Job advice needed! Which would you take?

[LucyBrown88]

I have managed to secure two job offers and I am struggling to decide which one to take. I'm hoping you guys might be able to offer your opinions and what you would do!

My son currently does 3 days a week at preschool and starts school in September. He doesn't like going to pre school and we have tears at drop off every morning, he's been there 6 months so far. So I'm expecting tears at school drop off too.

Job 1

• private company
• 3 days a week and they expect me to do full time once son starts school. I'm waiting on the contract to see if this is in the contract. Since if not I know they can't make me.
• they said it is roughly working from home 2 days a week and travelling to an office 1 day a week. This may vary depending on meetings and the office location is an option of 3 ranging from 30 - 90 minutes travel. I advised about drop off and pick up and they said I can arrive late and leave early and make up the hours later i.e. when he is asleep.
• they sound family friendly and flexible.
• sounds like it would be a really interesting job and I would like it

Job 2

• local council job
• part time 3 days a week
• FTC for 2 years but highly likely to be other jobs after
• one day in the office and 2 days at home. Office is right by son's preschool.
• very infrequent travel around the county.
• in the interview they mentioned working the hours over 5 days when my son starts school in September. So effectively doing school hours.
• job sounds a bit boring but the team seem nice and friendly

Job 1 offers 35% more than job 2. So my initial thought is to take job 1 then say when September comes I can't do full time because son doesn't like school. I'm thinking I would then have to resign and find a new job if they said that wasn't acceptable.

My husband works away 50% of the time so he can help with drop off and pick up when he is around. But I mainly need to make sure I'm available for both. So for job 1 I feel anxious I'll get stuck due to trains and not make it to pick my son up or he'll be the last one there.

I feel really mean and major mum guilt at the thought of my son having to do some breakfast clubs and after-school clubs once September comes around when he says he doesn't like school.

Am I being selfish for taking job 1 because it is more money and more interesting? Should I take convenience and do job 2? Which job would you take?

Sounds like your heart is saying Job 1, and head is saying Job 2!
The salary difference is obviously huge, but how does that compare when you deduct childcare/pre and post school clubs etc in job 1 compared to no costs in job 2?

And congratulations on getting 2 great offers !!

No answers but just a couple of thoughts:
your son might not hate school as much as he hates nursery?

Job 1 pays more but comes with more stress of trains - and trains are costly, how much will they eat into your extra income on top of after school fees etc?

I'm confused, why your son not liking school affect your hours?

Also you can be sacked for any reason during the first two years, so it doesn't matter if the hours aren't in the contract, if you try and renegade on what you agreed, they can sack you. Remember they have a right to a reliable and honest employee,

I'd look at getting DH to change his job so he can do his half of the parenting.

I hadn't thought of that, thank you! I'll have a look at the costs now and add it up!

Yes I'm hoping he will like school and it's just the preschool bit he isn't a fan of.

Travel expenses are paid by the company so I would be reimbursed for them.

Congratulations on 2 offers!

I would take the 2nd job as its going to provide more flexibility and potentially you can be there every day for school drop off and pick up without stress of being 30-90 mins away and stuck in traffic

If my son isn't a fan of school then I would feel bad putting him in breakfast and after school clubs. So I would try to reduce the number of breakfast clubs and after-school clubs he goes to. So this is where it would affect my hours.

My husband is looking at other options for work so might be able to help out more once September comes around!

Once you add in the pension and holidays, local council job may be far less of a pay difference than job 1.

you can be let go for any reason (unless protected characteristic) so I would work on the assumption that they may not keep you on in job 1 after September if you say no to full time hours.

with the commute, I’d be taking job 2. There may be chances to sidestep to a more interesting role once you’re in the door.

*you can be let go for any reason in the first two years of employment….

that should have said

I’d definitely take job 2. So much hassle when you have little kids at school, it’s far more tricky to manage than private nursery in my experience.

Choose the convenient job

congrats

Job 2, can’t put a value on reduction of stress and what sounds good on paper swiftly changes when you are having to do it . When you get your foot in the door of the council you will be able to apply for other jobs . Congratulations on your offers !

I would take job 2 whilst your son is young and then look at furthering your career as things get easier with your lifestyle.
Your kids are only small for a short time and it does get easier the older they get.

Think about the amount of change required of you to cope with the new role.

Think about the costs of childcare and wraparound care vs pay.

Think about career progression and where you want to be in 5 years.

Your child will adjust to school, and wraparound care. Will likely have a great time and after settling in it will just be the norm. Don't borrow worries about that.

Definitely job 2, you don’t sound like the right candidate for job 1 at all.

Agree with job 2, considering pension, flexibility, job stability and the opportunity to progress internally it would be a no brainier for me.

Are you sure that normal commuting costs are covered by the Employer 1? That would be very unusual! It's usually only expenses incurred in carrying out business, not getting to your usual place of work.

Anyway - in your situation I'd take Job 2. The flexibility around school will be invaluable. Also, with respect to Job 1 - you can't start a job with a plan to leave in 6 months! I mean you probably can legally, but your plan is very misleading to the employer.

I do similar to job 2 and like yours DH works away, I made the decision that I needed something stable that I could work round DCs while they were little and attend things like nativities and sports days.

Sounds boring I know but I definitely made the right decision for me.

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and help. I wasn't expecting so many comments in a short time! It has really helped me see it from different perspectives.

I will go for job 2 and hope for a progression or side step once the FTC is over. I'll make the calls today and let you know how I get on!

Good luck! Also hope your little one loves school - big changes for both of you!

Good luck! I work for the council and when my DC started school they agreed for me to work term time only (but extra hours so the same salary).
Hopefully your DC will enjoy school when they get there.