AIBU to ask which job?

[UnderOverUnderRover]

I've not been offered either role yet, just going through the interview stage and wondering which job you'd accept if offered.

Role 1 - global company, niche industry that is hard to crack but is my background, perm, no scope to progress but senior enough to be challenging for a while. 45 mins - 1 hour drive from home. Can work remotely 2 days per week.

Role 2 - Government, more generalised, 3 month contract with strong probability of going perm, huge scope to 'own' role and lead direction, 20 minute drive from home, ability to work 2 days a week from home.

Both roles are paying around the same. I've been contracting for a while so fine to have breaks in between. Ideal role would be global company close to home working part time, but know I'm dreaming there!

Role 2

Definitely 2. 1 sounds like it could be a fast burner and if you don't crack it it could end quickly

As you’ve got a consultancy background, 2, because even if it doesn’t go perm you’ve got backup.

Your quality of life will be so much better.

2

1 - sounds like it would have more immediate career benefits and kudos, short term pain (on the commute) for long term gain

2

2 seems to be the winner, which is what I'm leaning towards.

underthebridgedowntown I am swayed by the fact the company is well known and would look good on my cv but I've got a couple of those already and I've done the long commute for those roles.

What kind of government? After my experience with local government there aren’t enough incentives in the world to induce me to go back.

If you’re used to the culture then great but be prepared if it’s new to you.

It's local government but I'm in Aus. I've never worked in government before, what's your take on it?

I'm in Oz, too. No direct experience but base my comments on DB. He has worked in various roles both on the tools (so to speak) and in planning/management.

He has found that private industry and government do have different outlooks, procedures, methods. Tenders are often written requiring familiarity with government department procedures.

If you think you have the required ticks in one direction, a three month contract may well stand you in good stead of at least getting the basic government language onto your cv. And then there is the possibility of getting that experience into something quite substantial, perhaps.

Don't know about Oz but here I would consider working in a governmental role too bureaucratic. Claustrophobic and not creative.

I think it would depend on my personal circumstances. Global corps tend to want blood but pay better, move faster, spend more etc so pre kids in would have gone for the global Corp. Now with drops off and pick ups and not wanting to do long commutes and hours I'd go for the gov role.

I want to add this caveat: I’m s big lefty: I love and value public services, think they do a vital job and agree they’re massively underfunded.

However, my 8 months working for one in the U.K. was miserable. I was robbed of any agency, stopped from using my initiative, had zero to do most days. It was utterly soul destroying.

There were lots of people talking about how busy they were and had literally zero stress.

It really upset me and I’d never go back.

Thanks everyone, some food for thought here.

I'm so very tempted by the short commute, and even the fact it's temp so there's an easy 'get out' if I need it.