i have been offered a new job and I don't know what to do.

[ska]

I have a dilemma ? I was asked to apply for a job at a posh management consultancy, went at it half arsed and now they have offered it to me! Great money, bad hours ? what to do?

I don?t know ? seems like a bad time to go into London 4 days a week as we are just about to move to a new area and my dd (8) will change schools, brownie pack, have no friends etc etc. I won't know anyone to help out with childcare etc (know loads of people here) BUT we could do with the money (as ever) and it is good money for 4 days.
for many years now i have freelanced doing things here and there and run my website. I make some money but not a huge amount and this one is secure with a good pension scheme (I am 50 next year

What would you do? what do i need to think of to make a decision? advice please MNers!!

[hermionegrangerat34]

Go for it!!!

[RubySlippers]

congrats on the job!

now, what do you mean by "bad hours"?

you need to work out pros and cons and list them

with regard to childcare, could you get an au-pair - do you have a DP? Could they help with childcare

sounds like quite an opportunity to me and a good pension scheme is a rarity these days

[OverMyDeadBody]

Congratulations!

Write a list of pros and cons of taking the job, and discuss it with your DS maybe?

Might help in the decision-making.

[cmotdibbler]

Why not give it a whirl and see how it goes ? If you can't cope after 6 months or so then you can chuck it in, but otherwise you'll always have the 'if only' hanging over you.
If you can afford it a aupair might be a good option to smooth out mornings/after school run and the shuttling round, and can cover if you are late.

[ska]

'bad hours' - i mean they want me to do 4 days and i know through the grapevine that they all work very long hours - to get the job done. i am used to being able to take her to and from school most days or get a friend to help out if i am working (up to now this has mainly been from home for 6 years!). i think my problem is too much guilt - i am an older mum and i want to be around as much as possible for her. and doesn't it get more important as they get older? BUT maybe I am being a bit lazy too - i have had a fairly easy, tho' broke, life for 6 years following an exhausting full time very senior job that i worked 7am to 11pm most days and never want to go down that road again

[RubySlippers]

if there is a chance you can work from home tho' you could pick your DD up

My job fluctuates between periods of relative quiet and working late into the night

i have my laptop at home, so when i have put DS to bed i can do my work - tiring but suits us

[ska]

rubyslippers - i wondered about asking for one day a week at home - that would mean 3 days in London and 2 day at home so i can do pick up and one real day 'off. i have alaptop and everything needed to work from home (even having garden office put in new garden) but am a little concerned about 'presenteeism'. what do you work in?

[RubySlippers]

i'm a fundraiser so i don't physically need to be in an office to do a lot of my work

i hate presenteeism - just because you are sitting at a desk in clear sight of your boss doens't mean you are working more productively!

If you can present working from home as a benefit i.e your employers will get more from you as you don't have to spend time commuting, you have a dedicated office space etc then they can't really argue

[ska]

what they said at interview was that I owuld need to be around a lot to start off with so partners get to know me. they ask you to join their team and then you start to get 'billable' work for the firm. I need to do 10.8 days a month on billable work to earn my salary - i get paid it anyway but the firm would lose money on me i think. it's that i think that i find a bit worrying 0 i am good at what i do and perform well but up till now haven't had to 'prove ' myself in this way..

[RubySlippers]

don't worry - you are obvioulsy good at what you do or they wouldn't have offered you the job

how about a compromise - you be around as much as needed for the first 8 weeks or so as you find your feet and then you work at home a bit more

[ska]

thanks! I know that I am unreasonably anxious about this. she will be ok and so will i but it is amajor chnage - feels abit like going back to work after maternity leave!

[RubySlippers]

change is good, but it is ok to be nervous as well!

So, has MN swayed your decision?

[ska]

not sure yet, need to do the list tonight with dh i think. he would like me to take it but isn't pressurising me. would love other thoughts - no room for an au pair tho that would be ideal