WIBU not to take this job offer?

[FyreFly]

I'm currently working three part-time jobs (waitress, admin assistant and tour guide) and living with my parents. My contracted job as a curator, which is what I'm trained for, ran out last year, and since then I've been unable to secure anything in the museum sector. I'm desperate to get into full-time, permanent, secure work and start my life properly (I'm 25). I have been looking at other sectors too but nothing has paid off.

One of my friends works in archaeological excavation - not something I've ever done before - I work in museums, not in the field. She recommended me to her bosses and they want to offer me a 3-month trainee field contract. Although it is in the heritage sector, I have some major concerns. Firstly, it would mean the expense of relocating for 12 weeks with no guarantee of anything afterwards, leaving me with the very real chance that I'd just have to move back with my parents again. The pay is low (although that's not unusual in heritage), but would be just about livable if it wasn't for the fact that if I started mid-November, which is when I'd be able to leave current jobs due to notice period, I may not get paid until end of December at the earliest, but possibly January. This means I could be over halfway through the contract before I see any money. The jobs I'm currently in are equally poorly paid, and I have little in savings. I might be able to cover November but after that I don't know where I'd get the money from for rent or bills. The rent for the city the job is based at is ridiculous. Not London, but affluent old-university town. The areas of the business which I do have the skills to do (post-ex, analysis, archive deposition etc) I won't get anywhere near.

On the other hand, I don't want to appear ungrateful to my friend. This is the first proper job offer I've had in a year and I don't want my parents and friends to think I'm turning it down for silly reasons because it's not in the "right" sector. If it was even 6 months contract I'd jump at the chance, although the affordability of moving and living would still be a major issue. I was so happy when the initial message came through, then my heart sunk when I realised it was only three months temporary. My parents have been very kind and offered to help me with costs and living but I don't want to impose on them or take their money - they've been very generous in the past with university and letting me live with them again but I'm 25 now and I shouldn't be taking money from them (I do pay rent and my share of the bills!). But I don't want them to think I'm throwing the chance away.

I think I'm going to regret whichever decision I make. If I take it, I don't think I can afford to live and will beat myself up for it. If I don't take it, I'll look ungrateful and will beat myself up for it. On one hand, it would be lovely to have a full-time slightly-relevant job, on the other hand I think it would be a very expensive white elephant which won't really get me anywhere. WIB unreasonable not to take it?

I've had so many failed interviews for amazing jobs, but now I actually have a job offer it's one I don't think will work this whole year has been shit. I'm fed up of moving about and having to relocate every year. I'm fed up of working three jobs and still not making full-time hours. I'm fed up of living in my childhood bedroom. I just want something secure and stable that I can live off .

Take it. Take it and it may lead somewhere. You need the chance to network, add something to your and what you are doing now isn't going to land you any closer to what you want. I think you'd be mad to walk away from this.
If you're not putting your parents on the street let them help (us parents want to help). You need to stick your neck out on this.
Good luck and enjoy it!

To you CV that should say.

I would take it and, if it turns out that you need the help, accept your parents' kind offer with the proviso that you will pay them back. Parents want the best for their kids - you're not an imposition, they want you to achieve job satisfaction and this could be the way to it.

I really don't want to take any more money from my parents. I think their situation is tighter than they're letting on, and my dad has Parkinsons, so I know my mum is trying to save like mad because soon he probably won't be able to work. I know they've offered it, but they've given me a lot of financial help over the years and I feel guilty enough about that.

Take the job. Alwats better to be proactive and wrong than watch life pass by you.

The money you'd need from your parents could just be an advance though, if your wages take so long to come through. Even though not in your area it's probably more cv-relevant than the part time jobs you're doing.
I'm in my 40s and my parents (and in-laws) still give us money from time to time. You sound very independent and aren't taking advantage at all.

The trouble is, if I do take it my savings will be wiped out by the initial rent and deposit. If I assume I move mid-November, I can live off my overdraft for food and bills (and it's winter, there will be serious bills) for a little while, but by mid-December I'll be well and truly high and dry when it comes to money. Then it would be another 2 weeks before I got paid at the earliest, but if I don't get paid til the end of January, which could well happen, I need to find another months rent, bills and food.

I want to take it - I really do. But I just don't think I can afford it.

Take it - better to try it and find it isn't for than look back in a few years when you may still be working three part time jobs and regret that you didn't give it a go.

Look for a room as a lodger to keep you living costs down. Could you stay with your friend for this temporary contract?

Take it! Not what you want but in vaguely the right direction and it would look better on a CV when you apply for curating jobs than your current employment. As for somewhere to live for a few months -what about your friend? Or she could ask if there's anyone looking for a roommate?

As for accepting your parents' money, it's not great when you want to be independent but they are offering and they're probably wanting to help you move on from living with them.

You're more likely to regret not taking a chance than you would if you go for it. You might have fun (although not sure I'd want to do field archeology over the winter myself!) and it'd be something different.

If you really want to build a career then you need to start by doing relevant stuff which isn't your dream job.
Dream jobs don't happen when you start out. They happen when you've spent a decade making compromises and working hard and building contacts and a good reputation for yourself.

This job will give you all of that. And yes it's for three months but it's a foot in the door. This could be your big break. It should at the very least give you a reference from a relevant and potentially influential organisation, which in itself is something most people do not have. That will make future job applications look better.
And then there are the contacts that the people there might have. You never know who you will meet. You need to be in these circles. Do not underestimate the importance of networking.

Also, the things you think you want to do now may not be the things you actually end up doing and enjoying. Not being patronising, honest, just looking at my caree. The things I thought were a dead end were actually an amazing opportunity. I couldn't have even imagined I would end up with the great job I have today. Taking those marginal opportunities is how I got here.

I understand finances could be hard, though; can you apply for a salary advance?

If it's for a short period could you stay with your friend or sublet from anyone she knows?

Oh and - you totally owe your friend a massive thank you for putting you forward for this! So few people help their friends like this in my experience.

Do you actually want it deep down? Sometimes I feel like this when deep down I don't want something but feel I should want it. It seems like alot of expense and upheaval for something that may be in the heritage sector but not in your area when you already have work (not ideal but still steady work) and a place to live and can carry on looking for museum work which is what you seem to want to do long term if I have understood correctly. Also - might just be me - do you want to work on a dig outside in the winter?

Take it. Its in the right sort of field will be good on your CV, as others have said. Borrow off your parents and when they need the money hopefully your finances will be in the situation you can repay them.

Regarding your dad has he made personal independence payment (PIP) enquiries? Parkinsons and PIP link. I have an autistic DS and we are fortunate to get DLA still as he's under 16. PIP has come in for adults but it can make a difference with extra costs like transport if driving is becoming difficult and paying people to do those little around the house jobs like climbing ladders that become difficult when your mobility is compromised. If PIP is awarded its possible your mum could also look into getting carers if she isn't earning.

Good luck.

I'm going to go against the grain and say don't take it. Archaeological field work is shit, poorly paid and back breaking. The wages will not get better and it is unstable.
You would be better off looking to volunteer at other museums, training others and looking at positions with the National Trust.

I know it's probably not what you want to hear but maybe time for a huge career overhaul. At 25 you are young enough to retrain for a more steady job that will at least give you some long term financial security. Everything has it's price and if you are determined to work in these fields then the price you'll pay is job insecurity as they are highly competitive niche fields

You could still do these as a hobby though by doing some volunteering possibly?

I'd say take it, with academia contracts have a habit of being extended. If also second renting a room off someone. The Uni should have a staff letting a page. Where I work does and they're are a number of rooms in there all the time.

Could you supplement your income by babysitting? Can you get registered with somewhere now. Plus could any of the existing jobs transfer with you? Or since you know when you'll be there could you get a Christmas holiday job in a shop?

I'd do it and look for lodgings somewhere as that would keep costs down. There are plenty of websites which advertise rooms for rent. I'd be surprised if they made you wait so long for pay, I'd clarify this as I've always been paid on the first payday even if it's been shortly after I started.

Then also spend the 12 weeks networking and applying for other jobs in your parents' town as a back up.

Can't seem to pm you, am on a soggy phone. Might be able to help you though with some further information if you pm me.

You're 25 this is the age you should be taking chances. I was the same age when I gave up a seemingly safe career pathway, move to another city to retrained in my current profession. Then when I qualified I moved to the other side of the world for my first job and it all ended up fine. I'm of the opinion that a bit of insecurity at your age is character forming.

Take it, please take it. You don't want to be stuck in low paid jobs that get you nowhere. This one will at least give you some experience to put on your cv and may lead to a more permanent role. Plus, you might really like the work and it will open up new opportunities for you. If your parents offer you a loan, take it. You can pay them back when you get your wages, you can even pay them interest. You can work a few hours waitressing at the weekend to supplement your income for the 3 months, since you are already doing this. Just don't let this opportunity pass you by.

And also, please recognise that this particular career is one of those which has more people wanting to do it than can actually find employment, and as Bakingaddict said above, you always need to consider other options.
Therefore if you really do want to work in this field you must take every opportunity that arises even if it is only vaguely related.
Yes I work in a similarly oversubscribed field

Sorry, I'm ranting

And I agree with Mumzy also.

Take the job offer. Accept parents help with covering you for a month. Don't 'properly' relocate but get yourself a temporary room for 3 months (AirBnB, temp lodger somewhere, long term stay in a hostel).

Good luck op!

I have been trying to retrain, I've been looking at and applying to lots of other training schemes in all kinds of things, but so far I have nothing. I graduated too long ago - they want the fresh new grads, not someone who's only doing it because they don't have a choice. But in this market frankly they could only hire people with red hair or brown eyes if they want. I spent more money than I could really afford going to London over a few days for a series of interviews that an agency arranged, but nothing. My fourth job is job hunting! I can't afford to go back to university, although I would dearly love to take my PhD. I had a place at a number of universities who were interested in my project, Oxford even, but my funding was withdrawn two months before I was due to start it.

I'm not averse to relocating at all. I just need to be able to afford it. I did double check with regards to pay and it wouldn't be til end of December at the absolute earliest. They always pay a month in arrears apparently, but because I'd be coming in at a time when they're hiring new trainees and removing the old ones (this also doesn't inspire confidence in the fact I'd be able to carry on working for them when the time's up) the admin gets a bit chaotic and I probably wouldn't get paid for Nov / Dec til end of January, then paid for Jan at the end of Feb etc. If I did get paid at the end of Dec, it would only be the 2 weeks I worked in Nov, if this is making any sense?

I am looking at room shares / flat shares / lodging - I could never even begin to dream of having my own place! They are all prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately I can't stay with my friend as she's lodging herself!

I've had so many "This will be my big break" moments - my Masters, my internship, my job, my PhD offers. I've put myself out and moved myself across the country and used up all my savings many times for these "big breaks" before, and they've led nowhere. I guess I'm scared of doing it another time. I don't want a dream job, I just want something stable that will allow me to live. It's true I don't want to be stuck in a low-paid job that gets me nowhere, but this one could just be another one of those

Gerbils I will PM you, thankyou.

Mis I think they have enquired about PIP but at the moment I'm not sure he qualifies - I think he was a couple of points short? The trouble is he's going downhill month by month really, so everything's changing. He will no doubt qualify for it in the future but not at the moment I don't think.