AIBU to turn down job interview - WWYD?

[Nonatron]

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?

@MorondelaFrontera do you feel better after having a dig at me? Of course I am going to question things!? I am not a robot programmed to follow the first commands I am given. I am looking to gain information, preferably from people who have been in a similar situation. How can you not see that you saying ‘well you applied for the job’ is patronising? I bloody know I did thank you. It took them over 3 months to reply to me at which point, I presumed I wasn’t a suitable candidate and moved on with my plans? Was I supposed to wait forever? Shall I put my other plans on hold for the other countless jobs that haven’t come back to me just because i applied for them?

3 months to get back to you doesn't inspire confidence that they are a well organised workplace to be honest.

@UserThenLotsOfNumbers it doesn’t does it. It’s that plus the longer commute and the lower wage. I do understand why people are saying to take the interview even if I don’t want the job, I’m just conscious of wasting their time? That sounds stupid considering they don’t give a hoot about mine clearly!

The training contract problem is real. There is much higher number of students trying to get it than there is contracts, so bear that in mind.
And have you seen the reported working hours? 😮
On a plus side, by the time you get to it, you might be offered to do SQE instead of LPC
www.lawcareers.net/Information/Features/04122018-The-Solicitors-Qualifying-Exam-everything-we-know-so-far

Is there any other career that interests you? Just so you have some back up, because it can happen that you might end up with all that extra work but no training contract. Like to many standard Law students. Check how many training contracts are offered where you live too so you know you wouldn't have to relocate too.

Nonatron
I am being honest. From what I've read, your circumstances haven't changed at all since you applied; you are still stuck in a job you hate and make you miserable and you are considering retraining which is a long-term plan, and not a quick solution.

No one asked you to wait for a company to get back to you, no one does but you have been given an opening. You haven't found something better in the meantime, you don't have any real good reason not to at least consider it

They might be contacting you because they did employ someone who didn't work out and they are using the old CVs they received - not the best idea as most candidates will have moved on by then. Or someone went off sick, or god knows what.

All I am saying is that you have nothing to lose by going the interview. If you have already decided it's a waste of your time, why asking the question in the first place.

To add, if you think the wage is too low, why did you apply in the first place, and why are you even considering it.

It's your life, your time, I am just answering.

@NinjaInFluffyPJs ok, thank you. I hadn’t realised that the training contracts was such an issue. The SQE I’ve only read briefly about so will definitely do more digging there. Thanks

The GDL is full on. You have give your life and soul to it. Think 3 year law degree crammed into one year. It's not for the faint hearted or anyone with any other commitments!

@MorondelaFrontera the wage wasn’t advertised with the job. I applied at a time when I was desperate. And as for ‘circumstances not changing’ - I had a miscarriage that almost killed me and has probably left me infertile. I’m trying to get my life on track again before I get swamped.

@googlegoals ok, it’s good to hear experience before I commit to anything. Thank you

You would also have to do the LPC, again another full on year, and training contracts are hard to get. You may end up in a paralegal position for 20k a year. As a paralegal, you are expected to stay until you are finished, never leaving the office on time otherwise it's frowned upon. Law is cut throat and not for everyone.

@googlegoals 20k a year is a step up for me at the moment. I’m not frightened of hard work, but Id rather hear about the culture etc now and go into this with my eyes open. Thank you

www.lawsociety.org.uk/law-careers/becoming-a-solicitor/entry-trends/

@ninjaInFluffyPJs ooh thank you. I have read a lot of bits from the law society and they have been really helpful.

Hi OP

I have to second PP's comments about difficulty in getting training contracts. Can I ask how old you are? It is super competitive to start with and sadly a lot of law firms will favour young grads so if you're retraining after a significant amount of time you're already at a disadvantage. That said, it's not unheard of and you'll never know if you don't give it a go!

So to respond to your original question ... maybe it would be worthwhile to go for the job so that you have both your bases covered if things don't work out solicitor wise (and you can always look for another job if you do decide to go for it and find you don't have time to study). At a minimum at least go to the interview while you consider your options a bit more.

Perhaps you could also consider a career change in a different direction (one that doesn't take 3 years of outlay work) in the meantime as well?

Good luck!

@CactusKitty I’m 25, so I hope the law world don’t see me as over the hill just yet

Im having a bit of a brain block when it comes to career change unfortunately. Im not sure what I want to do that’ll be a good long term choice as I don’t want to see myself jumping around from job to job all the time and being unhappy.

I teach a hypnobirthing antenatal class alongside my job just to earn abit of extra cash here and there but I don’t see it turning into anything with a path you know.

Op do you have enough money saved for LPC? Compnaies do often pay for it when you secure training contract with them, but in case it takes you longer to get one, you will have to pay for it

@ninjainfluffypjs I’ve got the money saved for the GDL but only part of the LPC. I was hoping to try and do the GDL part time to maybe spread the cost and also earn to top up the LPC money. Although I hadn’t realised how much of an issue there was with the training contracts etc, my thought was that I would have to pay for the LPC myself.

Don't stay at the job you hate. Full top. You worth more and life doesn't need to be so hard. Your quality of life will get so much better even with a change of location and a little salary drop. Take it from there. Give yourself some time to recover first

@NavyBerry thank you for saying that working on the recovery! DP keeps telling me that I’m too impatient with myself if I’m unwell... he’s right (for a change! Lol)

Think about using both jobs as leverage for more money... if the new job want you, tell them what you would consider as a fair rate. If the old job want to keep you tell them that they would have to pay X to retain you for Y period.

I know someone who retrained as a solicitor and got a job in a city practice. It does happen.

This job sounds a bit hokey. Is there an option 3? Another job while you retrain?

@OldBean2 that’s a brilliant idea, I hadn’t thought of that, thank you.

@rhiwrites it’s nice to hear some optimism, thank you. I won’t lie to you, I haven’t got back on the jobs hunt since the miscarriage so I don’t have an option 3 at the moment (although, I’m going to go and look for one )