Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to turn down job offer?!

59 replies

stresshead84 · 11/10/2017 22:59

School A have offered me a job. Independent, great kids, 34 weeks per year, 8-1.30 M-F. 8 miles from home, but after dropping DS4 to School B and DS2 to Nursery C, it’s more like 11 miles and includes going back past own door. DS4 would need breakfast club 7.30 - 9. DS2 would need nursery 8-2 (right next to school A)

But...

School B has just advertised a job 9-3 M-F, state, also great kids. I’m more than able to meet criteria (sounds big headed, but I have worked with deputy head briefly on supply a year or two ago, and I know she’ll be asked). DS4 could go to breakfast club for 15 mins and straight home. DS2 would need nursery (at Nursery D on way to/from School B) 8-4.

Not bothered which nursery DS2 goes to. Both fine for 2 terms. He will go to School B in September.

Key points:

School A pays about £100 more per month, 5 weeks extra hols. School B pay leaves us with no space in budget, only just doable.

School A is maternity leave, likely to go permanent. School B is permanent job.

Next year DS2 will be too young for breakfast club so will need new childcare arrangement. If I’m working at School B, easy to sort. If I’m at School A then more tricky.

Do I go with head, School A, or heart, School B?!

OP posts:
TheBadTemperedLadybird · 11/10/2017 23:03

B

caffelatte100 · 11/10/2017 23:03

School A, it's less hours, more holidays and more pay. For a teacher with a family I would say that this offers much better balance. I wouldn't hesitate...

Original poster
stresshead84 · 11/10/2017 23:07

Sorry for the essay.

No family around to help with drop offs etc. Partner out of the equation as he leaves way too early and gets home late.

OP posts:
AtHomeDadGlos · 11/10/2017 23:13

School A because you may get some sort of discount on fees and that could solve some of the nursery issues you’re facing.

madwomanacrosstheroad · 11/10/2017 23:21

School b as permanent

Apple23 · 11/10/2017 23:21

School A. A bird in the hand...

user1471441955 · 11/10/2017 23:23

A

GreenTulips · 11/10/2017 23:24

Well at the minuet you only have one job offer the other is advertised

You could end up with nothing

HouseworkIsAPain · 11/10/2017 23:26

5 weeks extra holiday is loads. School A

Breadwithgarlicon · 11/10/2017 23:29

Tricky. I think the shorter hours, more money and loads more hols would swing it for me. It might mean more travelling but it's still your time.

BlueSapp · 12/10/2017 00:11

Take a interview for b if offered and decide once you can see the jobs in person, what the board is like what the other staff are like it would be a better indication of which you’d really prefer

notangelinajolie · 12/10/2017 00:12

A

NikiBabe · 12/10/2017 00:15

There is no either or here you don't have an offer from B. You havent applied yet.

Are you seriously going to decline A, hope you get B and end up with no job?

A has more money and holidays.

MumsGoneToIceland · 12/10/2017 06:10

School A:

  • it's the only offer on the table atm
  • will give a better quality of life (more pay and more hols)
  • DS2 gets shorter nursery hours
  • Ds2 temporary childcare could be sorted with a CM and could be used for both children (personally prefer cm setting to bf clubs)
Percephone · 12/10/2017 06:39

What will you do if someone else is appointed to B and you didn't accept A?

CinderellaRockefeller · 12/10/2017 06:54

Accept A, interview for B. If you get B then make the decision.

LivingInLaLaLand · 12/10/2017 06:59

School B HT won't be asked about as it's against rules for them not to disclose that they know you & therefore duck out of having an opinion in a recruiting situation.

Go with your gut & what works best for you practically

Sandsunsea · 12/10/2017 07:02

A

Original poster
stresshead84 · 12/10/2017 07:50

Deputy head won’t be involved in shortlisting/interview etc.

If I didn’t end up with either job, I’d continue doing supply.

I think the problem is that I know School A is the best option now, but School B is better long term.

No chance of DSs going to nursery/school/reduced fees at School A.

OP posts:
BeerBaby · 12/10/2017 07:59

Have you been offered both jobs? If not you take the one that's offered while trying for the other one! Nothing in the jobs market is guaranteed op. You could very realistically end up with nothing.

Civilservant · 12/10/2017 08:03

My only reservation about job A is that it’s temporary.

Are you a single parent? If not, why can’t your DP do some morning drop offs?

Original poster
stresshead84 · 12/10/2017 08:03

Surely if I accept School A’s job, sign contract with 2 month notice period, I’m tied in then?

OP posts:
Civilservant · 12/10/2017 08:04

They may well not hold you to it, but you’d be burning your bridges.

A bird in the hand...

Witsender · 12/10/2017 08:06

A

Original poster
stresshead84 · 12/10/2017 08:07

DP leaves before 7, breakfast club doesn’t open until 7.30, and nursery not until 8. It’s not that he won’t, he can’t. He understands that my salary has had to drop due to me taking on all responsibility. He has taken on a few extra hours at work to help.

OP posts: