What should I do about job? WWYD?

[Dilemma1112]

Currently unemployed.

Applied for a job. 10 hours a week. Min Wage. Really wanted it. Got a call to say I was unsuccessful but they offered me essentially an assistant role to the role I applied for, a position they created seemingly just for me. But only 5 hours a week. They also offered once things start opening up again properply, to train me in another role within the company. The role they have offered to train me for eventually, although I didn't realise until researching it, but it doesn't seem to be a step up, it's min wage and also appears to be seasonal and sale orientated but with a fancy job title. Seasonal and sales is my idea of hell. The 5 hours a week assistant role they've offered me really isn't enough hours for me although they have said they'd like to try and get me doing more when possible but can only contract 5 hours so no actual guarantee of extra. I also have childcare issues so we need to know enough in advance about extra hours etc. But they do seem really keen on having me onboard.

I also have another opportunity which is essentially self employed and I'm meeting a potential client tomorrow that would offer me three hours of work for 10 an hour. With this option I can set my own rates, decide when I can and can't work. But besides this initial client, there's no guarantee I could even get more clients. For context, this one client could earn me £120 a month, and the other job would be £188 a month. So not a lot in it. And I do think the chances of at least finding one more client would be doable to boost that £120.

I did consider taking on both jobs but with childcare issues, I can really only commit to one. So the assistant role or the self employed role?

Which one would you pick? Really don't know what to do!

There is a lot in it when one will earn you 50% more a month.

I would say a definite job is better than a maybe job.

There's an element of extra unpaid admin associated with most self employed jobs, so don't forget to factor that in.

Why can’t you do both. It is only eight hours a week and you had applied for a job doing ten hours a week.

Agree with Aprilx.

You mention childcare so as you have children and seems like you want/need to work, then for me a stable job with more pay would win.

@Aprilx

Why can’t you do both. It is only eight hours a week and you had applied for a job doing ten hours a week.

I can't do both. The orginal 10 hours a week was to be a Mon and Fri, 5 hours each day, which was fine, I could sort childcare for that. The new 5 hour a week job could be either Mon and Fri for 2.5 hours each or ot could just be 5 hours on a Mon or 5 on a Fri or it could even be 5 Mon and Fri depending on how busy it is and if they need me extra. That makes it difficult for me to sort childcare. And expensive as I could end up paying for hours I don't need. And then on top of that, if I did the other job, I'd also need to arrange childcare on another day of the week.

Name change fail. Ah well. Was going to say also, if I'm having pay out childcare in that situation of both jobs, it would make the wages from at least one of the jobs basically redundant.

Have you explained childcare to them?

@bonfireheart

Have you explained childcare to them?

No I havent but I am meeting with them tomorrow to clarify some more details so I'll mention it then.

@Aracanum

Name change fail. Ah well. Was going to say also, if I'm having pay out childcare in that situation of both jobs, it would make the wages from at least one of the jobs basically redundant.

In your first post you said you could pick what hours you worked in the second job, hence my suggestion that you could do both.

The 5 hour job sounds messy and not worth your while. Factor in the time getting dressed and going there and back, sorting childcare. I would pursue the self-employed option and try to get a 2nd client. Make sure you get National Insurance credit, even if under the NI threshold.
Good luck! 💐

I would definitely work out a way to do both. It's only 8 hours. First off, don't just mention it tomorrow- tell them what's possible for you in order to accept the job. Employers know that most people need to fix their childcare and can't chop and change each week. You said they want you, so let's see if they do. It's all
Part of the negotiation process when being offered a role. It doesn't seem like a big ask but obviously I don't know yet details of the job. Don't apologise for it, just tell them you applied for the other role because the hours worked for you so this job needs to do the same. Option 2 (if they won't fix your hours and you still want the job) , work those 3 hours in the evening. It's not many hours spread essentially across 7 evenings. Or during nap time on the days you're not working/weekends? An hour a day? Do you have a partner? They should be doing enough childcare in order that you can carve out 3 hours a week to work.

@DianaT1969

The 5 hour job sounds messy and not worth your while. Factor in the time getting dressed and going there and back, sorting childcare. I would pursue the self-employed option and try to get a 2nd client. Make sure you get National Insurance credit, even if under the NI threshold. Good luck! 💐

Can I just say, while you've got a child under the age of 12 you get automatic NI credit as long as you are the one registered to receive child benefit, so you don't need to worry about NI credit from employment or self-employment just at the moment.

I'm inclined to agree with other posters that you should be clear with the potential employer that you need fixed hours to arrange childcare or you can't do it. If they start blustering then you'll know they just want to take advantage of you and you're well out of it.

If you can get them to commit to a fixed time slot then I'd take it and continue to try to build up your self-employment. Early morning or late evening or nap time work, whatever fits in, until you get more clients or otherwise can be more sure of your income from it, at which point you may be able to justify additional childcare.

Agree about the admin time associated with self-employment (I do 8 hours a week on paper, but thinking and planning time definitely quite a bit extra!) - don't sell yourself short. Depending on the nature of the work, maybe make it clear with this first client that you are proposing an introductory rate until you have proved yourself, thus leaving the door open to increase it down the line when you know how much time the work actually requires of you.

Good luck getting the right solution and everything in place to make it work!