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Original poster

Tell me honestly what you would choose out of these two jobs

53 replies

maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 20:48

So I went for a job interview today. The interview went swimmingly, I really got on with the interviewer (who'd be my manager) and he said at the end that he really liked me and I was through to round two. The job sounds exciting, there'd be lots of project work, it'd be a step up from what I do now, he said he could develop me and I think I could learn a lot from him.

However, the job would be office based on a single site and the office didn't even look very nice.

At the moment I'm home based with travel 1-2 days a week, in a role with NO development whatsoever, and I'm completely bored. I'm sick of working at the level I am, there are no promotional opportunities and I've been doing the same thing over and over again for several years. I'm fed up with the company and the culture. However it's great being home based, makes the day shorter and I usually don't even have a full days work to do (I often have gaps in the day I can use to do stuff around the house/go shopping/do whatever I like)

Pay wise it'd be a slight drop in the new job (ironically I'm overpaid in my current role compared to skills/level) plus commuting costs plus loss of mileage to meetings would equal around a drop of £4 k or so.

But it would be so good for my development that it would increase my earning power in the years to come.

I know I haven't been offered it yet, but things are looking good, I think I am down to the final two or something.

What would you prefer - more money, time to yourself, no commute, but no development and feeling slightly bored.

Or give all that up to work in a pokey office with strip lighting every day but have lots of development in a company that seems to be going places, exciting work, opportunity to learn and grow....

OP posts:
sazzleevans · 08/05/2017 20:54

Sounds like you really want the office based job. Depends on family circumstances I suppose. You challenge yourself other than through a promotion maybe a course etc ?

ALittleMop · 08/05/2017 20:55

I think it depends on what else is going on in your life, tbh and how big a priority work is just now.

On the face of it, the way you've talked about it, I would move jobs if given the chance. Better to be stretched than bored, if you're confident in future it will open up more options and financially you can manage.

Do jobs come up very often in your field? How likely would you be to find a better offer than either?

domesticslattern · 08/05/2017 20:55

Wait till you are offered the job and then negotiate the salary.

Goldfishjane · 08/05/2017 20:55

More money in current job, not enough to do, home based?

No brainer. Keep current job.

bigchris · 08/05/2017 20:55

I wouldn't turn down a job just because of the office and lighting , I'd go for it

bigchris · 08/05/2017 20:56

Oh didn't see the pay drop, can you afford it?

CassandraAusten · 08/05/2017 20:57

It depends on how significant the £4k drop is for you (in terms of what it would mean to your finances). But assuming it wouldn't be a big issue, I'd take the exciting office based job.

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:00

Finances wise I could afford the drop - as I'm basically overpaid in my current job (and underworked!) to move anywhere would probably mean a drop.

Yeah, I'm over paid and underworked and thinking of leaving.....

OP posts:
User48627 · 08/05/2017 21:00

I'll have your current job! Bored and at home suits me fine, I HATE working in an office but I'm very introvert (despite being an outgoing person, I need space to think!)

TupperwareTat · 08/05/2017 21:04

Stay at home for now, something else will turn up.

Keep looking.

DisappearingFish · 08/05/2017 21:06

Only move if they match or increase your current salary.

SafeToCross · 08/05/2017 21:06

Keep looking for something better, it is not worth the drop.

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:08

To be honest I only went for the interview as I needed some practice on competency based interviewing, been out the loop a while.

I never applied for the job initially as I was speculatively approached and then thought I'd go for interview practice but didn't expect to like the job as much as I did.

Kind of wish I hadn't now, as much as it is flattering to get through to round 2 straight away, and it was good interview practice, it's opened up a can of worms in my head now!

OP posts:
Goldfishjane · 08/05/2017 21:10

Overpaid and underworked and working mostly at home
THIS IS MY DREAM
Please can I have your job?

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:11

This is why I'm doubting myself goldfishjane.

But I can just see my career disappearing down the drain if I stay where I am now.

OP posts:
tammytheterminator · 08/05/2017 21:13

Did you know the salary when you applied?

I would be looking for the same salary at least.

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:14

Problem is tammy my current salary is above the market rate, plus I get mileage on travel, plus no commuting costs.

So to get comparable salary if I move taking all that into account is very unlikely.

OP posts:
CassandraAusten · 08/05/2017 21:15

But if you know you're overpaid (as opposed to the other job being underpaid) then another job on your current salary may not come up and you'll be stuck in a boring job forever. I'd move.

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:16

Might it be worth taking a slight drop if it increases my future earning potential? kind of the same logic as people who take a lower salary when they change careers?

OP posts:
CassandraAusten · 08/05/2017 21:16

X post with you OP!

BobbinThreadbare123 · 08/05/2017 21:17

Your current job sounds amazing in theory, but I'm like you, OP. I can't stand being bored so I'd take the variety and development opportunities. Presumably in the office based role the chance for pay rises will appear too? Also, you can try to negotiate yourself up in pay, surely.

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:19

I was told the absolute limit for the job by the recruitment lady, which is slightly below my current basic. So that's what I said my expectations were at interview. I suppose if I was offered I'd see if I could wangle any more. Maybe to match my basic. Couldn't really expect them to factor in the mileage.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 08/05/2017 21:20

Can you organise your current job so only work 4 (long?) days? Then you could actually do something on the free day. Compressing your week will make it less boring, I think.

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:22

Maybe I just need to be more patient... I've only started looking the last six weeks. The market is really slow, but if I hold out for a job with travel I can at least get a car/car allowance which will make up for a slightly lower basic. Plus I'll be doing more travel, so whilst it may not be completely home based (a lot of jobs in my field are multi site) it would not be the same four walls every day.

I just had that real sense of rapport and culture fit that you don't find all the time in interviews, and I could see myself learning a lot from this manager and in this job.

If it had been a date, you would have said there was 'chemistry'

OP posts:
Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 08/05/2017 21:23

ha ha SwedishEdith I do that anyway by getting all my work done early in the week and then just being effectively on call on a friday.

OP posts:
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