! It was at this point I began to feel that they were not taking my education and/or experience seriously, let alone my intelligence! In addition to this, I am not now, nor have I ever been, comfortable with the telephone. Even though I would be speaking English, I soon comprehended that my aversion to the telephone might seriously hinder my interest in the job that I was to perform.
It was then that I was dealt the ultimate insult, though I didn’t fully comprehend it until later in the weekend: too much work for too little pay. Granted the job was “part-time” (30 hours a week), but in order to get there I would have to add an hour each way in public transportation time. Quickly I understood that I would be away from home for the equivalent of a full-time job. For this, they “generously” offered me 800 euros a month! If that would have been my take home pay, I would have been offended, but might have considered it. However, once A. and I did the calculations and I realized that I would be pocketing only a little over 500 euros a month, I was insulted! I could go into a lengthy discussion about taxation here in Germany, but it would be pointless as I still don’t know too much. Suffice it to say I am “encouraged to stay home” because my husband has a good job. (Side Note: If I was the one with the good job, he would be the one encouraged to stay home.)
On top of all that, if I were to take this job that I would have laughed at if I would have been offered it in the US, I would have lost my private health insurance during the time I was working and been forced to have public health insurance. While German public health insurance is better than having none at all, I have been spoiled by the gold treatment I get with my private insurance.
So, with all of these thoughts stewing in my mind, I realized that though I wouldn’t mind working again, I can’t just take any job that is tossed in my direction that overtly insults my education, experience, and intelligence… I just couldn’t live with myself.
