Does this job sound worth it?

[Vix1980]

Through a friend ive been offered a job working in a bridal shop. I was an asst manager of a charity shop and have a degree in fashion so could do the alterations etc and have experience of working with customers.

i was really excited but found out today though that the lady who owns the shop is a bit of a psycho, she doesnt open sun,mon or tues. she sacked the last lady who run he shop for her because she didnt like her ideas (they included opening mon and tues and going to bridal fayres) i was originally told by my friend she is looking for someone to come in 3 days a week and look after the shop, it would be minimum wage and id be working alone, this was fine at 1st as im desperatefor anything, even though its 45 mins away and a nightmare to drive to, Today i spoke to my friend who had gone into the shop yesterday and was told that i would also be expected to do all the alterations, run the shop when she wasnt coming in and organise all the stock takes/orders and go to bridal fayres alone sometimes. She was meant to be at 1 today but apparently couldnt be bothered to go cos she got up late, she is also 6 months pregnant so im wondering if she sees me running the whole shop alone while shes off. When my friend was at the shop yesterday she said people were coming in asking if she was closing down as they had been a few times in the week and found her closed, she later told my friend that she had driven to the place in the morning, hadnt been able to find anywhere to park and then decided to go home again - i seriously do not know how this shop makes any money at all, it seems shes hardly ever there, yet wants someone to go in and run it for her on the lowest of wages.

i did mention to my friend i would have to decide if it was enough money to come off benefits what with the extra cost of diesel id be using, she seems so desperate as she said she-d pay me cash in hand - this is illegal isnt it and dont want to get caught up in anything like that. I have recently been doing my own course with the princes trust and have gained a grant to set up on my own which ive wanted to do for a while, i could still do this it would just take longer and i wouldnt be able to sell at the market stall as id planned as id be in the shop every saturday, does this job sound very dodgy or is it just me i have to go see her tomorrow to discuss everything and see if i want it, from what ive heard so far it feels like im walking into a bad situation where im bound to end up getting left to do everything myself...

Sounds well dodgy to me. I personally wouldn't touch it. She is obviously thoroughly unreliable and will be a terrible boss. What happens to your benefits when if she fires you too?

I wouldn't take it. It sounds too risky.
What happens when you drive all that way to work and she's not there and you can't get in?

Have you actually met this woman or been to the shop?

I think all the signs are there that this could be a complete nightmare for you - don't ignore them. I've walked away from a very bad job situation in the past and they give you pretty short shrift in the job centre for having left employment when you try to sign on. I would wait for something more suitable, I know its tough out there, but there will be something better than this!

Hi and thanks for the advice, i had a call from her husband last night asking if i could go in and see them for a chat, so have agreed to go in tuesday evening (out of curiosity more than anything). Just as he was hanging up he said and if everything works out ok we would probably need you to work from wednesday this week.

I know its dodgy as a, why was he rining me when its his wifes business and b, if they are so desperate to get someone in then why dont they place an advert in the jobcentre, its not like they would be short of offers. I know myself this job is too risky just feel like im getting pressured from the friend a bit too do it (oooh it would be such good experience for you) . I also checked out her opening hours as id worked on the basis of 9-5 every day, oh no, mon & tues she is closed, wed and thur its 11-4, friday its 10-4 and sat is 10-5. so its hardly worth anything at all to me! Still going to go and see them tomorrow and let them know if they need me they need to make it worth my while coming off benefits. But even so itdoes sound like she'd be a total nightmare to work for, seems a bit like well my husbands got a decent job i dont need to work but i want to say i do something so ill set up a wedding shop with no experience or desire to run it at all!!

Sounds really dodgy with a wierd boss. Do not take. Once you get in the job you might be stuck in it. Even if do try to come out may be emotionally draining.

I don't think you will gain anything experience wise or reference wise as you'll be dealing with her incompetencies.

Best, take longer and start our own thing without all the negative energy

Sounds awful. Can you imagine trying to get details of holiday pay from her? Or if you have a query re: tax and national insurance? What about sick leave? There's absolutely no way I'd enter employment with these people and leave myself reliant on them.

several warning signs to steer clear:

• Offering to work cash in hand
• Comments from customers re: the shop's availability/perception of it
• "can't be bothered" attitude (Wtf? she's the owner!)
• Too much responsibility from the onset (how are you supposed to attend fayres to represent the company when you're so new? or deal with customer queries or complaints in the first few weeks of being there? totally unrealistic for such a small company, which i'm sure thrives on maintaining its reputation) for crap pay (minimum wage is the bare minimum, i wonder what they'd pay you if there was no legal minimum in place here)

Steer clear - far too many warning signs that this is a bad step for you.

If you're looking to set up on your own, and she is finding running the shop too much hassle, have you thought about offering to buy the business from her?

Otherwise I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

I wouldnt even be going/have gone for the chat!

Hi thanks for all your messages... i definatly couldnt afford to buy her shop, to be honest i would touch it with a bargepole, but thought i would come and give you a laugh anyway

I did go in on weds (sorry but i desperatly need the money, otherwise i wouldnt of bothered going for the chat either)...wed was fine, 2 people came in the whole day, both asking if she was closing down as she hadnt been open for ages!!!

thurs i was really ill so rang in, friday i drove half way there (takes me 30 mins to get there) then got a text from the husbans- sorry its late but were thinking of not opening the shop today, boss is ill etc, sat i went in actually only wanting to get paid for the week then to leave, i ended up getting in to help this lady who is getting married in 2 weeks to try her dress on after alterations had been made to it. they were a complete show and 1 side is higher than the other by at least 5 inches! she started crying so i helped ring round other shops in the uk to help find her another dress (more for the bride to be then those 2) - what makes it worse is that it was my friend who did the alterations who has no experience whatsoever of bridal dresses and should of said no. I wish to god id never heard of the place, im doing it till i can afford an oven for my new place then leaving, im getting nothing from it i dont already have so it literally is just the money im there for and i can put up with that for 5 more weeks!

did i also say i got a set of keys on the first day - they still havent asked me my surname! seriously how do people like this manage to buy an actual business!

Vix - if you don't think you can afford to start up your own business have you thought about chatting to the Princes Trust about what options there are? There is a definite demand for wedding dresses so you know the market is out there.

Hi, thanks for that, im actually with them at the moment, i have had my presentation date and was able to get a grant of them for start up costs, just owrking here part time till i can get my equipment set up and start selling my own designs in a local market which ive already applied too! I just couldnt afford the money to buy the business from these 2 though, as much as id love to and make it a sucess! Just hate it when i se someone given an opportunity and they cant be bothered to do anything with it!