Which position to take?

[workworkworkugh]

I'll try and keep this as succinct as possible (but will probably fail haha)

In a previous job I moved into a new department and after 12 months found it so stressful I ended up quitting (along with another colleague for the same reason).
By the end of this role I was crying before work every day, not sleeping, checking emails at 1 in the morning, it was a nightmare until my husband told me to just quit as no job is worth the stress.

It was quite a stressful role in itself but I also have anxiety and put a lot of pressure on myself.

I'm at another company now and I'm just doing basic admin/reception role. It's easy work, stress free and I'm working school hours.
I did sort of put my name forward for a bookkeeping position within this company and instead of slowly transitioning and seeing if I would like it, someone has quit and now things are moving fast and they're re configuring staff to move me into the role permanently.

I'm honestly starting to get a little PTSD i think from my last job (a similar thing happened when I started there) and now I'm not so sure I want to have my own clients and a larger workload.
Yes it can be flexible and sometimes worked from home but I know I will stress about my workload.

So do I move into this new role and feel more accomplished in my career but to be honest, kneeling myself, I will probably stress about it a lot, or do stay in a low level admin job which can be quite boring but is so stress free and I will never come home thinking about work or losing sleep over it?

(Just to clarify my new workplace is very supportive and helpful compared to my last workplace)

Stress free every time.

*knowing myself, that should say.

I'm going to feel like a bit of an idiot if I go back in a few weeks later, after asking to train in the position, and say I don't want it.

I just need to make up my mind asap as I had a meeting about it today and found out they were moving me in there permanently.

Anyone else have any advice, or better yet, just tell me what to do so I don't have to think about it

How old are you? Do you have anyone who depends on you?

I'd say if you are in your 20s/30s, and in a supportive workplace then give the higher role a go. Something obviously sparked your interest so you may regret not giving it a go. Speak to the manager and tell them you're keen but you're concerned about how fast it's all moving. It's always hard taking on a new role to replace someone who has suddenly decided to up and leave.

Will there be any scope at all to move you back out if you didn't enjoy it? Or have they already started making plans to replace you in your current role?

If you're in your 40s/50s though, then perhaps you'd rather have an easy life and go home with no stress. With bookkeeping, you'll have to be on the ball all the time and you'll probably have to take additional qualifications as well. Is that something you want to do? It can be hard to get back into studying if you've been out of it for a while.

I'm late 30's with three kids and DH.

I am eager to learn new skills but after my last job I vowed to make my life as stress free as possible which isn't very ambitious but knew it would help my mental health.

If I tell them asap there is someone else they could put in the bookkeeping role and I would go straight back to my original role.
If I wait and they spend time training me, there is a possibility I could return to my previous role but then they've spent all that time on me and would feel like a waste.

For me it doesn’t feel so stressful if I’m enjoying the work. I suspect you might end up a bit bored in the admin role? I’d give the new role a go since they sound a much more supportive company (it’s bound to feel more stressful at the start until you gain confidence). Once you’re used to it you’ll hopefully feel as relaxed as you do now but with more interesting/satisfying work. If it doesn’t work out don’t put pressure on yourself though, just ask to go back to an admin role.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Be honest with them and say you'd really like the role but you were hoping for a slower transition. You can tell them about your anxiety if you want to and how it means you struggle with change.

They might not be able to accommodate you if they need someone urgently - but your hats in the ring for the next opportunity.

I wouldn't worry about the ambitious thing. Too many people think they need to be more ambitious or career climb just because it's the expected thing to do. But it isn't always what makes someone happy.

You need to go with what you think will make you happy. Do you have an actual interest in bookkeeping or is it because you feel like you need to do something "more" than your admin role? You don't have to choose one or the other either, you could always find something else.

Bookkeeping is a great flexible career opportunity but, as with a lot of accountancy/finance roles, if your heart isn't in it, you will be bored.