Need a new job, don't want the only one I've been offered

[ravenia]

I need a new job - currently interviewing for a new role, but while I have an offer in hand... I don't want it. It's a step back in terms of both money and actual role, it was only meant as a practice run to improve my interview skills.

But I really need to get out of my current job. My leave is constantly being cancelled, I'm overloaded and boss is very difficult. Right now if I leave I could argue it as needing some time to finalize my dissertation (doing a masters in public administration... and I really do need to devote time to it to submit by March ) but if I'm stuck here a few more months and snap and quit after the masters it will be a lot harder to explain at interview.

Just worried it will be a death knell to my cv whatever I do: take the easy low paid clerical role or quit here at some point with nothing lined up 😞 which would be the least worst option to you?

Surely you can put on your CV that you took a few months out to write up your dissertation? I don't think anyone would find this strange.

Can you afford to not work for a bit? The easy low paid clerical role might also give you some headspace to finish your dissertation.

I can afford to not work for quite some months (eating into house deposit but at this stage my mental health is worth more)... I just worry that it's hard enough to find work as it is without willfully adding another black mark against my name.

The low paid job may not actually give me the headspace I need when you factor in how taxing being a newbie is. If it were a step up it would be a no-brainer to take it, but as it is I'm not sure stepping backwards would look better than taking time out.

My mental health has hit the point where my phone ringing at work spikes anxiety and I hear the sound in my head when I'm not here

You can take the job and not put it on your cv.

I think I'd just quit. For a whole year I worked random jobs because I thought that was best even though I had some savings. It all worked out in the end (which I'm very grateful for) but those horrible jobs (especially the first and last ones) made my MH go down the sink.

Try it. Sounds like you need to be out of your current job and if you hate it, you can always leave it off your CV. Just put a line in about finishing your dissertation and don't mention the job.

Thank you all for your advice... the decision has kind of been rendered moot. I just received an email offering me another job as long as the pay is more than what I have here I'm taking it!!

As soon as I posted I checked my emails and there it was!!! Stunned and crossing my fingers the pay exceeds my current salary.

Thank you all so much, I swear this thread triggered something cosmic

Oh good luck!