Really not sure which job to choose

[Looooop]

I am in the very fortunate position of currently having two job offers, really not sure which to go for.

The first job is working for the Home Office as part of the customer service team, it was a big campaign. It's an apprenticeship which starts on 22.4k. i applied last September so it's taken to this point to receive an offer. I assume it's a 37 hour week but not sure.

The second job is deputy manager in a care setting. It's 40 hours for 25.5k. I'm currently a senior/team leader so deputy manager is a step up which I want.

The home office job would be an hour commute each way on the train. The deputy job is 15 minutes on the bus.

I know that getting into the Civil Service would be really good, my parents think I should go for this one, but know it's up to me ultimately.

Just really don't know and need to decide asap. I like working in social care, just worry I'd be rubbish in the other job.

Similarly interested to hear if anyone's working in the home office ATM.

I honestly don't see any choice here. The job you'd like and you have better experience for pays more and is closer.

You are right. I just think working for the Home Office would be an amazing opportunity and that the civil service has a lot of advantages.

What qualification will the CS role get you? CS generally have far more options for career development and flexibility. Care homes offer very little in the way of career progression - you'd could maybe aim for manager, but then what?

The CS pension is likely to cover the salary gap.

Civil service job if you want an easy life and rob a wage.

The Cs will be a level 3 apprenticeship in operational delivery I believe.
The care home managers I know seem to be on at least 40k plus. But you're right, that's what my parents said too, that I'd be able to move through the civil service hopefully.

On the face of it it’s a no brainer. Assuming you are quite young and living with parents and that the apprenticeship will lead to a permanent job then that’s the option I’d take.

the salaries are not that much different and I would expect you will catch up fairly quickly anyway. Also managing in a care home must be highly stressful considering how constrained it would be.

I'm 32, and living with my partner. Yeah, I really need to think and decide asap. I am experienced in care, just worried I'll get to the CS job and be useless or not enjoy it.

No brainer- the civil service job. I am in my 40s and know several people who joined the cs 20 years ago, are still there and have had great careers.
they’re not amazingly paid but have flexible hours, a fair amount of wfh etc
i don’t think you’d get that in the care sector. You might not mind now but these things could be very important in a few years.

I’d stay clear of the civil service. Worst job I ever had.

Bureaucratic, underpaid, drowning in policy and red tape. Not quite the job for life it used to be pitched as.

Wow. I know several civil servants, my parents were CSs too and not at any point have any of them had an “easy life”.

I’m in the CS and operational delivery seems to be reasonably in demand, so think you could probably progress quite well with a qualification under your belt. Flexi time is also fab, especially if you are thinking about having kids at some point.

Ofc if you really love working in social care then that might not sway you! But I would definitely say it’s the better long term prospect

My sister has recently been promoted to manager of a care home after being in care for over 10 years. While it is rewarding, it is also extremely stressful and the pay is probably lacking for the amount of hours and responsibility she has.

She's been in the role for nearly a year (and acting up for six months prior to that) and she's already trying to think of how she can move out of it. She doesn't think it is a long term role.

The civil service would open a lot of doors to hop around to find what suits you, which I think is quite valuable. Plus they have an amazing pension and generally are quite flexible, which is good for a work/life balance.

Civil Service without any hesitation.

I'm not sure with it being an apprenticeship but a lot of cs roles now are being advertised as either 2 or 3 days in the office so although the journey is longer you could have a few days without travel.

Cs will offer you more opportunities and I'm guessing better benefits in terms of holidays, sick pay, further training.

Thanks everyone!

I'm not going to offer up an opinion on which job you should choose, I think other posters have given you advice for you to mull over. I just wanted to say well done and congratulations on the two job offers. Hope you make the best choice for you and you enjoy your new role.