to leave my job as I have screwed up big time or stay and put it right?

[Elephant14]

Yet another name change as the disasters in my life are coming thick and fast. In October, desperate for money, I took a salaried job which was meant to be 2 days a week, quite a long drive away (25+ miles each way). Ended up doing 4 hours in the office 2 days a week, meaning I still had to do a full day at home, plus all the driving. I didn't have 3 days of time to "sell" if you see what I mean as I have 2 other part time jobs as well.

I enjoyed being in the office, most people were very nice, but the journey is terrible, I haven't worked in an office for 10 years so found time management difficult, and I began to make a mess of things - the job is sort of sales related, they rely on me for income. I have earned them nothing in 3 months which is unheard of in my industry. I am very experienced in my field and I had glowing references (have never fucked up before) so my new employers never queried or asked how things were going, I suppose they kept thinking there would be some income soon, next week, maybe next week and so on. I was sometimes falling asleep at my desk (and sometimes nearly at the wheel), trying to juggle 3 jobs children sick dog that needed care during the night, H refusing to pull weight, taking kids to and from school, activities at weekends - basically what everyone else has to cope with daily. But I didn't cope and I failed to do my job during the 2 days that I was in the office.

My probation period is now up and no one has said a word. I think I need to come clean. Its a small company, recruitment is expensive and time consuming for them, plus if I leave and they have to train someone it will be another 3+ months wasted for them. I feel I have let them down big time. So, should I hang on, offer to try to sort things out (if they will accept that offer), or should I leave with my statutory 1 weeks notice. Long term I can't stay, the journey is untenable, I like the people I sit with but not the company itself. Short term, am I making things worse by hanging on to "help", bearing in mind the losses I will have already caused?

Depending on the product you're selling I don't know that it is unreasonable not to have earned anything yet provided that you're setting up a pipeline and preparing the ground for sales to come. Presumably they are checking figures every month and have some idea of what it is reasonable to expect to achieve.

FWIW I don't agree that an hour long commute is nothing - some people can manage a long drive twice a day and some can't. I really hate sitting in traffic so I feel your pain. (I slightly question how often your one hour drive actually becomes a two and a half hour drive though).

It sounds to me like the problem is you're massively overstretched. I once had four part time jobs and doing all of them well is very very hard. I think you need to do less.

Sales are hard, and it depends on what you're selling. Not to mention, they started you close to the holidays when companies are just starting their new fiscal year where they're deciding budget, but before tax returns/breaks. You might have better luck in Jan-Feb just because of time of year. I make the most money in contracts typically between Feb - May when everyone has a sudden amount of money in a large lump sum. I'd stick it out for another month and examine why you're not selling.

As for commute, if you're falling asleep at the desk, that's not good. I've had longer commutes to work and it was fine, but I also worked 8+ hours a day so the ride in was worth it and I had a half hour to safely faff around before I started real work.

Surely the distance and time of the commute depends on how much the salary is, OP doesn't mention pay but it wouldn't be worth it in a low paid job. Sales can be any range of pay from minimum wage upwards.

Can you sort out after school care for your children on the days you work there? That would ease your commute home and reduce your overall stress on those days.

I think the problem is that you have 3 jobs, not that you have this one. Which of the three has the most long term potential ie stability, income, career progression (the kids won't always be young and if your DH is the issue that he sounds to be, you may need the income more than ever long-term). Pick two if you must and stick with it. It could be this one you need to focus on ( the commute isn't bad, to be honest) and if it is more regular or not part of juggling other things may be easier. Also make all your plans and arrangements without your DH as part of them so you know you can manage without relying on him. If he steps up, great, but if not it won't cause you any extra pain.

Hi again everyone - just to summarise I think most people are saying discuss it with employer, give it a go for a bit longer, particularly as it is a very stable job (other two are contract work, this is salaried) - but if travel can't be sorted out then its not going to work. Its 25 miles up and down a busy motorway and I am usually fighting to stay awake most of the time.

If I can get childcare sorted out I can do one long day in office and one long day at home and cover all my hours - there is a possibility this can be sorted but not until April - that just seems like a long time away at the moment.