Would you take the job?

[fairynick]

Current job: sales/customer service role in a call centre. 20k +comms means I come out with around 22-23k. It’s a low wage but I’m in my twenties and live at home so I feel like a millionaire. Don’t enjoy the role particularly, and there’s no career progression possible, so where I’m at now would basically be full potential. I would never be a manager so no chance for promotion etc. I love getting out of bed in the morning and skip my way to work. I love the workplace and my colleagues so much and it gets me through the actual job. It’s a twenty minute walk from my house so really easy to get to as well.

Interview on Tuesday: 17k trainee finance assistant. I’ve recently began ACCA study so this seems like a foot in the door. I know job are scarce atm so feel very lucky to have gotten an interview. From the job description it seems like cheap admin labour jazzed up, but would be a really great addition to my CV and relevant experience. Hopefully would lead to more advanced roles and potential progression with the organisation. The commute would be about an hour and a half each way and would cost a lot in tram and train tickets. I’m going to begin driving lessons after lockdown and driving it would take 20 mins so much easier once my test is passed.

If I’m offered the job should I take it or pass? With everything going on atm it feels risky to switch jobs and also going into less money and more outgoings/commute will be tough. On the flip side, I can’t stay in a call centre forever and taking a step down for now may mean higher rewards in the future.

What were your intentions/plans when you started the ACCA course? I'd taken the finance job.

It totally depends what your ambitions are really. Do you want to have more earning potential than your current job gives you? Do you want to progress? If so, you probably should take the job while you can afford to as you're living at home.

I don’t think I would take it.

Think of where you want to be in say 10 year time career wise......

Do you want to be stuck in your current role and would you be happy there? Or would you be happier in a higher paid role with more progression?

I know you will be taking a big pay cut but while you are living with your parents it wouldn't be as bad, as you probably don't have as many financial responsibilities.

Remember, no job is perfect, they all have their good and bad points. You just have to think of your future.

Think you should take the job if you're planning on doing ACCA and hopefully something with a better wage will come up eventually. Word of warning though - it's a tough course. I know a couple people who have struggled / dropped out of accountancy degrees / ACCA.

I wouldn’t take it, it’s silly to take such a steep pay cut willingly during the pandemic

It seems like the basic admin tasks of that role probably overlap with your current role. It’s not particularly useful experience, I do think your current job with the relevant qualification will be seen as on the same level as new job + relevant qualification.

Thank you for the advice. It seems like mixed bags all round.
I don’t have many financial responsibilities so it would be tight but not impossible. Whenever I look at ACCA jobs they all want two years or so of relevant experience, so I thought that maybe this would count towards it. My current role isn’t in finance in the slightest.
I think I’ll attend the interview, take public transport there to assess how realistic the commute is, and get a feel for the workplace and the role and take it from there.
The main thing I’m scared of is not taking the job and really regretting it a year or two down the line when I still can’t find any relevant experience.

I would price up the cost of parking (or however else you might get to the station) and the train. Also, it may be good to ask around about usual train fares, because the fares now are not what they are in normal times when there is more demand (the usual route is obscenely cheap right now). Then figure out how much it will cost you to have the job. I travel longer than that but only 3 days a week. It costs me 700 a month in train fare. I earn a good salary, so it's fine, but I couldn't imagine doing it if my salary only just covered my train travel.

Take the job and review after 2 years. You will have much more choices then (including a job closer to home) because of your experience and you would have progressed one step up the ladder. Make the most of your opportunities whilst you are young and without responsibilities or dependents. You won't have the freedom to take a paycut for future progression once you are older.

Are there definitely no opportunities in the call centre? You don't want to be a people manager, but they must have a planning team, trainers, HR, policy, tech, strategy people etc. etc.

There is going to be a lot of more working from home nowadays. It is not ideal for training and learning the ropes when you are starting out and looking to learn but it can be done. Your managers probably won't want to go in 5 days a week and so there should be some co-ordination and flex among the team. I wouldn't ask too much about this at interview. Wait till you get an offer before gently probing HR, perhaps.

If successful could you negotiate for a higher salary or quicker jump through the pay scales? How ambitious are you?

If you didn't take the job if offered, what would be your plan for gaining 36 months experience in a relevant role to complete ACCA?

If it is a true finance role, would they consider pay reviews after the knowledge papers, applied skills and then the professional papers?

If it is the right organisation, the decrease now could pay off well in the future. But you need to ask about how much is (or could be) finance related in the role and how much is admin.

I wouldn't take it, not with that long commute and the salary drop.

I mean, financially you have nothing to loose if you still live at home. I would go for the opportunity. It would be a different matter if you had dependents or had bills to pay. Always this 10 years ahead . Will your current job be so convenient when you move out/move area, etc.,?

On a side note, I work in admin and I find it soul destroying. But then I also find customer service horrible too. Just make sure that when you move jobs you’re not stuck in admin...ughh

Do the interview - then decide. You may not like the commute etc. You may not even get the job. Decide after the interview and if you get an offer. Good luck.

Do the interview but ask about them sponsoring you through your exams and training you. There’s no point in taking a pay cut if they aren’t willing to invest in you.

You can do free accountancy courses with Future learn - that way you are proving your interest snd gaining knowledge - it will give you a better chance for the other jobs that want two years experience.

90 minutes each way is a ridiculous commute. If you really fancy the job, why not look for a room in a shared house near the place of work? If that's not an option I'd just hang on where you are and keep looking for a similar role near home.

I would be very clear at interview that as part of this role, you want to gain the necessary financial experience and my questions would be directed towards probing what work that would be. If it is nothing but an admin role, it won't allow you to gain your qualification and will actually take time away from your study. In other words, I would take it, as long as you are sure it actually delivers what it says on the tin.

I also think that usually there are lots of jobs in accounts receivable, they require big teams in big companies. Have you only found this job? Usually you find out about opportunities on your course too.

OP - I'd take the role and do the first 4 papers, then look for another finance job as partway qualified ACCA. I've done ACCA and it's really really hard. It definitely helps if your organisation are on board, paying for it and mentoring you. I agree that staying in your current job isn't going to get you anywhere and now seems like a good time to do it as you don't have a mortgage or rent to pay. Have you really thought carefully about a career in finance? I feel a lot of people think they will do a course and then get really far, and it isn't quite right! Good luck whatever you choose

@fairynick make absolutely sure the finance job counts as relevant experience for ACCA - if it does, I'd be inclined to take it. Short-term pain for longer term opportunities. Good luck!