Dilemma!
Am currently on maternity leave and DD is only 8 wks old (also have DS aged 3). Current job is mediocre, I'm good at it and have a good boss but wider team and environment is awful and institution is going through wide-reaching change, but which won't hit my area until after I return. It's 4 days a week but with 1 at home, commute over an hour each way driving. Was planning to take at least 9 mths off this time as I'm in no hurry back to a fairly miserable environment.
Applied for Job A which is a similar role but a bit closer to home, was interviewed and have been offered the role - matching 4 days and my (high) salary but less holiday. People seem nice and they're obviously keen to get me on board, but role is definitely more of the same and I'm not sure whether it's worth risking that the environment might not be that much better.
Meanwhile Job B, which is a much better role in terms of challenge and career direction, has come up at my ideal institution with a really short commute, but which might mean me having to work 5 days - I'm not averse to this given the short commute as I think it'd oddly be better for family life (currently don't get home until after 7 on my working days, this would mean I can do dropoffs and pickups). Haven't applied yet but it closes next week, obviously no guarantees but I should at least be shortlisted (niche role in niche sector, which also means roles don't come up that often).
Both roles likely to require me to curtail my mat leave (grump) but I guess I should think long term.
Preference definitely for Job B but I might not get it - all good if I do.
So what would you do?
A - Accept Job A in the meantime so I have an escape route, and deal with unpleasantness of pulling out at a later stage if successful for Job B
B - Decline Job A as not worth the risk and take full mat leave or look for something else if I don't get Job B
Assistance please! :)