To ask if it's still worth going to this interview?

[walkerssandwich]

I'm not sure what to do here and would appreciate any advice you can give me.

I have been in my current job for 4 years and I hate it. I use to enjoy it but there has been lots of changes over the last year including a new manager/team. I carried on and have managed to last 8 months but I can't do it anymore as it's making me incredibly unhappy and causing me a lot of stress and anxiety. I don't sleep most nights, can't relax when I'm off and I dread logging on every morning. I can't leave until I have another job lined up due to mortgage/bills and I'm unable to take time off as I will only receive statutory sick pay which isn't enough, so I'm stuck here until I find something else.

I've been applying for other roles but there's not many jobs in my area (seaside town) and I don't want to take just any job and end up job hopping as I know it doesn't look good from an employers perspective. I was very lucky to get my current job as it's fully remote/no travel costs and a decent salary. I think that's why I've tried my hardest to make it work as I've got a good deal here but it's just making me depressed and I need to move on.

I have an interview on Monday for a similar role, but it's less money and hybrid (3 days in the office) which is an hour away from where I live. The salary would be enough to cover all bills/travel costs but I probably won't have any disposable income left over which is deflating. I thought about going to the interview anyway and if successful, asking if was any flexibility with working from home. Their policy is 3 days in the office so I'm not sure how flexible they would be with this. Would you still go to the interview anyway or am I wasting everyone's time?

I'm not sure how long I can carry on in my current job but it's quite scary taking a pay cut especially since I live on my own.

Nah an hour away ! 3x a week. That is 3 hours commuting when you could be doing something fun

I'd say at the most you might get another day from home out of them but probaly not for a while till you have settled in and they see how you get on. Always worth going to the interview and if you don't get it it's good practice

What are you more concerned about, the pay cut or the office days? Or is it the expense involved in traveling to the office?

Anyway, yes it’s worth going and asking. It really depends on how flexible they are though, every company will be different.

@jotex it's the travel costs. I would be losing around £200 a month with the salary which I could manage but the travel costs would probably be another £150-£200 on top which isn't ideal. I was hoping they would agree to 2 days in the office and 3 days from home. Although it's only an extra day it would make a difference with petrol costs.

Nah don't bother don't do it! Doesn't matter where you live there's plenty of remote jobs out there. Get yourself on LinkedIn I've got all my recent jobs from there.

I'd take it to get out of the toxic situation but keep looking for something better, or move.

Keep looking. You’ll probably feel worse than you do now if you dislike the job and have travel and less money.

If you feel it might be worth the interview practice, I’d go anyway. If you’ve had others recently and feel confident, don’t waste your time. Better the devil you know until something better comes up

I'd go to the interview if nothing else just for the practice. You could find out if there was room for progression leading to potential pay increase or if they seem keen enough could you ask for more if they offer you the job.

It's a tricky one.

Option a would be to go to the interview, keep quiet about pay/travel etc to start with and then try to negotiate if you are offered the job. Risks annoying the company if they were upfront about the salary and travel etc though, as it sounds like they are. If they are not desperate to fill the role or have other candidates doing this would probably be enough for them to withdraw the offer or at the least not consider budging.

Option b would be to go to the interview and be very upfront about the costs of travel from the get-go. Probably creates a better impression on them rather than keeping quiet about it.

Option c, which would be my preference but perhaps too late now, would be to email/telephone the company ahead of the interview and sound them out about flexibility ahead of time. Saves everyone's time if they aren't willing to budge.

I would go to the interview, it's all good practice after all, and ask at interview if there is any wiggle room on how many days you need to be in the office. I think you also need to factor in that you might have to be onsite every day at the beginning when you are training, as least that is what we do where I work.

Go to the interview, for practice. Look for something better, less commute, more wfh etc.