Does anyone want to offer an opinion on which of these jobs to accept?

[TommyKnocker]

Background - Sahm for almost 10 years, before that I worked in HR (advisor level). I've just started applying for jobs and haven't had any luck in the private sector, partly due to lack of part time roles and partly because my previous roles were focussed on a specific area rather than generalist.

I've been offered two roles within the CS one is a basic customer service (call centre) role, pay not great but I'm hoping they will be able to give me the hours I want including term time. The other is a higher grade so more money but potentially a more difficult role dealing f2f with people who maybe difficult. Part time is fine but they may not give term time for this role although location is better for me.

I'm stuck, on the one hand I worry accepting the lower role will be taking more steps back than I need to but I also wonder if it might ease me back into work more gently than the other role. I'm slightly concerned I forgotten how to do anything other than be a sahm!

Or the third option, which is to continue looking at the private sector. I'm not in a huge rush to get back to work, it's not so much about the money as getting out of the house and making connections with people as I'm fairly isolated at the moment.

It depends how sure you are the lower paying role will offer you the hours you want. That's a big part of it.

go for the harder role with better location and more money. I understand your confidence may be low having been out of the workplace for a fair while, but everyone has confidence issues in a new job anyway! They wouldn’t have offered the job if they didn’t think you could do it, and it may be difficult at first but have the confidence in yourself to go for it. And if they can’t accommodate term time you may have to use holiday clubs for a bit in school holidays, my kids love going to holiday club! Good luck

Go for the harder role in a better location and more money.
Honestly a lot of lower grade roles are just as stressful in their own way.

Thanks for the thoughts, it feels a little surreal the thought of going back to work. Probably more surreal as I have not actually spoken to an actual person throughout the recruitment process for both roles - all online/recorded interviews.

Is the harder role a job coach or whatever they call it? I applied for that and almost died of embarrassment through the recorded interview. One of the questions was a shocker and i went😳and became useless. Awful. So well done for getting an offer!

How badly do you need the flexibility? I'd go for more money if you can live without it. Once you're in the CS hopefully you can internally apply your way to something better.

Avoid the call centre like the plague. People will still be difficult over the phone. The harder better paying job will look better on your cv and hopefully allow you to progress to something else if you want quicker.

@TellMeWhere yep - horrendous interview. I am normally good at interviews but recorded interviews are definitely are not a strength of mine! I do need some flex as our asc only runs to 5.30 but I think I should be fine - you are right though, once I'm in I can always move around if it's not for me.

if the coworkers aren't pillocks, F2F is better. It will be more interesting because it will make you develop more skills. Go for the less boring job.

Higher pay and better location definitely. Working closer to home is worth something anyway and they wouldn't have offered you the job if they didn't think you could do it! How old are the kids? All school age? Holiday clubs are generally ok and if you want to restart your career, then limiting yourself to term time only will make it a lot harder.

Yeah I agree with others, I’d avoid a call centre, monotonous work (yes I’ve done it) esp at civil service will likely be really pushing you on targets and how many calls you take and micromanaging.
The other role might give you more variety to your day, freedom to move from your desk and if you aren’t pushed at the moment you can leave and find something else if it doesn’t work out!

basic customer service (call centre) role, pay not great but I'm hoping they will be able to give me the hours I want including term time

Term time is the clincher for me if you have no childcare options or do not want the kids to be home alone, even if old enough. How long is the commute?

higher grade so more money but potentially a more difficult role dealing f2f with people who may be difficult. Part time is fine, but they may not give term time for this role although location is better

Can kids stay home alone, do you have wraparound care otherwise and will it be worth your while with cost of holiday care? Can you put in a UC claim and get childcare costs back?

continue looking at the private sector

I'd dip my feet back in if I were you first. You can always start then quit and delete it off your CV and you'd be no worse off.

The f2f role sounds like the wiser move, given the closer location, better money, and greater skill set development with f2f interactions.

Plus you said you're hoping you would get term time with the call centre job, but it's no guarantee. You could end up accepting call centre job and them not offering you term time only.

Unless your DC have some kind of SN, where holiday clubs/ASC are not an option, it's not wise to limit yourself to term time only, especially as you're going back in a part time capacity as it is.

You'll get part of the week off with DC, on some of your weekdays off, during their school holidays. Plus if you have a DP, then the holidays can be shared, to cut costs down with holiday clubs, and for them to spend more time with family/parents during holidays.