Perfect job - a year too early

[weaselm4]

Sooo, DH spotted a job the other day, and it basically looks like my dream job.

BUT, it's my last year with my youngest before she goes to school. And I also love being there to pick DS up.

Other factor is that DH is possibly under threat of redundancy (all we know is that some people from his organisation will go, but won't know until Nov).

I currently work 9 hours a week in a job I love, but which isn't especially challenging -this would be first 5 days a week job since having DD, hence posting in GBTW section.

I'm pretty sure I know what to do, but wondered if anyone else had any thoughts?

TIA

I'd go for it.

So, I'd ask myself a few questions:

• is the job likely to come around again in 1 year?
• how important is it to me to be a SAHM for the next year? Would working in the dream job be preferable or not?
• what childcare arrangements would I need to make, how expensive would it be, would would the family income be?

After all that, I'd apply and go for an interview. See how it goes! When you know if you've got it, and some more info about pay/ holidays/ hours, you can make a final decision.

Good luck!

In the current climate i would go for it too.

Doesn't mean you will get it.

Especially with the redundancy threat.

I think if you dont go for it you'll be full of regrets and "what if?"s. If you do get it and it doesn't work out for whatever reason, you could give notice. I also agree that with redundancy looming, you might be wise to go for it.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I think you're all right, and my gut feeling was to apply and see what happens.

My main worry is that I'll wave my little girl off to school next Sept and be feeling like I wasted my last year at home with her waaaah!

But being sensible, it would be soo great to have a safety net if DH did lose his job, and whatever happens it would be a very good thing to get my CV up to date!

Thanks again.

I was in a similar position a few months ago. I've run my own business for years and things have not been going well. I'd given myself another year and then a job in my children's school came up. I figured I'd apply and see what happened. I then got the job followed by a significant increase in our expenses. So glad that I took the job even though it means more juggling to keep my other interests going. Figure these things happen for a reason!

I'd certainly go for it too - you can go through life thinking "next year" or "after she's....", and, as you state it's a dream job, then you'd be a bit silly not to apply, even without the possibilibty of your dh being made redundant.

These things rarely turn up at exactly the right moment.

Go for it. Might you also be able to investigate whether flexible working or 4 days per week might be available? IMO even jobs that are advertised as FT can be up for discussion.

i really would go for it now. you are more likely to regret at least not giving yourself the potential choice (if you are successful) than just throwing it away. if you apply and dont get it, the issue goes away totally in your mind. i would prob take it if i got it and had panned to return to work in a year's time anyway.

Go for it, if your DH's job is under threat then you may need it anyway. You have nothing to lose.

Yes, what makes it even better is that the advert said 'at least 27 hours' so it's not even completely FT. maybe I'll get to do the odd school run.

In some ways it does seem like the right time. Bit nervewracking tho!

I don't think you'd ever feel as though you've wasted a year. Try looking at it another way: you might be waving your little girl off to school knowing that she's had a really excellent year helping her develop and grow in independence ready for school, while you have a great job under your belt and won't be left feeling bereft stuck at home with the kids at school.

Honestly its a no brainer I think: go for the job. Many people spend their entire working life looking for the perfect job - they're not easy to come across. If its a good job there's likely to be competition, so you may not get it, but at least you're in a stronger position for having applied, possibly been interviewed and had feedback... It will all help you position yourself for future jobs. Good luck!

The other option is whether your dh job is one where they would consider people cutting hours as an alternative to redundancy, so say he drops to 3 days per week, you work 4 days per week, leaving just 2 days a week to cover. Some organisations love part timers as it keeps good people in a time of ecconomic uncertainty with the option to increase hours at a future date and keeping a skilled worker on, others see their lack of full time commitment as a barrier and find it hard to keep client continuity going. It really depends what sort of company your dh works for and whether being part time would make him more or less in the redundancy spot liight.

That's exactly what we'd thought, 3duracell. DH seems to really like the idea of going PT .

There will be a lot of competition, but I will go for it. Nothing ventured...!