To not want to take this job.

[Pinkjenny]

I am a HR Manager. Well, was. I was made redundant in December from my part time HM role, and as you can imagine, there aren't exactly an abundance of part time roles around.

Anyway, I applied for a role at a local University, 6 months maternity cover, earning less full time than I was earning part time previously. I went for the role thinking I would give full time a shot, and whilst it is less than ideal (ds is 2yo at nursery and dd is 4yo at school). I thought I would put dd in after school club three times a week and use the role as a way to see how we get on as a family with me working full time. Despite the low salary, I thought the payoff was the fact that it is five minutes away.

I went for the interview, it was a panel interview, comprising of the person I would report into, her boss and a random. The lady the role would be reporting into (let's call her Jean) just didn't like me, I could tell. She was openly sneering at some of the things I said, so I was amazed when Jean's boss called me later that day to offer me the role. I was slightly confused as to why she was making the call rather than Jean, but hey ho.

I received the contract today, and I had to ring Jean as the salary was wrong and there was no reference to start or finish time.

Jean was perfectly nice on the phone, but seemed to be trying to put me off. I asked about the salary, she said, 'Its not wrong, it's the bottom of the banding' and I explained that I had been offered the mid point of the banding because of my experience. She went off to check and said, 'Mmm, you're out of work (and?) but I suppose you were offered that in recognition of your experience. Yes I am prepared to honour it.' Which is good of her. Not.

After we had established that the flexitime policy didnt extend to start time, she then said, 'there is one other thing, I want to be really honest with you, we have put your postcode into the system and you don't qualify for a car park pass. You would have to drop your children off and then get a bus to work. In 45 minutes.'

Right. I was very nice back, and told her I would come back to her, but she was blatantly trying to put me off!

Dunno what to do now.

Please don't forget to come back and let us know what you decide! And if they do sort out the pass and you take it, let us know how you get along with Jean..

Sounds like this Jean person is either jealous of you or routinely nasty towards everyone. Might be worth checking with someone else (more senior than her!) whether all the points - esp the negative points - are all correct, eg salary and parking entitlements. Take the job if you want it and like it, not because of whether she's nice or not. There's always one or two misanthropic miseries in any job, even the really great jobs. Most people ignore them!

I will let you know what happens with Jean's manager today. We did look at the bus thing, and I would need to be on the bus by 8.30, having dropped off at school and nursery, and finding somewhere in the town centre to leave the car. Even dh accepted that that seemed like a bit of a stretch.

Do I want the job? I don't know. I just want something that I can plod along in for a few years while the kids are small. I do realise that the reality of being paid less and coming in at a more junior level will be difficult for me. Dh
's view is that really the Uni is the only large scale employer close to where we live, so I should explore each option until such time it becomes apparent that it would be impossible. He seemed less concerned about Jean, which is easy for him. I'm not really that arsed about Jean per se, more about the rafting involved.

Dh and money? I have no idea, he certainly did not grow up skint.

Why can't DH do the morning school run and you do the afternoon? Surely the family dynamics will change anyway with you working FT so there will need to be a redistribution of tasks?

Agree Jean's boss is the way to go. They may even be trying to oust her by putting in someone more capable and that's what she fears.

Stand strong - don't let her change what was negotiated. For all you know she's gone to her boss and boasted about how she's got you on a lower salary or that you're fine about the car parking, hoping to put herself in a good light. Don't give in.

Jean sounds a horror.

I'm thinking 6 months isn't long however bosses like this can take their toll on your spirit and confidence.

I just wanted to share my public sector experience in case it is useful. Only take what is useful from it :-)

I didn't trust my very strong instinct when I went for an interview once. I knew that the boss was a spirit sucking, mood hoover bureaucrat from as soon as I walked up the interview stairs behind her (and from her sour face spanish inquisition interview style). I took the job, which was a short term contract, I allowed her to grind my confidence right down and they extended the contract for three more years (maternity lady didn't come back) and then made it permanent. Because I lost all my faith in my abilities it took me ages to get out, the added combination of my DH being v. cautious about money also delayed my escape from hell. So whilst I walked into the job thinking this need not be for ever it nearly ended up a life sentence. Trying to reason with manager or manager's manager was futile so I walked.

As I say just my experience and from the way you write you sound more assertive and resilient than me so wouldn't end up in this scrape. There was just the DH money thing that was similar to my experience and was an added complication of me staying longer than I needed to.

OP take the job provided you get a parking pass, I work for a university and they do take school drop off into account, give it 2 months and if you hate it then leave, use the time to look for something else. I covered mat leave in my current job, it was a massive gamble put paid off as the person I covered for decided to job share with me when she came back and then a couple of months later my boss announced early retirement and I was given her job. There are always some strong personalities in an office but you usually find they are like this with everyone so you can find allies.

I'd take the job, and then devise dastardly ways to make Jean's life hell.

Mwuhuhuhuhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuh!

Seriously though, don't let one fucker put you off. You don't know her motivation for starters. Once you start you could find that a: she's alright or b:She's a twat and everyone else thinks so too.

Actually I've changed my mind, I took a below my experience jib once and it took me 5 years to get out, if your not desperate look for something else.

i dont think you should take a full time job with a lower pay than your part time job and they probably think you shouldt either. that is why she isputting up obstacles. perhaps. she thinks you will leave as soon as/if you get a better offer.

I spoke to Jean's boss, she was perfectly nice on the phone and said she would try and get me a car park pass. I made it clear that I did not get the impression that Jean was very excited about me joining her team, and although she didn't comment other than to say the panel was unanimous, I am glad I raised it. I won't let Jean intimidate me.

Well done!

re the car parking pass- they introduced this at the uni where I study. It is virtually impossible to get a pass but the car park is always half empty. My friend who drives (I don't) always parks on the car park even though she didn't get a pass. They have barriers and you press a button and speak into the box and every week she just says 'I'm still waiting for my pass' and they let her in. She has been doing that since September and hasn't been pulled on it yet.
Maybe you could try that approach?

Don't sign the contract until they confirm in writing that you can get the pass!

Good for you PinkJenny, starting as you mean to go on , and agree its good you put a marker down in case you ever need it in the future, and cleared the air for yourself in the meantime.

That's great pinkjenny - I'm glad you're going for it - I think you'll be in a much stronger position with a job than without one Would be a ridiculous hassle to get two buses every morning after nursery drop off though - so that car park pass is a must ! (or try insancerre's suggestion ?)

Also to clarify my 7.43am post, there is no rafting involved. The word was supposed to be faffing.

Glad things have worked out, OP. Good luck with the job.

Well done! Pleased you asserted yourself, start as you mean to go on. I would probably have been too much of a wuss to say anything.

Maybe Jean has another candidate that she wants to get the job (an internal candidate perhaps) and you scored better so her candidate wasn't first choice. Therefore she wants you to turn down the job so her choice can be offered the job. Not very professional but having heard my own OM discuss this sort of tactic it sounds fairly possible this is the case here.

good on ya!!!
If Jean puts one foot wrong just let us know and we'll all be onto her
www.mumsnet.com/te/2.gif

can someone PLEASE teach me to do smilies? Jean? OP? Nigel? Anyone? :-)

there is a guide to the smilies underneath the posting box

She said she would let me know by the end of the week. My friend has agreed to drop dd off at school for me, so that helps

illegitimategruffalo

Ooh, I was thinking Linda too!

You could just give it a try and if it doesn't work out, hand in your notice, lol.