Which job should I take?

[saywhatwhatnow]

I've (luckily) been offered two positions this week and I'm unsure on which one to take. I won't say what the role is exactly as it may be outing.

Job 1
2 days per week term time only (18h over Monday & Wednesday)
Childcare (2oy & 1yo) would be covered by family
Pay is ok
15mins down the road
Didn't click with one of the people there and not sure how long term/secure it would be.
Slightly different to any roles I've had previously
Great holidays
Good short term for our family but potentially less job satisfaction for me

Job 2
2.5 days a week (23h over Wednesday & Fridays with a few hours on a Monday)
The awkward few hours on a Monday would mean the kids going to nursery for 2 sessions each a week as a minimum, which on a positive side note would mean I'd gain a child free morning
But this would mean my take home pay would be less than Job 1 UNTIL DS1 gets his free hours in Sept, then it would increase
I feel like nursery would be a positive for DS1 in particular as he's dying to socialise more (thanks covid)
Long term position
Felt like a good fit for me personally but more to manage over the week with the kids

I'm going back and forth and need to make a decision ASAP really. Help!

@saywhatwhatnow

I think with fuel and nursery fees I wouldn't be taking much more money home even in the long term with job2. And yes job1 is easier for him. There is no worry about nursery at all with 1, he will do one day childcare and my parents the other day, plus I get lots of holidays too.

If DCS are poorly we would have to split time off between us.

Personally, I work pt. And managing work over two days is always going to be preferable imo and it's not only salary financially preferable, there's an additional time and cost implication.

Consider that the second role is not family friendly for the longer term when you consider school holidays etc. And those sort of jobs are rare. With job 1 you're effectively available for 13 weeks annual leave a year. With job 2 less than half of the school holidays.

I also think that with the longer days you're working, you'll be adding an additional 80 minutes all in travel for job 1 but 270 minutes in job 2 over the 3 days (allowing 5 muns to get to car/defrost etc). Plus the additional wear and tear costs etc.

I'm lucky that I work from home and my hours mean that I drop and collect from school. On the rare occasions that I have a later meeting I need to attend its easy to arrange family childcare (outside of covid). But even still there have been the odd curved balls that throw things array.

Personally, 1 is better paid, over 2 days, closer, has school holidays. I would be opting for that. At this stage, you have no idea on the longevity of either job, but establishing yourself that will align you with your children's needs for the next 10 years... And they're like gold dust!

What have I just read?! @MotherExtraordinaire

Why does the mother have to take a lower paid, less secure job with dodgy colleagues, so that she can be “aligned with your children's needs for the next 10 years?”

Seriously? Just have a think about that...

@MotherExtraordinaire DH have you signed up to Mumsnet!? But in all seriousness this is basically his argument, along with the fact that our kids should come first for now over my 'job satisfaction'. Well at least for the short term. I just have a feeling I'll be putting it on hold until their teenage years in that case as school hours will produce a whole new plethora of problems.

Those are terrible reasons to take the crap job.

God, he's a shit husband.

He should be encouraging you not sabotaging you. Has he put his own career and personal fulfilment in the dustbin ? Or is it just you he expects to do that?

@user1936863452

He's not shit. He does actually do as much childcare as he can when he can. And has said he will obviously support me if I take job 2. I think he's just seeing the ease (for both of us) and financial aspect as the most important points. Whereas I actually have to do the job so it's more personal. I've taken positions before that I'm not 100% on and it's never ideal. Doable, but not great.

First of all congratulations on securing two jobs offers!

I was in a similar situation when my DC were young. I took job 1.

It worked for us as a family and I have zero regrets. I enjoyed the holidays with children and felt I had the best of both worlds i.e work and quality time with the DC.

As my DC got older I took more hrs and my job developed. I now work full time (adult DC) and earn similar to my friends who worked longer hrs when their DC were younger.

What made you apply for job 1? Will you be working directly with the person you did not warm too?

Can you negotiate one work from home day in Job 2, particularly on that half day? Save you the commute that day.

[quote saywhatwhatnow]@MotherExtraordinaire DH have you signed up to Mumsnet!? But in all seriousness this is basically his argument, along with the fact that our kids should come first for now over my 'job satisfaction'. Well at least for the short term. I just have a feeling I'll be putting it on hold until their teenage years in that case as school hours will produce a whole new plethora of problems. [/quote]

I understand your wish for job fulfillment, but in context, you've opted to have your oh as the main earner and really unless you wish to be, then really as a secondary part time earner, surely your priority should be for the foreseeable what is best for your family?
Why on earth would opt for less money, increased costs, longer time away from the family, more days requiring more cover and greater possibility of then needing to cover more sicknesses as happens when children start nursery and school....
And again, 13 weeks of school holidays is a lot to expect others to cover/provide childcare for...
Honestly, I think that you underestimate how awkward school hours will be, if wraparound isn't available etc. I know so many parents who would give their back teeth for a term time only role!

Have you decided OP?

@Changeismyname Well I thought I kind of had nothing to loose so I asked job2 if they would let me just do the two full days (and not the awkward Monday hours) and they agreed! I'm so pleased as I feel it's best of both worlds.

[quote saywhatwhatnow]@Changeismyname Well I thought I kind of had nothing to loose so I asked job2 if they would let me just do the two full days (and not the awkward Monday hours) and they agreed! I'm so pleased as I feel it's best of both worlds. [/quote]
Brilliant!!

Thanks @Changeismyname

Love that, well negotiated Op.

Well done, OP!

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