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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Which job option would you choose?

70 replies

kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:15

I have two potential options to choose from Job wise. I can't decide. Which would you choose? I have a three year old DS and a DH.

OPTION ONE:
6am - 8am Six Days a Week
Uni 3 Days a Week Term Time 11am - 3pm
Take Home: £1206

  • Potential to earn an additional £219.12 a Month working an Extra 6 Hours a Week which would make Take Home £1425

Positives:
School Holidays off with DS apart from Morning job until 8am. Maybe 9am if doing additional Hours. But Whole Day free from 9am.
Mondays and Fridays off from Uni.
Time with DS. Time at Home.
Eventually opportunities to earn more after doing and have a career after Uni.

Negatives:
Extra Hours not guaranteed.
Will only qualify for 30 Hours Nursery if doing the extra hours. Otherwise only get 15 hours Nursery.
Waking up at 5am, six days a week!
Will need to go to bed earlier. (Night Owl here. Sleep Late, Wake late.)
No career progression with Job.
Higher petrol costs to get to Uni.

OPTION TWO
8:30 - 6:30 FT Job.
28 Days Annual Leave
£1500 - £1550 Take Home + Bonus Opportunities

  • Time and a Half 1 in 3 Saturdays 8am - 1pm

Positives:
More Money.
Bonus Opportunities.
Career Progression may be possible.
Back into FT working Environment after being home with DS for three years and jumping from PT to PT.

Negatives:
No School Holidays off apart from Annual Leave. Less time at home.
Less time with DS but possibly more valuable time?
Higher Childcare Costs.

Option One: YANBU
Option Two: YABU

OP posts:
SmokeyDevil · 22/08/2021 11:21

Job 2. It's not long until your son goes to school, so less childcare fees then. And you'll be bored to tears with the first job by that point, with no guarantee of a ft job.

LIZS · 22/08/2021 11:22

It is like comparing oranges and pears. Do you want a ft job or to go to uni? Which fits the longer term plan? Can you really earn over £300 pw for 12 hours?

vodkaredbullgirl · 22/08/2021 11:23

Job 2, you lo will be going to school soon.

breakingthebank · 22/08/2021 11:23

Those 2 options sound totally different so it's hard to say without knowing more detail. Do you want a full time job or a part time one? Is the qualification you'd do for Option 1 something that would benefit your career in the longer term?

StormcloakNord · 22/08/2021 11:24

It's not really a comparison.

You either want to work full time or you want to go to Uni.

I personally would choose Job 1 but that's because I'm currently studying at Uni and love it.

Others will choose Job 2 because not everyone enjoys studying/couldn't imagine going back to it.

Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:25

@LIZS

It is like comparing oranges and pears. Do you want a ft job or to go to uni? Which fits the longer term plan? Can you really earn over £300 pw for 12 hours?
No, the 12 hours a week Job is £9.13 an hour so it's about £110 a week. The rest of the income from Option One comes from the Maintenance Loan from Uni.
OP posts:
Justgettingbye · 22/08/2021 11:25

Os what you would be studying in job 1 applicable to job 2 if that makes sense?

citycitycity · 22/08/2021 11:26

Agree with PPs, do you want to study at uni or have a full time job?

Presumably when you say job 1 has no career progression, that’s why you are doing a degree?

citycitycity · 22/08/2021 11:28

Given your update I wouldn’t do the 6-8am job - if you want to do the uni option tighten your belts or find a job with more manageable hours

Karwomannghia · 22/08/2021 11:29

I put 1 because I assumed you’d want to spend more time with your dc but if that’s not an issue, 2, get your foot into a good job.

Whatwouldscullydo · 22/08/2021 11:29

What would you be studying at uni? Will it get you a specific job you are aiming for?

If its the means to an end go with option 1.

But option 2 sounds nore stable akd sustainable. I think if u are having to get up at 4/5 am every day fir 6 o clock start and doing that 6 times a week u will be exhausted. I think your uni and time with your dc will be affected by that.

dreamingbohemian · 22/08/2021 11:32

Job 2

secular39 · 22/08/2021 11:32

What's your long term plan? That's the crux. What are you wanting to study at uni? Would this help you reach your desired career goal? If so, I would do Uni.

If Job 2 is just a regular job, where it's something you don't really want to do, but the salary is high where you can earn more money. I would not do it as it does not fit into a long term plan. Sometimes money can blind us and be a distraction from what we actually want to do.

FYI, studying is much easier when kids are younger, then they get older, it becomes more difficult as they need more attention (more emotionally than physically).

Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:32

Okay so Job One is Part Time Cleaning. I would do that alongside studying at Uni. The course would be Creative Writing. Possibly followed up with a PGCE.

Job Two is Full Time Job working in a Car Dealership. I have plenty experience in this type of Job as I started working in the industry straight from School at 17. Have done lots of training courses, etc. Know the job inside out. So not related to the degree, but with more experience, i would have the potential to rise the ranks to management eventually etc.

Honestly, I would be happy with either option but I have small niggles about both. With option one, I don't like the travel time to Uni. I don't want to wake up at 5am to do cleaning Six Days a Week. But I like the extra time Option One gives me with DS.

With Option Two, I like that it's an industry I know. I feel confident with it. I can wake up at 7am instead of 5am. It's more money and gives me a life outside of home and DS. But I I worry its too much time away from DS.

I just want to give my family the best life possible. I want to be able to provide for DS properly.

OP posts:
SmokeyDevil · 22/08/2021 11:36

Kids don't crumple into a heap and suffer psychologically just because their parents work. Many parents work full time or did, and their kids didn't suffer. Yours won't either.

Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:37

@SmokeyDevil

Kids don't crumple into a heap and suffer psychologically just because their parents work. Many parents work full time or did, and their kids didn't suffer. Yours won't either.
Yeah, this is the kind of thing I really need to hear. Thank you.
OP posts:
Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:38

Fucking hate mum guilt. It's such a little bitch.

OP posts:
Coronado2 · 22/08/2021 11:46

What would you be studying? Would that not be giving you more options long term?

Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:48

@secular39

What's your long term plan? That's the crux. What are you wanting to study at uni? Would this help you reach your desired career goal? If so, I would do Uni.

If Job 2 is just a regular job, where it's something you don't really want to do, but the salary is high where you can earn more money. I would not do it as it does not fit into a long term plan. Sometimes money can blind us and be a distraction from what we actually want to do.

FYI, studying is much easier when kids are younger, then they get older, it becomes more difficult as they need more attention (more emotionally than physically).

I should say I'm not very ambitious or career orientated. I don't really care what job I do. I just want enough money to give my family a nice life. All I want is for my DS to be happy, secure, loved and provided for.
OP posts:
Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 11:49

@Coronado2

What would you be studying? Would that not be giving you more options long term?
I did say in one of my replies. I would be studying Creative Writing, possibly followed by a PGCE.
OP posts:
sst1234 · 22/08/2021 11:51

OP you really don’t seem to know where you want to be in the long term. Being in automotive sales is not the same as teaching. You could earn the same money in both but career do you actually want? Your plans are muddled and the motivation is not clear. The point about spending time with your child during the day is a red herring. No one makes a career without sacrifices.

countrytown · 22/08/2021 11:53

they are quite extreme

Angryattrackandtrace · 22/08/2021 11:58

OP why don’t you contact a careers advisors and have a CIAG session?
They aren’t what you used to have at school. They look into holes/ dreams (whilst being realistic!) and can help you make the best decision for you.

I’d recommend the NCS: (it’s free) 0800 100 900.

I’m a careers advisor and I’d love to do a session with you to help you explore- but you’re not my specialist group so would recommend national careers service!!

Original poster
kravestix · 22/08/2021 12:00

@sst1234

OP you really don’t seem to know where you want to be in the long term. Being in automotive sales is not the same as teaching. You could earn the same money in both but career do you actually want? Your plans are muddled and the motivation is not clear. The point about spending time with your child during the day is a red herring. No one makes a career without sacrifices.
Yes, I'm very muddled. Totally. My brain is chaotic and messy at the moment. I have conflicting ideas, thoughts and interests. Though, it's Service rather than Sales. I'd be a terrible Sales Person! I'm not actually fussed about a career though. I just want the best life for my family and my DS. I want him, happy, secure, loved and provided for. That's literally all I want. I want him to have opportunities, experiences, etc. I don't want him growing up in a household where financial stress and worry impacts life. At the moment, I'm in a constant state of stress and worry. I don't want to not be able to buy him clothes that he needs. I want to be able to take him on holiday, show him the world. I just want to give him everything. Haha.
OP posts:
gwenneh · 22/08/2021 12:02

What help do you think a qualification in Creative Writing will provide?

Before you invest your family’s time and money in earning this qualification, you might ask yourself what the plan is when you’re finished with school and the payments on the loans are due. What is this going to help you do?

If your career plans rest solely on entering teaching, what happens if you do this undergraduate work and then can’t do the PGCE? Or discover you don’t like teaching as a career? What help will your degree be if your future changes, because things are unpredictable?

Ask yourself this, because you’re not an 18-year-old with no one other than yourself to consider. Everyone is investing in your goal, including your child, and it’s important to think about what that best possible outcome will be for everyone.