Work - advice, please

[sykes]

Have just been approached by a headhunter re a very interesting and well-paid job. Rather jumping the gun as they may not even want to interview me but wondering whether to go for it. Problems would be potentially long hours and travel. My current job is great, not sure quite how stable, but as I've been here quite a while is fairly flexible - they are also sympathetic to my situation (h left and have two young daughters). I suppose I should go for it and see what happens. Just wonder logistically whether it's a bit pointless - don't want to leave the girls with the nanny more than I do at the moment and can't see how that wouldn't happen.

Sorry, I know this is dull but any views - particularly, but certainly not exclusively, single parents.

Hi Sykes! Haven't 'spoken' to you for a while...
Strange, but I was thinking about a similar sort of thing recently - although I haven't been in my current job that long my company has an annual 'development' review discussion in which you can talk about your future aspirations, including willingness to move/ take on extra work/ work away from home etc.
Although I am not in your situation - I have a dh and an au pair, and the kids are in nursery (eldest starting school this Sept) - I also mused with the whole idea as to whether I should be considering other 'challenges' which might be potentially disruptive for our current, very stable, situation.
On balance I think I've decided I only want to look at opoprtunities which mean I will continue to work at the office I am currently at - it's just 15 mins drive from home - I can get up, have breakfast with them/ take them to school and also pick them up/ go home & do tea and baths.
My current job occasionally takes me away from home overnight for the odd 2 days here and there, and I find it quite disruptive - makes dh grumpy, me tired and my youngest a bit clingy when I get back.

Sorry if I sound blunt, but to be honest I wouldn't consider changing your job right now unless you are really unhappy in your current one. You've been through an awful lot in the last year, and you and the girls probably need to get into the 'new' stable routine (whatever that is!).
It's really difficult though isn't it? When I've been approached by headhunters, the 'old' me (Pre-children) emerges and I get excited about the possibilities. And then gradually the reality and the responsibility sets in and I realise that it's just not going to happen, OR WORSE STILL is it does I'll probably end up having a nervous breakdown.

Soory if I sound blunt - not meant to be - just honest. You should feel flattered and proud to have been approached, but don't forget that it's a headhunters job to get candidates to interview, so don't feel pressurised if you really in your heart of hearts don't think you want to move. Before you know it you'll be faced with a job offer and that will be a much more difficult decision.

HTH
Mo2
xx

Thranks, Mo2 - haven't read your reply as yet but will do when back from Pilates. Can you see the attractions of my current job??

Hey - I do Pilates at work too! IMHO any company that has Pilates classes is worth staying with!
(Enjoy that 'inner core' work.. you never know when you might need those pelvic floor muscles again soon )

I think you should definitely go through the recruitment process, and keep your options open until the last minute. There is nothing wrong with going for interviews and then rejecting the job. The headhunter might not call you again if you don't display any interest, but it might lead to a different new job that really suits you. Supposing you got a job offer, you could ask to visit the office and meet some of the people you would work with, before deciding whether to accept. Who knows, they might also be sympathetic and flexible.

I wouldn't go through the whole process if the job is fundamentally wrong for you- IME if you get to final interview stage and then reject the job for a reason that should have been clear from the start all you will do is pee off the headhunter and ensure they don't think of you next time.
Are you sure though that the new job would involve lots of travel and really long hours - if you are good enough to be headhunted you are good enough to be flexible for.

She's calling me at 3pm. Thanks for all the replies. It does look like a very interesting job and uses most of my skills set. Was approached by a different headhunter a month ago and while it looked interesting etc I don't have the appropriate skills so I just told them that - but will stay in touch in case anything else turns up. I'll have a conversation with her but based on the brief she's sent me it does look good. No harm in talking it through?

Oh, let us know what happens. As a single parent though I would have to say that flexibilty is THE most important aspect of my job. Can come into the office pretty much when I want, leave when I want, organise my own caseload, work from home as and when I need/prefer to. I really don't know what would tempt me away from that.

Let us know what she says during the phonecall

Based on some of the other replies here, maybe I have been a bit negative - sorry! Agree there is no harm in finding our more.

I think my views are affected by the fact that about 9 years ago a very pushy headhunter convinced me to leave a company I'd been with for 8 years, and did a 'hard sell' on a job which turned out to be crap, and for which I ended up commuting 3 hours a day. It was the worst decision of my life, and I left after 14 months.
I always say to people beware of any headhunter who pretends to really care about the candidate, after all they are being paid by the recruiting company. I suppose 'good' ones will try to get a good fit between candidate/ company needs, but some just will do anything to fill the role.

Thanks, M02. A friend of mine is also a headhunter (she's very nice, honestly) and I checked the firm out with her boss who says the firm has a good reputation etc. Just had the phone call and she wants my CV. So will send over. And as I put the phone down (at 3:25) a client called to ask me where I was. We'd arranged a meeting in a wine bar at 3pm. I said "sh*t, sorry". Can't BELIEVE I said that and he's now gone home. Thankfully he wasn't TOO annoyed. Probably need another job now ....