Which job do I go for?

[whichdirection]

Oh God please help me make a decision here. I’ve been offered two jobs - both part time admin roles, one within a school and one within the NHS. School role is obviously term time only which is great as I have two young kids but pay reflects that. NHS one paying slightly better, not much in it, obviously not term time only so would need to try and sort childcare for the various holidays which is tricky as partner also works and no local family to help out. Although the school job is much more convenient for now and there’s not much difference in the salary, I think there would be so much more opportunity to develop within the role at the NHS (well they told me there was huge opportunity for training and career development at the interview) - while studying etc might not be something I could commit to realistically right now while my kids are so young and with very limited support, I’m also aware that by the time my kids are old enough for me to not need to have a term time job as much, I’ll be a lot older myself and probably less attractive to employers (I’m nearing 40 now) so this feels like my last chance to basically gain some career development and a chance of earning some decent money of my own. Im so torn what to do. Can anyone please help me make a decision??? Thanks

I’m term time
and I don’t really need to be as mine old enough to be left

but I bloody love love love it

I get the last day of school year feeling (mine isn’t school based thank goodness) and 13 weeks of holiday!

I love my job, but I do love those holidays.

Personally I’d go school. You said the money isn’t much better in NHS and you have stress of holidays. I’m about to start a professional qualification paid for by my school so career prospects do exist. Choose the one you think you’d be happier in because you spend a lots of time at work. Either way, good luck!

Term time only while they're young for sure.
If you sat and calculated what your childcare costs would be and added that on to the school job salary it would be a fairer comparison.
Also term time only is lovely when your kids are small, it can be really fun.

It sounds like you want to do the NHS job and you want the career opportunities it brings.

So talk to your partner about how you’ll make it work in the holidays and talk to other parents who use kids clubs.

There’s nothing wrong with a term time admin job in a school, but it is a dead end and it doesn’t sound that that’s what you personally want.

For me term time 100% but I agree that it sounds like you kind of want the NHS one…

Term time - unless you don't have to worry about finding childcare and the money for it?

Personally if doable with childcare I'd go for the NHS one. You sound more keen. Kids grow up fast, you'd have the development opportunities and knowledge and experience of the workplace to go for it when ready.

(although I've never had a term time only job and it's never been something I've considered with my work)

Does the more money on the NHS one outweigh the cost of childcare during non term time?

Hi @whichdirection i would go for the job at the school as it's term time only.
All the best in your decision xx

I would go term time at the school purely and simply for how it supports childcare with kids I mean I’m at a school teen time and I love it. The NHS isn’t all that to work for either. Like someone above has said you’ll probably be paying the difference in salary on childcare anyway and be left with the same.

How old are your children? Depends on their ages but I'd personally take the Term time only school job for a couple of years, and reassess once your children get a bit older.

Hi, thanks for your replies, they are 5 and 3 so really young!

School job, definitely

I had an almost identical choice to make three years ago and I picked school over NHS. As well as the term time consideration, I would have had to pay for parking at the NHS job and work some Saturdays. Haven’t regretted it once, I ADORE my job and have been promoted and given the opportunity to study.

I'm currently NHS, they say there are opportunities but realistically if you are going in as admin you are always reliant on people leaving to get those opportunities. And if it's a higher band you compete against colleagues and the general public so they are in now way guaranteed.
Personally I think school jobs are too good to turn down: never having to find child care for school holidays would be the dream!

Definitely term time school job, much easier for school holidays.

I’d say NHS but I’m biased as that’s where I work. I did work in a college FT and hated it (bored rigid) so only stayed 6 months albeit a long time ago.

What are your options childcare wise for school holidays etc? If you have a workable solution to covering childcare I’d say NHS as there are more opportunities for progression. I’ve seen a lot of school admin jobs come up recently so might be an option to go for another school admin role if the NHS doesn’t work out.

NHS -job security and a career
School- admin roles will be cut unless budgets increase, no job stability and no career

Pros and cons of both. I work for the NHS and we are very family friendly in my department. Also, if you want the NHS one nothing to stop you taking it and then put in a flexible working request for tt only. What band is it?

School admin jobs can have potential for progression. I work in a non teaching role in a school and love my job. One of my colleagues started as a resources assistant ( basically photocopying and doing displays) was then an HR assistant, than HR manager, gained qualifications, now HR for the whole trust which is fairly impressive progression. She now works a 52 weeks contract which quite a few people in more senior roles in schools do. I think school jobs in large trusts definitely have more potential for development than some primary school jobs.

School job definitely.

You'll find holiday care gets tricky once DC get to secondary school and not working over the holidays will be a massive help.

Do your DC go to the school (I'd try and move them if not)? That would be even better as you'd be around for the many parent events!

As for the NHS, I've recently started in an admin role. Sounded great in interview. No training, even log ons hadn't been arranged, there have been arguments in front of me over who was supposed to be training me! I've emailed my line manager (based elsewhere) twice asking who's going to be training me and they haven't even bothered to respond, nor to voicemails.

Culture seems really toxic (got a full run down on the office politics in the corridor on the way into the office on my first day, hadn't even got in there!), full of jobsworths and really poor management. I have decided I'm not staying. I have been totally shocked by it. Maybe just my area but it has really put me off!