To ask for your help with my dilemma

[Toughtips]

So the question: do I leave my maternity cover post which could lead to a permanent position for another job I've been offered?

Backstory : currently work two days a week, Fri and Sat as a Bridal consultant covering for a maternity leave. Nothing set in stone but if it gets busier I could be taken on after that but it's never going to be more than 3 days really.

Alternative option, Mon to Fri 10am til 2:20 in an office in a call center. Get my weekend back and is ideal for when kids are in school.

I just don't know I'm a bit torn. I've got an induction Monday so I'll see how I get on with that but still confused about what to do for best.

We don't rely on my income but I have become accustomed to having my income too.

Option two sounds great to fit around school hours!! If you can cope with a call centre.

How much do they pay? What will your travel etc expenses be? How much do you enjoy the bridal work? Is the call Centre sales/customer service?

What would make you happiest?

Which one has the most progression?

Could you not do both given neither has many hours?

See how induction goes and if you can speak to others who work there and get a feel of the place then decide. Good luck

If you don’t have to rely on your income, I’d go with the job I would enjoy more. Option 1 for me.

Option 1 for me too

So option one is a 20 min drive and I have to pay to park. Progression is quite vague at the minute as I've asked recently. Enjoy the team though. Very sales focused environment but a nice one.

Option 2 is a five min drive from me. Its not sales but is generating leads to book appointments for a home improvements company. Free parking as more money.

Dilemma is: if I knew for certain that there was a permenant position for me with option one I'd stay. Id always need to work a Saturday but due to the environment that doesn't bother me.

Option 2 is ideal for the hours, opportunities to progress etc

Honestly, working in a call centre is soul destroying, I worked in one for years nd used to cry going in to work. Stick with option one!

Thanks. It's just the concern that option one might all be over in December you see

Might it be worth talking to option one? Seeing if they can bring forward a decision about keeping you?

In your situation it'd be hands down option 1 for me, having done a job that sounds exactly like your option 2 before. TBH there is such high staff turnover in that line of work you could probably get back in touch with them in December and pick up work with them pretty quickly if option 1 position doesn't get extended.

Have you ever worked in a call centre before?

No I haven't. I've worked in customer service. The role is a scripted call from a database of customers who have opted in to receive marketing calls so it's cold calling to generate leads. I think the main thing that appeals is the hours to be honest. I'm just worried I'll not have a job come December at the bridal shop so worrying. I don't rely on my money to pay any major bills but I really don't enjoy being a full time sahm

Option two sounds like hell on Earth.

This is why I need your help guys! I'm a bit blind to call center work. I didn't realise it was cold calling until I went to interview as the application suggested it was call center operative but sounded more customer service based.

I would do a few trial shifts at the call centre if you can, just to see if you can hack it. I did it once and lasted three days. It was utterly soul destroying.

If you like the Bridal shop work with a nice team and happy friendly brides then you'll the hate impersonal cold calling where most people will hang up on you, ask you to remove them from the database or abuse you down the phone

Stick with option 1

I’d do the induction day

And even a few shifts. If it’s not for you then chuck it in the fuck it bucket.

Do NOT go for option 2!!! I've done that and it is SOUL DESTROYING!

Is it a call centre operator post? If it is, would that make you happy/could you cope with it 5 days a week? Call centre jobs are never easy. I would definitely factor that in if it was my decision.

I worked in a call centre for Sainsbury’s, customer service. I was supposed to be Logging calls and trying to problem solve but often under pressure just to log calls. Just logging calls by the hour under pressure to compete with others was both boring and stressful. It was noted when you went to the toilet and it wasn’t a nice atmosphere. I lasted about 9 months. As someone previously mentioned call centre jobs are pretty easy to get. I think cold calling is probably more soul destroying than the job that I did. At least it was customers ringing in rather than me ringing them. I’d stick with the job you enjoy for now and look for something similar or wait and see if there’s any call centre jobs going when you know for sure what’s happening.

Maybe I just go as see on Monday what it's actually all about. I think the biggest lure for me is I can work a full Mon to Fri be there for my kids at drop off at pick up and not have to work a weekend. But I've not really thought much more into the monotony of scripted calling cold.

The only job I've ever walked out of mid-shift was a call center job! If you don't mind the Saturday work with option 1, go with that! Even if it doesn't go on longer than Dec, there might be other opportunities.