Please help me choose between two (potential) jobs

[NoelleNameChange]

Both public sector organisations which are similar in their function -

Job A:

• Current role

• Admin role in a large, inner city area

• Decent pay

• Very early start, but early finish

• The work is extremely stressful at points (every day in the mornings), but not too bad at other points

• A 20 minute drive up the motorway from my house

• Work environment is not good - a lot of deprivation and very vulnerable and high needs service users, staff crying a lot at work and LOTS of staff absence which nobody can help but which ends up being stressful

• Management and colleagues are lovely - everyone is doing their best

• I can reduce my hours but cannot reduce my days - I need to do five days a week due to the nature of my work

Job B:

• Different role, with less office work and more hands on (which I enjoy) in my home town

• Much nicer setting (lots of green space etc)

• I can walk to work and back - no petrol costs

• later start - I would be around when my kids wake up and would also be able to keep doing the pick ups I currently do

• I can work fewer days which is what I would prefer (I have young dcs), but there would be a drop in pay even if I was to work full time as hourly rate is lower

OR

Do I look for something completely different (eg private sector)?

Thanks for any thoughts on this. I don't have anyone IRL to discuss this with. Dh is very placid and doesn't care what I do re work as long as it covers bills along with his salary, and as long as I can still do my share of school runs, which I would be able to do with either job.

I'm leaning towards Job B, but am going back and forth a lot in my head and massively overthinking

If you can afford job B while you look for something on the private sector do it. Working with colleagues who are crying is horrible all round.

Thanks - it is horrible tbh. They are all such lovely people but the stress of the work environment is just a lot.

Role B if it fits for now but does either have potential to develop into a higher role/ more money as the kids grow?

I'd say that neither one has an obvious route to something with better pay or prospects tbh. I'd say I am at the ceiling in Job A.

There would be transferable skills and potentially, with extra training, I could use either job to find my way into something with better prospects. I think that Job B has a clearer route upwards, eventually, but it would be a big decision to do the necessary training. It is something I would consider once dcs are in secondary though. That would be about 6 - 7 years from now

What does your heart want to do? Sounds like job B if you can afford it and it allows you the time with your kids. Honestly life is short and those early years with kids although hard do go pass quickly. I’d do what feels right for next 2yrs then reassess.

Thanks - heart is definitely saying job B atm

Job B. Your current job sounds awful to me. Sorry.

If you can afford to earn less while you're thinking about what to do in the long term, job B seems to offer plenty of benefits.

Definitely B. If money works.

B unless it's something like a social worker as I wouldn't want to be doing that in my home town.

I'd go with B if you can afford the drop in pay. It sounds like a no brainer to me.

The way you’ve written it makes Job A sound a lot worse than Job B, if you were writing objectively then Job B seems obvious choice and if you didn’t intend to make it sound that way it sounds like your subconscious is leaning toward B.

Definitely B if you can afford the pay cut.

How much would you save in petrol in Job B? Does that help contribute to the difference in take home pay?

It's hard to see what job A has over job B, from what you've written.

Does the decent pay more than compensate for the petrol costs?

Do you know much about the management / culture of Job B? I know it's more hands on so I'm guessing slightly less interaction with colleagues than job A - but line manager relationship would still be a factor for me.

The downside to Job B is the drop in pay... I do feel a bit silly accepting a pay cut!

But, I am questioning if it is worth it based on the work environment. Job A is not all bad and I am good at my job. My colleagues and senior management are nothing but supportive and the pay is good.

But the stress there, due to work load, is a lot. Sometimes, due to the nature of my work, I end up unintentionally making colleagues cry! It's horrendous. Just because I have to ask them to do something essential and their work load is already so much. That's the absolute killer part. I feel as if despite everyone trying their best, it's just a bit messy there. I don't hate it there, and certainly don't hate the organisation

Also, alhough it pays reasonably well, it isn't mega bucks - I won't be retiring early on it or anything! So can't decide if it is worth that additional stress.

I have a rhino hide and haven't yet broken down and cried at work, but seeing it happen to other people is just horrible.

B

How big of a pay cut monthly? If your saving money on petrol and it's only slightly less than probably worth it, but if you've never done job B before how do you know it will be lower stress? Grass isn't always greener.

That's true that I don't know exactly what the job would be like, but I have done the same role before. I know the manager a little bit and she seems nice, but I know there are no guarantees!

The pay cut would definitely be noticeable even with the petrol costs factored in.

I think this is what it boils down to! It's the pay vs the hours, location and environment.

Job B - I have accepted pay cuts twice in the past few years that both times have quickly led to better pay. Are there any increased benefits such as pension or discounted gym etc that would make up for it? As mentioned the savings from reduced travel must be worth a bit. Anyway I tend to value quality of life over salary.