I need some help picking which job I should take, I realise I’m in a lucky position to have these options, but having too many options it’s making it harder to pick and they all have their pros and cons. I’m currently band 7 in the NHS clinical, but not nursing. I have good qualifications (masters degree, plus career specific qualifications) and I work in a niche area with a shortage of staff and a shortage of highly qualified experienced staff, so this is why I have this many options.
Job 1 NHS band 7 at a hospital I used to work for and love:
Pros:
I know I love working there
Know all the staff very well and like almost all of them
Highly regarded hospital and staff
Complex varied work
Ability to do further training in a very niche area which means I could work abroad for a high salary
Very short commute (10 mins)
Cons:
Would have to do oncall 3 x a month
Lack of flexibility (want kids in the future, unlikely to be able to reduce hours)
Not many opportunities for progression as not many people leave
Large department, politics and a few not so nice people
Job 2 is in a hospital I already locum at one day per week and I like working there, also band 7
Pros:
No oncall
Flexible
Small department, friendly, relaxed atmosphere
Already work there so know I enjoy it
Two of my close friends work there
Cons:
Long commute (50 mins)
Work is not complex (worried I may deskill and get bored)
No opportunities for progression or to learn additional skills
Job 3 is manager of department at private hospital opening soon:
Pros:
Big step up career wise
Will learn lots of extra skills
Complex varied work
No oncalls
Very short commute (10 mins)
Better pay
Cons:
Lack of staff benefits compared to nhs
Stress (a lot more responsibility)
Lastly my other option is to locum for a while, which is my wife and my family’s preferred option for me.
Pros:
Double take home pay £50 an hour vs £25 (big big positive)
No on calls
Flexibility
Can leave easily and quickly if I don’t like it
Currently do it and I know I like it, have done it before full time for a few years and enjoyed it a lot
Less politics, just do job then go home
Less stress
Lots of locum positions available in the area where I live due to staff shortages
Cons:
Lack of stability
May have longer commute depending on hospital I work at
No pension/sick pay/ holiday pay (can work around these as double salary would mean I can save a lot and get income protection insurance and would only locum short term e.g around a year as I want to be in permanent employment when I TTC).
Which option would you pick?