I can't make a decision about my job

[unsure10482]

I am one of those people who find it hard to make even easy decisions so really looking for others input.

I moved jobs within the same company last year on a fixed term basis. My old job was fine but had no career development. New job I was so excited about and surprised I even got it. The same money however a lot more potential for career development.

A year on and I have been offered an extension for another year if I turn it down I would go back to my old job. I thought of would do the pros and cons of both jobs and ask which you would pick.

Current job
Pro

• work from home 3 out of 4 days
• flexible

-nice team

• chance of career development

Cons

• ridiculously busy and stressful. I feel constantly stressed.
• would prefer to work 3 days but no option due to how busy it is.

Old job
Pros

• fairly easy job
• do 3 days instead of 4 but longer days

Cons

• no option to work from home
• long hours mean I can't pick kids from school on days I'm working
• no career progression.

Which do you think gives you a better work life balance OP?

The pros of the old job are less than the pros of new job. Don’t go back.
Neither job is right for you but think of this job as a stepping stone to the next job, which might be a better fit.
Give it more time and see if something else comes up.
Good luck.

It's a hard one really as my current job I have 3 days off but I am home by 5/5.30 each evening. My old job I have 4 days off so home with my children more but don't get home until 7.

The current job could be the springboard to something that’s exactly right. The old job definitely won’t.

And if you stay put and it turns out to be the wrong choice, oh well, it’s only twelve months.

Imagine the extension isn't on the cards & visualise yourself tomorrow morning, you've to get up and go to the old job - how do you feel?

If you decide to stay in the new role can you negotiate for a pay increase?

@3girlsmama

Imagine the extension isn't on the cards & visualise yourself tomorrow morning, you've to get up and go to the old job - how do you feel?

If you decide to stay in the new role can you negotiate for a pay increase?

I think I would feel relived. If I'm honest it's a pride thing that I don't want to look a failure. I feel if they just ended the contract I wouldn't look like I had wasted an opportunity. I would just go back to my old job and say I gained some value experience.

Definitely no chance of a pay rise.

I think the new job seems like a good opportunity, but you need to keep seeing it as a stepping stone to bigger things.

if you think about your career 5 years down the line, what would you like to be doing? do you really want to be sitting in easy old job with no progression? Or could challenging new job lead somewhere else?