Which job sounds better? Can't decide

[Pinkdressingown]

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?

Thirty five grand isn't enough for 55 hours plus all the travelling and most likely unpaid overtime on top.

Take the lower paid one and use the 15 hours a week extra saved from not commuting, together with the lack of travel expenses and the energy to do anything other than sleep, all to go out and do hobbies that you enjoy for your social contact.

55 hours a week for 35k. No way.

Keep looking

I have lots of NHS friends in various clinical roles and even they would draw the line at a 55 hour working week with overtime. Let alone have it as their base contracted hours! The quality of patient care would drop.

Adding to ^^, when you take into account you'll have a break during your day, you've got 60 hours actually physically in the workplace minimum, plus another 15 on the road - you'll be away from home for 75 hours for £35k.

Deduct whatever it costs to get there and back and I'm willing to bet that you'd be better off working for NMW round the corner, never mind £20k WFH.

Apologies I worked it out wrong.
55 hours in the workplace but I will have a 1 hour lunch break every day, so 50 hours actually working. Not sure if that makes a big difference.

I'm based in Wales where the wages are slightly less. 35k is actually a good salary where I am. But yes still very long hours and I will probably be exhausted after the first few weeks.

Job 2 does interest me, just wish the salary was a bit higher!

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.

55 hours a week, sometimes more, for £35k ?
Have you got that right? What kind of job requires you to work 11 hours days?

£35k for 50 hours a week? Nope.

I wouldn't be happy with £20k either though!

How do the salaries compare to what you earn now?

11 hours a day five days a week plus a long commute plus expectation to work late is ridiculous

I’d take the lower paid job with sensible hours and keep looking for something better paid

If you’re already used to the industry of job 1, why don’t you accept both jobs

Start at job 1 first, and ask for your start date for job 2 to be a month later. At least then, job 2 can always be a backup plan if job 1 is as horrendous as it sounds

Even 50 hours is a lot for £35k.

Working 50 hour weeks which includes overtime (whether paid or unpaid) is one thing - most jobs on that salary would expect a certain degree of hours over your contracted hours.
But 50 contracted hours with expected overtime must surely be a misunderstanding.

Umm ... look for Job No 3?

Apologies I worked it out wrong.
55 hours in the workplace but I will have a 1 hour lunch break every day, so 50 hours actually working. Not sure if that makes a big difference.

Doesn't really make much difference to me, I still think it's shit hours for a not very good salary.
Work out the hourly rate for proper comparison.

50 hours per week at £35k per annum works out to… £13.46 per hour

Me personally. If I could afford I would go for job 2. That's basically what I do now but for 5k more.

Job 2. New line of work to keep you interested and scope for progression

Wouldn't even consider Job 1....

Job 2 works out to £10.26 per hour

Job 1 sounds miserable.

Assuming you mean 1.5 hour round trip? So a typical day may be:
Leave at 7.15am, 45 min travel
Work 8am - 7pm
Get home 7.45pm

Every working day? Awful. You'll have no life.

I would write that off completely and decline it. Then decide between job 2 and current job.

However I'd be looking for job 3 ideally. Where in Wales are you op? Because in S Wales you can get call centre jobs for more than £20k.

Starling bank in Cardiff are always looking and they're supposed to be decent - plenty of jobs going for £25-£30k and WFH or a mix.

I'd wait and look for job 3, neither sound great.

@JohnnyEnglish

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.

Yeah but for 35k what's the point? Work 55 hours a week and be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist, sure, earn bajillions, six figure sums and buy a yacht. 35k? That's like an admin role. 55 hours a week of data entry? Subway sandwich manager?

I'm in the North OP, 35k isn't a good salary where you are, where I am, where a little old lighthousekeeper on a rock with seagulls for company is. Certainly not worth jumping from a job into. Your current job must be shockingly paid to even be considering it.

11 hour days is borderline illegal. I'm very curious as to what possible job thinks it can get away with stating that on the ad and why they think they'll get the best out of staff that way. And also why you're looking at jobs 1.5 hours away in the first place. Nonsensical.

The job at 50hrs/week would only be legal if you freely decided to opt out of the maximum hours limit of the WT regulations. I'm astonished they've offered it to you on the basis of over the 48 hour limit and wouldnt work for them.

Hell no to the 50 hours one.

I work a out 50-60 hours a week but for about 5 times that salary. Keep looking, they're taking the piss!

50 hours for £35K physically demanding job? You are still not selling it to me. You cannot even WFH and have a 1.5 h commute on top, 5 days a week?

Erm, just no.

Unless job 1 has serious upside, you'd be better off doing job 2, taking the training and working your way up.

Neither is the right job, imo.

Job 1 sounds absolutely awful, if you take the commute into consideration along with the 55 hours, you would be on £10.75 per hour, or £10.26 per hour in job 2. I’d love to know what job 1 is! Who would have the audacity to publish that job, honestly.