not to be thrilled about new job?

[LesserOfTwoWeevils]

It represents the top of my career, at least locally, in terms of status and pay.
But I would rather go on working freelance for less pay and not have to deal with corporate types and bureaucracy and work all hours of the day and night.
It would be irresponsible of me to turn it down though, as it pays so much better.
I am supposed to sign the contract tomorrow after a long series of interviews, and hoped I'd be happier about it by now.

Firstly congrats! It's good to hear that people are getting jobs in this crazy world we're living in.

Now, if for loads of sensible reasons you feel you should sign the contract, sign it. Hopefully you will experience a sense of relief as you're financial situation, career trajectory and general life stability take a turn for the better.

You can always give notice if it's too unbearable. And you can do it quickly too. Not much is final in this life so make the decision that suits your situation now and feel comfortable that there's nothing to stop you changing your mind later. Give yourself a timescale (perhaps your probation period) to test yourself in your new role. If you know after a little time that this new job is really not for you, let it be known to your clients and contacts that you're available for work as a freelancer from x date and build your workflow up again so when yuo give notice you won't experience a complete dearth of employment.

Hope this helps a bit.

You should be happy you have a job offer and take it. I've been unemployed nearly a year and have been on a number of interviews to no avail. YABU.

Agree completely with Pops. Nothing is forever so if you end up not liking it, you can always hand your notice in & return to freelancing. It would be more useful for you right now to be better paid.

Enjoy the money and remember you can always go back to freelancing.

You may enjoy it when you meet the people you are working with!

Sorry posted too soon. And if you don't enjoy it, you can only be in more demand as a freelancer having had this pinnacle of career job!

I fear you are going to flamed for this in a "ooh my diamond shoes are too tight" kind of way.

Hey you don't have to take it, you have a choice, and you have to make the choice that is best for you and your family if you have one.

If more hours means less quailty time with family in a job you are not going to like what is the point of taking it?

Money is not everything job satisfaction is.

"ooh my diamond shoes are too tight"
I know, I know. Trying to man up and get a grip.
You are all right, it doesn't have to be forever if it turns out I hate it.
Thanks, all.

Congrats! As other posters have said, give it a try. You might make some good contacts for going back to freelancing in future (not stealing their customers, but if they commission freelance internally, or refer customers to freelancers that can do stuff they don't do).

Also, it might help you when selling the freelance work if you are competing against them in the future (eg. "I used to work at LargeCorp and they are very good but you might find their sales processes are quite cumbersome" etc.)

I'm a corporate type, can you tell?

Thanks.
I should have explained that I'm not in the UK, so the unemployment situation isn't quite as dire as it seems to be there.
Also I'll be going back to a place I've worked before at a slightly lower level, so I know exactly what it's like. The people are nice but it's very stressful and high-pressure?that's the nature of the job, running a newsroom.