Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Which job sounds better? Can't decide

90 replies

Pinkdressingown · 05/08/2021 19:36

Hello.. I've been job hunting recently (I enjoy my job but fed up with the company) and have been for a few interviews. I've had two job offers which are both very different. Which one sounds better to you? I can't decide...

Job 1 - working 55 hours over 5 days a week (weekends off). 1.5 hour commute on top. I would also occasionally be required to stay on later in the evening. This job is similar to what I do now. Salary is in the range of 35k. I've done my research and they seem like a good company to work for but the job is physically demanding and I'm worried I might burnout eventually due to the long hours.

Job 2 - working from home 37.5 hours over 5 days a week (weekends off). This job is in a completely different line of work, but I would receive full training. Salary is a lot less, around 20k but there is room for progression. I'm worried I might get bored of being stuck at home all the time and miss the social aspect of going to work every day, but I might actually enjoy doing something different.

Job 1 is much better in terms of pay but the work is a lot harder, much longer hours. I wouldn't struggle on job 2's pay but it's always nice to have a bit extra isn't it. Really stuck. Advice?

OP posts:
Nurseynoodles · 05/08/2021 19:39

I thought you could be contracted to work 48 hours a week maximum?

If you can afford it then job 2, with room for progression, sounds much more manageable.

LimeSodaTwist · 05/08/2021 19:43

I wouldn’t do job 1 unless I really had no other option. Just too many contractual hours.

If you can manage on Job 2’s salary, I’d take that and possibly look for a second local / very part-time job if you want a bit more money or the social aspect of work.

CoRhona · 05/08/2021 19:47

I wouldn't do job 1 due to hours and commute but you don't sound over excited by job 2 either. Can you keep looking?

ChewChewPanda · 05/08/2021 19:49

If do job 2 too. If you think about it in terms of an hourly rate rather than just the salary (and counting the commute as working time) then financially it’s not that different and I think a 55 hour week plus a 90 minute commute is likely to take it out of you.

You could possibly do a few more hours in another role on top of job 2 if you wanted something more social and to top up the pay.

SquashMinusIsShit · 05/08/2021 19:49

No way would I work more than 37.5/39 hours per week Shock is 55 a typo?!

The salary on job 2 is low but if there's room for progression I'd give it a go.

There was a thread recently about taking a job with a big pay rise, one poster commented that when they took a busy role with a big pay rise there wasn't much financial benefit because they spent more on outsourcing keeping the house running (cleaner, meal boxes, takeaways etc)

thinkingaboutitall · 05/08/2021 19:49

I mean, these are the 2 jobs you have been given offers for but they’re not your only options. Keep applying for others.

JohnnyEnglish · 05/08/2021 19:51

How old are you? What are your commitments outside work? Which fits with your career path/can be justified on your CV? I have always worked long hours so would naturally pick job 1 but would consider the above points in making my decision. Congratulations on the job offers.

thinkingaboutitall · 05/08/2021 19:51

I think just take job 1 and use the time saved on commuting to apply for other jobs

Job 2 sounds poorly managed tbh, does anyone need to work 55 hours a week with a 90 minute commute

SwedishEdith · 05/08/2021 19:55

11 hours a day plus 1.5 hour commute! No way.

thinkingaboutitall · 05/08/2021 19:58

Wow ignore my post from 19:51. I totally got the jobs the wrong way around

Twattergy · 05/08/2021 20:00

55hrs plus 1.5 hr commute is insane. I would do that for any money.

thinkingaboutitall · 05/08/2021 20:03

Yeah, I can’t quite believe they put a 55hr working week on the job listing! The audacity.

Frenchfancy · 05/08/2021 20:05

Neither job sounds great. I would keep looking.

LuxOlente · 05/08/2021 20:06

35k for 55 hours is preposterous. What on earth can you need to do to be worked into the ground like that? 1.5 hour commute? Late evenings? Fuck that right off.

37.5 hours is nice and normal. 20k is a shit salary.

There’s got to be something in the middle? Are you just in a really odd industry that expect long hours, no life balance and peanuts pay?

00100001 · 05/08/2021 20:06

55hrs for £35k? No thanks.

FIFTY FIVE???

Unless it's a typo and you meant 35???

JohnnyEnglish · 05/08/2021 20:08

Lots of people work 12 hour shifts as standard, nurses spring to mind and nannies. Usually though it’s capped at 48 hours per week. You can opt out of the Working Time Directive though so it’s not illegal to work more than 48 hours per week.

Starjammer · 05/08/2021 20:08

Job 2 and have time to enjoy your life. 55 hours a week and a 1.5-hour commute is horrid.

KnightandDay · 05/08/2021 20:08

What's your current salary? Would you be dropping a lot on job 2?
Also, I'm in shock at a contracted 55hr week plus commute time plus possible overtime 😳

Cocomade · 05/08/2021 20:09

I could not be arsed working 55 hours with a 1.5 commute.
What's your salary now?

Starjammer · 05/08/2021 20:09

And yes, you don't have to take either of them, given you're already in a job and there isn't a pressing need to leave. If neither make you excited, then just stay where you are and keep applying.

Planty13 · 05/08/2021 20:10

I would only think about job one for closer to 60/70k and even then I shudder at the thought. I don’t think it is doable really if you want to remain any kind of life. 35k is a joke. Not a bloody chance

TooWicked · 05/08/2021 20:13

35k for 55 hours a week, is that a typo? If not that’s a shit salary for those hours, is that even minimum wage?

PinkiOcelot · 05/08/2021 20:13

55 hours a week?! No way would I go for that. Far too many hours.

Aprilx · 05/08/2021 20:13

I have had jobs where 55 hours a week is expected but it has never been contracted. That is alarming. The other job is poor salary, maybe take that one for now and keep looking.

Juancornetto · 05/08/2021 20:18

If you have 4 weeks holiday a year you'll be getting roughly the same hourly rate for both jobs if you factor the 1.5 hour daily commute into the hours for job A. Just over £11 an hour for both of them. 55 hours a week isn't very sustainable long term