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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to take any minimum wage job?

99 replies

samandi · 03/11/2011 08:15

I've just finished my Masters, early 30's, living with partner but supporting myself on my (dwindling) savings. Have been applying for loads of jobs, willing to commute within a two hour distance if possible and affordable, but the only offer I've had is for a minimum wage call-centre job, and a temporary one at that. I did call-centre work for a year when younger and absolutely loathed it, and kind of feel I shouldn't have to go back to it. Plus it's awkward hours - shifts, weekends, evenings. It won't do much to help my financial situation. Not really sure why I applied now - in a fit of desperation I think.

Am I being unreasonable to turn it down, or am I just workshy and should I be grateful for anything that comes my way?

OP posts:
mummymeister · 03/11/2011 08:47

Agree with Flan.. No one has to take work and you arent living off benefits so no one can accuse you of being idle whilst they pay for it. However, you have to see the bigger picture. You are in your 30's competing with brand new graduates. you need to find out why you arent getting the jobs that you want that you are applying for. are you aiming too high/too low. is your cv OK, what about your interview technique. Yes it is tough out there but there are jobs and people are getting them so why not you?

Vicky2011 · 03/11/2011 08:48

I would try and get a temp Christmas job in retail or even the post office in preference if you don't actually need the money in the short term. It also, as others have said, really does depend on the call centre. Quite a difference between the loansharksrus evil type and First Direct.

Original poster
samandi · 03/11/2011 08:53

Thanks for all comments! Have to shoot off but will come back to chew them over :-)

OP posts:
MillyR · 03/11/2011 09:04

I would see if there are post office jobs available in the run up to Christmas. It is really enjoyable. If not, then a job in retail for the Christmas period. Save the money from that and look for a volunteering position that will help you get into a job you do want to do after Christmas.

C4ro · 03/11/2011 09:07

My first job out of Uni, with a Biology degree from RG Uni was Lohn Lewis shop temporary Christmas shop assistant. Roughly half my department had either a degree or professional qualification like florist/ graphic design. My best mate there had a classics degree and absolutely floored one mum that made a comment to her child- "Oh, Aristophanes!" said mate. Thud of jaw hitting floor and the mum asking how on earth she knew that!

LaurieFairyCake · 03/11/2011 09:15

Don't take a job you would hate if you don't NEED to.

Life's too short, do something that will boost your prospects and you will like.

Hullygully · 03/11/2011 09:21

wot Laurie said.

AgentProvocateur · 03/11/2011 09:55

I got made redundant in Jan, and got another job offer almost straightaway. I had no option but to take it, despite knowing it was wrong for me since day 1. I left in June without having another job to go to, but the five months I spent there have caused me to lose all my self confidence and belief in my ability. Going there was the biggest mistake of my life.

If you have done a similar job before, and know you'll hate call centre work, think very carefully about accepting, if you dont absolutely need the money. I'm only now beginning to be able to put my bad experience behind me and move on.

LaPruneDeMaTante · 03/11/2011 09:59

I wouldn't do a call-centre job, but a couple of years ago I did a minimum-wage p/t job for a year or so - I did it because it was in a particular industry I was interested in. The experience was invaluable and will be very useful in future. The job itself was dead-end and not that enjoyable, but had its uses iyswim. I've got postgrad qualification and I know it made a couple of people think less of me but they didn't really know why I was doing it, so meh.

emsyj · 03/11/2011 11:05

I agree with the person who said try temping agencies. Can you type? If not, you can learn very quickly using a typing tutor CD such as Mavis Beacon.

I did temping work between uni and law college (after turning down a call centre job doing cold-calling, ironically!) and it was okay - and there are often internal jobs offered to you too. I worked in a public sector place starting on a 2 day assignment doing audio typing, got kept on until my course started and while I was there they offered me a job as PA to the Regional Chairman. I didn't want that job as I was already going off to train for something else, but imagine it would have been a decent job and certainly more than NMW.

Get typing.

MrBloomsNursery · 03/11/2011 11:10

A job is a job. If you need the money that desperately then you'd go and get that job. I was lucky when I graduated, and I got a job in my field, but man was it shit. Minimum wage, shitty work and really really long hours AND I had a baby to lookafter. I did it, and worked my way up. I was on a substantial salary before I left last year due to health reasons.

You need to get over your pride. Having a masters means jack shit. Employers are looking for experience. A person with experience in working in different conditions will have more chance of getting a job than a person with a Masters and no experience.

bemybebe · 03/11/2011 11:18

Goodness, what a dilemma...
I have plenty of classmates from my MA course (super institution!) who had to take up waitressing and similar positions whilst they were/are searching for the jobs they want. We are talking about serious quality degrees (their BAs/Bsc were from Harvard and Oxford btw, just to put it into perspective)

I was lucky as I found a job after my degree straight away, it was a stroke of luck as much as hard nose search... That said, I am not sure I would be able to cope with a call-centre job, unless I was truly on the breadline...

FontOfAllEvil · 03/11/2011 11:18

Don't do it. If you hate the work and dont need the money, then don't do it. Don't give up on your dream job either. Spend the time working hard to get the job you want. It can be done.

bemybebe · 03/11/2011 11:25

"Employers are looking for experience."

Employers are looking for relevant experience. In my occupation, working in a call-centre/waitress/shop assistance would count for jack-shit, admirable but irrelevant. I would be more interested in an MA degree frankly (ability to work independently and biology/physics/maths would show relevant skills to my field, though I have nothing to do with biology)...

I would seriously consider some more relevant volunteering position if you can afford to do it and seriously widen the search areas. My mates with good degrees what continue their waitressing are the only ones who insist on that job.

bemybebe · 03/11/2011 11:29

Apply for internships - plenty of companies still do very high quality programmes that also pay. Yes, they are very short and SUPER competitive, but in my field most people who get graduate/postgraduate offers are recruits from such programmes. It give an opportunity to the company and the candidate to testdrive...

handbagCrab · 03/11/2011 11:37

I was recently involved in some recruitment. If I was looking at someone who sat on their arse vs someone who'd worked temporarily in a call centre I think I'd be more impressed with the call centre candidate as I don't agree with just sitting on your arse if it can be avoided.

However, someone who had done unpaid/ voluntary work that was relevant to the role I was recruiting and did expand their knowledge/ skills etc would look more impressive than someone who'd worked in a call centre at application stage.

There's not many people in your enviable position of having a choice between taking a dead end job and living on savings until something better can come along. If I was you I'd seriously look for volunteer/ internships but if none are forthcoming then take the call centre, because, it does look better than sitting on your arse.

It's such a shame the government binned the future jobs fund as this gave employers the opportunity to provide free internships and people to gain valuable work experience whilst earning minimum wage.

bemybebe · 03/11/2011 12:09

"It's such a shame the government binned the future jobs fund as this gave employers the opportunity to provide free internships and people to gain valuable work experience whilst earning minimum wage."

Not everything is government's fault.
We used to have a lot of interns coming through on 2-8 weeks departmental projects. This people were doing urgent research for us during uni holidays, someone with op's skills would be super. We also used to pay them well (not sure how much recently but when I was doing in as a student myself back in 1996 i got 386GBP/week after tax). These were recently cut due to all the negative publicity over the "internships for cronies". All interns now go on organized programmes, but it is different. Which is a pity because it was fantastic for both parties (and we had a selection of good cvs that we could just call at a short notice)...

bemybebe · 03/11/2011 12:10

"These people..." obviously. Sorry for typos Blush

handbagCrab · 03/11/2011 12:17

Never said it was bemybebe? But it is a shame that a scheme designed to make young people economically active was scrapped in favour, of well, nowt so far.

Not everything's the fault of negative publicity either.

Hardgoing · 03/11/2011 12:23

I actually wouldn't take a call centre job if I had savings/partner to support me, and no children.

The reasons are a) it would be completely demoralising and make you feel bad about yourself (if it involved cold calling, if it is just answering phone queries, it may not be so bad) b) it takes away time and energy for finding a better job.

I don't buy the theory it will get you a better job, unless you want to be manager/team leader in a call centre. It won't enhance your CV either.

I think you have to be strategic and consider the downsides as well as the small financial incentive. I would take this job if I didn't have any other options, I couldn't pay the rent or I needed to feed my children. If that is not you, and you have a bit more time to spend trying to get a better job, then I would go for it. After six months in a call centre you will be trying to leave anyway.

MrsVoltar · 03/11/2011 12:33

Agree with Laurie and HardGoing

Sometimes when you take a job like that you then can't devote so much attention to your main jobsearch.

But would do so if you 'have' to, or if you have been looking for suitable job for a long time.

I took a basic job after uni but was very demoralised by it, it was in care, and didn't really have the energy out of work time to find a more suitable job. It did absolutely nothing for my career prospects.

StaceymAloneForver · 03/11/2011 12:35

i'd say YABU, if u want a job take the job and keep looking for something better. I dispise my job but it suits me and dc's timewise so i lump it until they ar older!

mumeeee · 03/11/2011 12:39

YABU take the job and carry on looking for another one.

Hardgoing · 03/11/2011 12:44

But why lump a job if you don't need the money this second, and it may prevent you getting another job? Applying for jobs can take a couple of hours a day to do great, tailored applications. The advice to do relevant voluntary work is much more sensible.

It's kind of a Protestant work ethic on here, all work is better than no work, any work is better than none. Why?

Towndon · 03/11/2011 12:49

YANBU. Do whatever will most help your skills, experience and wellbeing :) No point wasting a lot of time on a dead-end job if you don't need to.

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