To ask for some help in making this decision?

[woopdiedoo]

This probably isn't the right place for this but I'm going round in circles.

I am currently at SAHM but volunteer a couple of mornings a week. There might be the opportunity coming up to do the same job (which I love doing) full time for £15000 a year. I have looked into it and used the tax credits calculator and after tax and childcare (will need a full time nursery place and before and after school club) we will actually be worse off than we are now (which seems bizarre to me).

I don't want this to be a SAHM v WOHM thread but I am genuinely torn about what to do. I will basically be working to put my youngest in nursery full time. I have no issues with working, that was always the plan, but ideally didn't want to do it until youngest qualifies for 3 year funding and even then, I would have preferred part time.

But in the same token, I realise that times are tough and I would be lucky to be able to do a job that I enjoy and don't feel like I can turn down the opportunity. The job will only be for a year and is not the sort if thing yiu can progress in but it will fill the large gap currently in my cv while being a SAHM.

What would you do in this situation? TIA

If the job is only going to be for a year with no progression and you'd basically be working for nothing, I'm not sure I'd take it.

Go for it. It's not just about the money.
It will expand your horizons, put a solid year on your CV and give your child some social interaction as well.

How old is your youngest? I think it would depend on that, and how long you'd be paying full whack for childcare.

Have you worked out how much better off you would be if you take the childcare vouchers into consideration? They make such a difference. Also, does your employers offer the voucher scheme?

For a permanent post - yes but not if there is no chance - a year of working for nothing?

Just realised it's only for a year. I wouldn't do it.

no i wouldnt do it, its not the hours you want and its not long term, so no point.

Not for a year, unless there were good prospects after that of something better.

If the OP is looking at career progression and filling in the CV then the one year contract isn't important. She'll be looking to move on anyway.
"It's always easier to get a job when you have one" - and that's true.

Another who says that it's not worth it unless it is permanent. It's basically like doing an internship...you'd be living on the hope that the experience would open doors at other companies though.

Thanks for the replies. I guess the biggest benefit would be experience to use to get the next job.

I still don't know the full details of the job because if there is the chance to reduce childcare by doing evenings and weekends then that would be more worthwhile. I haven't looked at what childminders would cost either but that might make a difference.

My youngest is nearly 2 so a while off school yet and 3 year funding will not cover full time hours.

DP thinks I should go for it but the childcare/tax credits issue has taken the wind right out of my sails .

I wouldn't do it. There wouldn't be enough 'in it' for me to make it worth putting a child into nursery when I hadn't planned to & didn't want to.

I would consider it if it would...

• Pay me massively well to improve the whole family's lifestyle

or

• Be an ongoing job which I really, really wanted

or

• Offer progression (unless it was THE perfect job I'd never want to 'move up' from)

Putting the youngest in nursery and getting wrap around care for the eldest/others just to fill a small gap on my CV would be a 'Thanks but no thanks'.

x-posted...

What would you be doing in the new position that you aren't doing now?

Evenings & weekends - once again I'd need the 'gain' to be big to make it worthwhile losing that time together.

If you haven't looked into the cost of childcare, what are you basing this > 'we'd be worse off financially' on?

Why does DP think you should go for it?

There is also the issue with the training as I will have to travel to complete it and DP will have to use his holidays to do it.

I'm just worried that when it's time to find a job when we don't need childcare that I will struggle to find anything worthwhile.

This situation seems crazy to me but I guess one that many many parents face all the time.

I've based the childcare costs on what I know a full time nursery costs (£40 a day?) and estimating wrap around care for older DCs. I haven't looked at what childminders cost.

The job role is identicle but without wanting to out myself by saying what is is that I do, I feels really ineffective only doing it a couple of mornings a week. It's basically 'helping people' so high job satisfaction.

DP thinks it could lead to better things so he thinks I should go for it even though we'll be taking a hot financially and he doesn't understand the wrench if leaving the DCs without any financial incentive.

Oops, sorry for typos.

How about asking for a job share?

Another lady I volunteer with has already asked for this but apparently they can't do it. Not sure why but most likely due to the cost if training.

Why is it only for one year?

It feels ineffective doing it part time but The role is identical is the difference on paper going to make a big enough impact on your CV for the sacrifice you would need to make?

Why do you need so much/such expensive training to be paid to do what you are doing voluntarily now? Seems a bit odd... especially if the training cost is one reason they don't want a job share.

I wouldn't. If it could lead to bigger, brighter things, or was better paid, maybe. But as you describe, no.

Have you even thought about the additional costs of school holiday childcare etc?

It is a national organisation that is recruiting for year. I believe the long term plan is that private organisations might want to recruit is after this time to utilise our skills and they would pay the salary. But this is in no way guaranteed.

I volunteer through another organisation who have bought in the same training so the role will be the same.

If I was doing it full time then I could make a bigger impact and have more to put in my cv whilst also showing 'willingness to work' but I have been out if the job market for a while and feel I have lost touch with what employers are looking for - especially now.

It's a very personal choice. I went back to work for a job that basically covered my childcare costs because I knew that the gap on my CV would just get bigger and bigger. It lead onto bigger and better things and I've never regretted it.

All that said, you're doing voluntary work just now and you could include that on your CV in the future so you wouldn't have the gap I did. If you did go for it, you've got a 2 year old, you should be able to ask for flexible working and your employer would be obliged to consider it - not sure if you have to wait until you're in a job or not (ACAS should be able to advise you).

Welsh, no I hadn't thought about that. It's really not looking doable right now.

I would go for it - to reject a position because it 'might' not be exactly to what you want is very shortsighted and may progress to grow into a better position. You have not really lost - if it doesn't work out there is no harm in resigning.

Thank you Bertie. It's good to hear of a positive experience. If I went for it then I am hoping it could lead on to better things.

First of all check your sums.
Have to say my gut feel is to go for it - a year's paid experience is not to be sniffed at, the job may lead to another job with the same company, and even if it doesn't will put you "ahead" of the people that haven't worked in this area when looking for the next job. Plus you may find when you're in that you have some flexibility with hours (depends on the job evidently).