What's the best thing to do?

[MumsOnCrack]

I've been on mat leave and now have two potential jobs on offer (excluding my old job which I don't want to return to)

Job A - my old job is full time, office based and two hrs driving each way which I really don't want to do now. I wouldn't even be back in time to collect DD from nursery. Job includes a car.

Job B - with the same company, home based, same money but travelling to see customers 60+ miles away. I can organise my own diary to suit. Job includes a car. Not a step up, more of a sideways move into something I'm not that interested in.

Job C - potentially +£20k and shorter commute than job A. No car. Much, much more interesting and career developing and a real step up but with an employer who is new to me and I would need to leave at 4pm twice a week to collect DD on time.

Probably more of a WWYD. I'm in the final stages of job B and job C and could potentially be offered both. I know the decision could be made for me, I.e. I may be offered none of them, but WWYD?

Thanks in advance - it's going round and round in my head!

If I'm really honest, I would go with B. Before having a baby I would have gone with C of course buy for lots of reasons, it sounds like B would suit home life more. And it's with a current employer so that's a bonus.

The career step up with C sounds awesome but speaking from experience, I haven't got the will/headspace to have a step up in career so soon after having DD. (Obviously just my experience, not saying everyone is the same)

Thank you - I'm swinging from one to the other! Anyone else have a view?

C

B will be a PITA to organise childcare pick ups when you have inconsistent diary. You say 'you' can organise it to suit but actually he costimers will drive it.

So do I just make it very clear (if offered) that I can't be in the office after 4pm two days a week? I'm just not sure how they'll react!

Personally I'd go for job C. It's a LOT more money, potentially career-developing, and more interesting - so hopefully more enjoyable for you!

BUT I don't have any children (yet) so I have no experience of trying to juggle career and family life. And it might be a bit of an unknown quantity in terms of how supportive and flexible they'd be. But it just seems like such a shame to reject so much more money, progression and stimulation!

@pigface1 - I've never worked with children either so I'm kind of guessing how it'll work out!!

C sounds like a better deal, provide they can agree to the early finishes, but if it's with a new employer will you have to pay back maternity pay from job A?

So do I just make it very clear (if offered) that I can't be in the office after 4pm two days a week? I'm just not sure how they'll react!

If you don't make it clear, you're stuffed.
If they react badly, don't take the job.

Personally, I'd go for B, get used to being a working mum, then think about whether I wanted to make a change.

C.

Be prepared to have a workaround for you needing to leave at 4 - you'll come in early or make it up later or something.

B or C, and definitely NOT A.

Thanks @Aquamarine1029 I feel like I'm either desperate for either and then can't decide or just even happy if one of them results in an offer....

Absolutely C. But explain exactly how you will arrange your work to mitigate any problems from you leaving at 4pm two days per week. Good luck! Job A would be horrible - it sounds a very long day to be away from your baby.

If you get C you could pay for additional child care to cover the '2 days not in office after 4' thing.

Say that's £10k after tax. That's a fair amount of additional child care.

I'm checking about paying back maternity pay and have the final interview for C today. We shall see...thanks everyone for your views.