Please help me decide which job

[Whatsmydoggy]

I am a single parent and have been unemployed for years struggling to find a job and of course typically I have been offered two different jobs.

Job 1 - Retail, I start my first shift tomorrow. This job is in my town and a 5/10 minute drive at the most. If I end up without a car for any reason it is easy to access by public transport. Hours aren't set and will vary each week, I will receive my rota for the week ahead on a Friday meaning childcare is going to be a hassle but should be doable. Eldest not keen on going to childminder. 4 hour contract but been told I will definitely never work that a week and will be part time hours around the 16ish mark or thereabouts. I need 16 hours to be entitled to working tax credit/universal credit childcare element.

Job 2 - Call centre. Start date of beginning of November. Different town about 20 minute drive but longer during rush hour I would imagine. Not easily accessible by public transport. Set hours I can choose my hours and shifts. Lots of different hours to choose from, I haven't seen the list yet but I would like 9am-1pm Monday - Friday. This would make child care arrangements easier. 2-3 weeks training 9am - 5.30pm then on to my chosen part time hours.

Thanks for reading if you have got this far. In my head the sensible option is option 2 but I am a relatively new and nervous driver. I really don't want this to hold me back but the full time training and driving home in the dark and potential rain is making me feel really nervous. But my shift tomorrow for job 1 finishes at 19.30 so I will have to drive in the dark and although I'm nervous about this its not as bad as I am familiar with that route. Job 2 will be Monday - Friday where as job 1 will probably be 3 shifts a week I would think.

Please give me a kick up the backside and advise what you think I should do .

I'd take the call centre one, I'd rather have the contracted hours then be hoping each week you get more than 4.

Retail. Hands down.

I worked call centre for years and it was so hard to break out of it. Be prepared to never be taken seriously for any other kind of job if you have it in your cv. It's also exceedingly draining.

Retail in comparison, is obviously more physical. But just so much easier on your mental health.

Retail. As a veteran, please avoid call centres unless absolutely essential. The only call centre job I had nearly drove me to a break down, it was that awful. In retail, it's obviously going to be 'harder' work, but with Christmas coming up, over time will be readily available, and depending on the company you work for, if you step up to the plate, they often try to help you out with regards to hours to suit your life.
My call centre job was the opposite. I was timed how long I was on the toilet for - in one instance my manager stood outside the cubicle counting during a particularly bad IBS episode, it was humiliating. I went home after a late shift, feeling like I was losing my voice and came back in the next morning having done so. I had to write on a pad of paper that I couldn't talk. All that was coming out was a very faint whining sound. I asked if I could take a holiday day to cover my impending absence as I was unable to do my job because it obviously involved a lot of talk and upselling, and they outright refused and made me stay. I handed my notice in the next day.

And on that note, please don't do the call centre one!

Oh this isn't the answer I was expecting I thought I'd be told I was ridiculous and to choose the call centre.

So sorry you went through that @ZoominMoomin. I am familiar with the way call centres run having worked in the admin side of one a few years back so that puts me off too as I know how they can be. Also worked in one about 13 years ago I was just 16 years old and it was sales. It was horrible and I lasted 2 months. In fact I went back a couple of years later and worked on an inbound campaign for a helpline when TVs were switching to digital and I went home at lunch time and didn't return .

This call centre is customer service for a bank if that changes anyone's opinion for better or worse.

I worked customer service for a bank to in one if my call centre roles. As far as they go it wasnt a particularly bad one. But I'd still advise against any call centre job. They really are miserable.

*too

That's how I feel. I don't want to be going to work miserable every day but the stress of trying to arrange childcare every week is going to be a pain.

I have just over 3 weeks until the call centre job starts so my plan was to see how this retail job plays out with hours etc and then decide. So I guess this has confirmed to me if all is well then to stick with it and sack off the call centre.

Yeh play it by ear. You could probably find another job to go alongside this retail one if you needed it. Like if you could find one that was a fixed shift of just a few hours per week. But I suspect with christmas coming up, the retail job will offer plenty if extra hours too.

I'm normally a pretty live in the moment, cheery sort but some call centre days had me in tears at the though of going in the mornings. And in winter its even worse (eg: the shifts may mean you miss a lot of the few hours of daylight there is). I'd take inconvenience over misery any day.

Good luck with the new job!

Thank you Bunny that's very helpful. As long as I have at least 16 hours that's all I'm bothered about its going to make such a massive difference to me. I've been unemployed and scrimped and borrowed and been gifted for years now. I can't wait to have that extra bit of money. I'm never going to be loaded by any means but I will cope and that's all I care about for now.

Right now, with COVID, I’d take the call centre job - assuming you can work from home if (when) there’s another lockdown.

@CinnabarRed

Right now, with COVID, I’d take the call centre job - assuming you can work from home if (when) there’s another lockdown.

I'm positive he said during my interview that due to being financial services they are permitted to stay open. The retail job is also in a shop that stayed open during lockdown (think B&M type of store).

Both friends I know working in a banking call centre are working from home currently.

I've just tossed a coin for you. It said job 2. Would you like me to do best of three to see what job you should do?

Avoid call centre

Retail everytime. Call centre work is soul destroying. Retail is more varied, and you get more exercise.

I was going to say the call centre but think I'd prefer the retail opportunities. I'd bust my backside for promotion. Id do every course I could to increase my payment possibilities. If I was off everyone would know because I'd have done all of the boring jobs.

It's pretty unanimous then I genuinely expected everyone to tell me I would be mad to go for option 1 and that's the one I want to do most so I really appreciate everyone's opinions it has helped massively.

For job security and guaranteed hours, I would go call centre and avoid retail in the current climate.

Do NOT choose The call Centre one unless the retail one really is awful.

I'd go for the retail one. You'll save a lot of time by avoiding the heavy traffic and driving.