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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to turn down job interview - WWYD?

48 replies

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 15:19

Long story short, I’m in a job I despise and have been for just over 4 years. It’s boring the management are patronising robots - with one being an out and out bullying harridan. This job is so awful that my mental health is on the floor and the stress of it we honestly believe it was a factor in my miscarriage

I’ve been looking for other jobs, had a couple of interviews but nothing successful. One of the jobs I applied for just didn’t get back to me at all - more on this later!
So, I thought retraining as a solicitor would be a good move and I have researched a lot of courses and such that would be suitable. My thoughts is that this would be a good long term change rather than jumping about and being unsettled. Typically, this is when I get invited to interview by that job that literally has taken 3+months to get back to me.

The job is roughly the same hours but is further away and pays slightly less. This would mean I had less time to study if I took up the courses I had lined up.
So, AIBU to turn down the interview? Should I stay in a job I hate but would make it easier for retraining so there would be an end in sight, or go for the new job and possibly not be able to retrain? WWYD?

OP posts:

Mac47 · 11/06/2019 15:42

Go to the interview. You might not even get offered it, so then it won't be an issue, but at the moment you sound like you need to get out of your current post asap, so if it is offered, it may be a good 'for now' job.
Re training - you don't really sound like your heart is in that, so may be put it on the back burner while you get yourself together and get over the crap job.

SunshineSpring · 11/06/2019 15:42

Take the interview.
Go see what the new place is like. There is no guarentee you will get the job. There is a chance you will be blown away by it. You can always decline if offered as "not the right fit".
Staying in a job you hate would be bottom of my list. I've done it. Its horrific.

ShartGoblin · 11/06/2019 15:44

I would go to the interview and see how the environment makes you feel. You are under no obligation to take the job just because you have interviewed for it. You might go there and the people may be so lovely that the inconvenience is worth it for your own mental health or you might find it's nothing special and you might as well keep looking & prioritise studying.

MorondelaFrontera · 11/06/2019 15:46

Take the interview.

You might not get the job anyway, or you might hate the place, you might love it. You might love it, be offered the job, and negotiate some flexible hour arrangement giving you some time to study.

It's easier to study if you are not wiped out by a job you hate but do full time.

Mia1415 · 11/06/2019 16:04

Go for the interview. You might love or hate the company, but you have absolutely nothing to loose by going. You can then make a more informed decision.

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 16:17

Go for the interview even though I can’t see any sort of career path from it and it’s less in wage?

Re the training, I don’t mind training again if I can see a goal in sight and at least solicitors usually have fairly good career longevity? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick again there’s just so much I don’t know with the legal world and it’s hard to get to grips with

OP posts:

Singlenotsingle · 11/06/2019 16:21

Legal work is boring, stressful, hard work, and long hours and rubbish pay (unless you have a brilliant degree, contacts and charisma).

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 16:25

Can’t be more rubbish than the pay I’m on now

I’m not frightened of hard work or something to get my teeth stuck into. My current job is an internal IT helpdesk and it is honestly grinding me down.

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Singlenotsingle · 11/06/2019 16:29

Ok, so it's a 3 year degree, followed by a one year Legal Practice course then a 2 year training contract ,(if you can persuade a firm to take you on. A lot of people can't).

QuestionableMouse · 11/06/2019 16:37

It's not worth retraining as a solicitor imo. Have a friend halfway through the degree and she's seriously looking at her options because it's very much a boy's club and who you know too. Plus you're looking at 5+ years before you're even able to start working.

What skills do you have? Take a look at jobs in your area and see what you could do skills wise.

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 16:38

I already have a degree in history. I would do a graduate degree in law to ‘convert’ this to a law degree and then the LPC on top. 2 years full time work. Not 5 as I wouldn’t be doing a second degree

OP posts:

DGRossetti · 11/06/2019 16:43

I'd always attend any interview I could - (DW introduced me to the idea of doing it as a hobby).

It keeps you sharp, helps build confidence (if you need it, my only problem is talking far too much ) - and you never know, you might get one of those wanky questions you can bat out of the park for the interview for your dream job ....

If you were a vegetable, would you go better in a stew or a salad ?

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 16:45

I do need the interview practice to be fair. I’m one of those people that does well on the written applications and then just ok in the interview. Nerves just take over

OP posts:

AskMeHow · 11/06/2019 16:53

I know two people who did a graduate LPC and neither managed to get a training contract at the end of their study. There's the very real possibility that your will spend years training and have no job at the end of it.

CheshireSplat · 11/06/2019 17:00

OP, I converted my degree in history in my late 20s. I did it distance learning so I wasn't jacking in my job (also IT!). It took 2 years and was v hard. I then did the LPC full time.

It's expensive, time-consuming and there's no guarantee you'll get a training contract.

I did and love my job - senior in-house with a nice amount of international travel. 😀. PM me if you want any advice.

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 17:02

That’s true of all training courses though surely? Like I say, I have a degree. My job has literally zero to do with my degree and I am the highest (academically) qualified person on my team - including the managers. Surely vocational training is a start onto something new and better?

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Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 17:02

@CheshireSplat ooh, I’ll definitely be in touch. Thank you so much

OP posts:

MorondelaFrontera · 11/06/2019 17:15

Go for the interview even though I can’t see any sort of career path from it and it’s less in wage?

you are the one who applied for it!

You are also the one stuck in a job you hate. It might be less in wage, but only you will know how much less, if you can live on it or will really struggle, if the hours are similar and give you more time to study or same + more commute.

I would go, at least if you hate the place you might think that your current job is not that bad.

Chesntoots · 11/06/2019 17:17

I am retraining doing a law degree, but I am doing my LPC part time and will take a career break for my training contract as I am fully aware that there is a massive possibility I won't get a job straight after!

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 17:22

@chesntoots ok, I hadn’t thought of taking a career break and training. That way even if I don’t go straight into another job as I’d like I could go back into my organisation in a different role - thank you

@MorondelaFrontera I applied for it when I hadn’t even realised that retraining in this form was a option to me so there is no need to be condescending.

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user1486915549 · 11/06/2019 17:22

Neither of my friends who did law degrees could get training contracts. A common problem I think .

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 17:33

@user1486915549 ok thank you, definitely useful to keep in mind

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UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 11/06/2019 17:37

Sorry to hear about your miscarriage
You are in a v similar situation to me.
I say go to the interview, for the interview experience if nothing else, especially if you've not had an interview for a few years. You don't have to take the job if offered, but equally you might really like it. It's worth a shot.

MorondelaFrontera · 11/06/2019 17:38

Nonatron
you might want to tone your attitude if you do go to the interview. You are the one who asked a question and then question the first replies given to you.
No one is trying to trick you here, so far I have only read good advice.

Original poster

Nonatron · 11/06/2019 17:39

@UserThenLotsOfNumbers thank you, that’s great advise

OP posts:

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