Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Help me decide - I'm dithering

18 replies

WelshBookWitch · 23/05/2025 08:30

I interviewed for a job yesterday, and I can't decide if I want to take it or not. Should get a phone call today offering or not.

Current situation is I work 2 jobs, both in the Charity sector.
Job 1- 30 hours a week. Band C. (£25k pro rata) I like the people, but I am a bit of an outsider. Most of the staff are in their 20s and I'm 55. I work in an admin/HR role, and I am spread very thin. I am the only one doing HR for 55 staff, which is a stretch on 30 hours a week as it is, but I also do room bookings, H&S, checking fire alarms, purchasing things for the office, managing the cleaners, meter readings across multiple sites, I answer the main phone line and admin the phone system, and general sorter outer of any problem that doesn't fit anywhere else. I've been here just over 2 years. 15 min drive from home.

Job 2 - 10 hours a week. General office admin (no HR) - room bookings, invoices, a little bit of meet and greet, answering the phone, organising building maintenance, managing volunteers, packing up online orders and back and forth to the post office, meeting minutes, so a bit of everything. Also lovely people, struggling in an old building and NO money. They can barely afford me at £13 per hour. I've been here three years, 5 min drive from my house (I could walk). They overstep the mark a bit eg they whatsapp me at all hours to sort things out, I have done a lot of extras for them. Working there is a bit like wading through treacle, they are very set in their ways, nothing ever gets done.

I interviewed yesterday for another third sector job, Band D. Pure HR, part of a HR team, so they do it properly, rather than just me firefighting like in job1. £28k - 35 hours a week. I think I will take home about the same as Job 1&2 combined. 45 mins drive away but can work from home 2 days per week. They have a smaller office closer to me (20 mins) but the role is based at the main office.

I just can't decide what to do if I am offered it? (Might not be and the decision is taken away)

Reasons to take it:
Feels like a proper career move.
There are niggles in current jobs that frustrate me.
I don't like doing H&S

Less hours overall per week for same(ish) money

Reasons not to take it:
Longer commute (but I don't mind driving)
Leaving a secure position for another 6 month probation scares me a bit.
Jump into the unknown, I have a nice comfortable routine with current jobs. I've been through a very messy divorce and was enjoying being settled.

Other info - I am 55 and live alone. I will have to work full time until I am 68 - expansive divorce and not much in the way of pension. 3 adult DDs - all living with partners away, I don't want to move house again to nearer potential new job. I moved in 2018, and then twice in 2023 due to exH being an arse and taking the family home in divorce.

If you got to the end of that, thanks! Tell me what to do, I feel like Julia in Motherland when Liz is repeating "Take it then", "Don't take it then", "Take it then" - "Hang on, which one are we on?"

OP posts:
AliasGraced · 23/05/2025 08:35

Take the new job!

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 23/05/2025 08:39

Definitely take the new job!

SomethingAboutNothing · 23/05/2025 08:43

Taking the new job seems the obvious decision to me.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

PristineDuckPond · 23/05/2025 08:50

New job. It sounds as if both current jobs are exploiting you/less than ideal, plus two different PT jobs always ends up being more ‘work’, taking up more headspace. Good luck. You sound as if you’ve been through the wringer recently.

Bluevelvetsofa · 23/05/2025 08:56

I agree. If it’s offered, take the new job. Driving time gets your head in work mode and vice versa going home.

Civilservant · 23/05/2025 08:58

New job, unless there are other relevant factors you’ve not mentioned, like pension issues.

WelshBookWitch · 23/05/2025 09:08

Thanks for reading and taking the time to respond.
No real pension issues- I have two very small pensions from these two jobs and about £60K in a private pension. The new job will have a pension as well, so will end up combining them all. I own my home outright.
I didn't mind the drive yesterday but the sun was shining and the traffic was good. Might feel different in the rain and dark in January
@PristineDuckPond you're right about 2 part time jobs adding up to more than one full time.

OP posts:
Happynow · 23/05/2025 09:12

Yep, another one for take the new job! Your 2 combined sound like a stretch plus you'll only be commuting 3 days a week. It'll be a fresh start, good luck I hope you get it.

Emotionalsupporthamster · 23/05/2025 09:13

This one’s a no brainer - take the new job!

Twinstudy · 23/05/2025 09:25

Yeah definitely take the new job. 45 minutes isn't too bad especially if you can WFH sometimes.

Fingers crossed you get it op 🤞

SleepingStandingUp · 23/05/2025 09:31

New job
Hope you get it.

You say the 10 hours can barely afford you, so it's not entirely a secure job. The other one is definitely spreading you too thin.

dudsville · 23/05/2025 09:43

I also agree, new job if you can!

I took on a 90 min commute for my final 15 ish years of working. Now that I'm approaching the final 3 ish years of that commitment, it is a drain, but it was the right decision financially and I manage it fine.

Good luck!

WelshBookWitch · 23/05/2025 14:30

I didn't get it 😕

Feel a strange mix of disappointed and relieved.

OP posts:
Civilservant · 23/05/2025 14:56

Aah that’s a shame, bad luck @WelshBookWitch

sesquipedalian · 23/05/2025 15:00

Really sorry you didn’t get the job - but at least you don’t have to anguish over a decision any more!

BuntyBeaufort · 23/05/2025 15:01

Agree with others. Take the new job.
As you say, you’ve got more than another decade of work, and the longer you leave it the harder it will be to change. It sounds as though the 10 hour job you do could be on shaky ground anyway, if they’re as short of funds and stuck in their ways as you say.
Be brave, hold your nose and jump. Good luck!

BuntyBeaufort · 23/05/2025 15:02

Oh damn! Sorry I missed your update. What a shame.

Comtesse · 23/05/2025 15:08

will the new job encourage you to pursue the HR qualifications? That would be very useful. I would be inclined to take it if they offer….

New posts on this thread. Refresh page