Job prospect - which option would you choose

[HotChocolate16]

Morning everyone :)

So I’ve been offered a new job. I was looking as i’m keen to progress and develop a career. This new job offers that however it isn’t straight forward to wondering what you think.

Option 1
Current job, flexi time can start work 6.30am and finish 2.30am which I usually do especially when wfh
WFH but on a rota where every 2/3 weeks I go in for a week as part of a bubble (it’ll stay like that now they’ve said as it works)
Car park right outside work - no charges
I have a lovely supportive manager
Enjoy the work the firm does, but kind of bored in my current role as it’s quite robotic / admin type work
Harder to progress, new roles come up often but are niche and very competitive Lower salary

Option 2
Job offer
Flexible in that I can start work from 7am, so not as good as 6.30am (I have a child and 1 on the way, not at school age yet)
WFH 2/3 days a week, in office 1/2 days a week (I will be part time 4 days working in total)
Building is in city centre - parking is 5 pounds a day and is a walk from the building, the bus stop would take me too far as well so I’d lose time parking/walking to the building where I could be working
Currently 5 grand more than what I’m on, the band for pay scale goes up higher too and there is a better change of progression to the next role
Interesting department although never done that type of work
Unsure on what manager I’ll have so can’t say whether supportive or not

which would you pick?

That’s a tough one. I would choose to stay put if it were my decision and if I was not completely miserable in my current job and didn’t desperately need the extra money. I’d just think now was not the time, with everything going on at home, to rock the boat. I’m not very ambitious though and with young children I like an easier life at work. When they’re older I’ll maybe get more ambitious.

If you're pregnant I'd probably stay put for the maternity package and good will you will have built up.

In all honesty, I wouldn’t take it. I say this because I work in an underpaid but interesting area (criminal law) for a lovely small company, couldn’t be more flexible, lovely people, walking distance from home etc. I could leave for more money - even a bigger criminal law firm - but I won’t. I am now 52 and I know where my bread is buttered. You are obviously younger and I’m sure a time will come for you to move on, but personally I would go now with a young child and another on the way. Starting a ne which is hard, not paying for parking is a big bonus and probably by parking has been taken into account (haven’t done the calculation) the increase is negligible and your job now has more flexibility. I’d keep life simple now and then progress later personally. There is no right or wrong thing to do here though as I’m sure either way will work out fine!

Assuming my current pay is enough to survive, and I'm not amassing debt from failing to make enough to cover day to day living and a wee bit of saving, it would be job 1 for me and I don't think I'd even agonise over it.

For me, the factors would be the stability in home working, ease of office access, flexibility of hours, and great manager. The unknowns of job 2 wouldn't outweigh the modest pay rise.

Thank you all!

Sorry I should just say I’d be able to start my new job in 2023 after my maternity leave ends if that makes any difference

I’m a v ambitious person regardless so this is such a hard decision for me!

Depends on if it affects your matenity. THe extra parking will easily be covered by payrise...How long is comute into city?

But i have been in a job last ten years.. Despite been much older than you I have really enjoyed the challenge of learning something new , after 6 months I am now changing to a new job within the same company which will stetch my brain.

The other thing I would consider...it shouldn't be a considerarion but in reality would be for me. ..Is it an enviroment who will resent you going into a job then off on maternity leave in a few months..

I’d go for the new job, for a new challenge and better prospects.

Do you think the new job’s hours will work for you to be able to do school pickup when they get into school? I’m just thinking it would be a shame if the half hour’s difference means that you can’t.

Cross posted...

If you are ambitious second job... If it is really awful you can find a new job..Will be more expeience on CV

I'd stay put. An understanding manager with small children is not always easy to find. It's not a big enough pay rise to make all the unknown factors worth the risk.

How far from home/childcare are the offices? I'd want to be fairly close by incase one of your children are ill and needs collecting, unless you have other family who could step in.

I think I'd stick with the first one though whilst my children were very young as it sounds less stressful, and at least you know the manager is supportive.

Commute is 10 minutes, and I’d be starting after mat leave ends so wouldn’t be coming and then leaving. And it shouldn’t affect my maternity pay no.

With regards to the school pick up, whilst it is a few years away, it is something I thought of as it would mean I’d probably have to lose an hour or so a day (30-45 mins either way) on my office days to account for driving into town, finding a space, parking up then walking to work, not necessarily my wfh days though

From home school is 5 min walk and 1 min drive if that!

From current office - 15 min drive but parking right outside

From potential new office - 15 min drive to the school/nursery but would need to factor walking through town to my car

We have family around

I know it’s not a massive jump but I feel like it’s a big step up for me. My salary isn’t a lot now and it’s capped after a bit which isn’t even a lot then. Whereas this one starts at a more reasonable salary with a better band of pay and more progression. I just worry that I’ll kick myself in the future if I don’t take it.

I should also add that in my current job, it’s likely the higher I progress (if I manage to) the less flexibility I’ll get as it’s just the nature of the job the more responsibility you get.

I completely agree with staying put while your children are very young, a supportive environment will be exactly what you will need when you've had bad nights, children are ill etc.
I did exactly this, then moved on to the more challenging jobs once my children were at school and were less reliant on me (my husband worked away a lot). I've never regretted this as I effectively made up for that 'lost' time later on once I was able to 100% focus.
Good luck!

I didn't see that you had family around - I didn't- if they are supportive and happy to do pick ups etc then that would've changed things for me. Maybe you could go for it?

I would move. 100%. The second job sounds fine with a family. Completely workable and it sounds like you’ve already outgrown your current role. A move after maternity sounds perfect. I have 3 young children too and would say no if new role was a nightmare but it isn’t. Mums are allowed to want interesting and well paid work too. If you start limiting yourself now you will massively regret it when you’re still in similar roles in 20 years.

New job, 100%. You say you're ambitious & underpaid. Only one way to fix that! Don't fall into the trap of staying for ?5-10 years while kids are young.

If you are very ambitious you will kick yourself in ten years for not having taken job 2. You can make the family stuff work with job 2 but you can’t make job 1 into a career by the sound of it.

A short commute 1-2 days a week is no big deal, breaks up the week a bit and gets you out to meet new people at your new place. Breakfast club or partner does school run.

Can you cycle instead of driving? Would save on the parking.
Alternatively if you aren't totally sold on the job you've been offered, you've got plenty of time to apply for new roles between now and early 2023, so turning this one down doesn't mean not changing jobs!

I would go for the new job. Especially if you are ambitious. It still seems very compatible with family life to me!

The parking cost is a red herring if you actually do the maths! Based on 1 or 2 days a week at work, that’s still only £250-375 a year. Hardly wipes out the mega £5,000 payrise

Thank you all. I value your input, this is such a hard decision!

Is it worth adding that the new employer is known for being family friendly/flexible? It’s just obv I don’t know what my line manager would be like specifically

Financially you are looking at about £400 more pay a month, less parking charges (£5 x 2 days a week is £40 a month). So £360 more overall, with the potential to earn more. You’ll be travelling to work a little bit more often, but I think I would take the new job on that basis (unless you are financially very comfortable already)? Everything is getting more expensive at the moment, and I think that will continue.

What would happen to your maternity pay though? Would you lose out in the short term because you are not entitled to maternity pay in the new job?

Sorry - just saw I missed loads of updates from you. I would definitely take the new job based on all you have said!

@Nosetickle

That’s a tough one. I would choose to stay put if it were my decision and if I was not completely miserable in my current job and didn’t desperately need the extra money. I’d just think now was not the time, with everything going on at home, to rock the boat. I’m not very ambitious though and with young children I like an easier life at work. When they’re older I’ll maybe get more ambitious.

This is me too!