I interviewed successfully for a local authority post in January. It's a job I know I would be good at and would probably really enjoy.
The recruitment checks have dragged on and on. I provided referees details at the time and completed DBS check forms. DBS came back within 10 days all fine.
I called weekly after the first 6 weeks had passed to see what was going on. At one point I was told there might be an issue with one of my references which was alarming as I've never had an issue at any of my jobs before. I had an anxious two weeks wait before they said the 'issue' was that my previous employers policy was to only provide work dates and no further info. (As both my previous role and the one applied for are managerial I could have told them this and saved them a fortnight and me some stress!)
As it's now mid May, whilst waiting for the job to come through I've started a little side hustle which is dog walking and general errand running /care tasks for older people just to try and tide me over a bit and keep some money coming in. I didn't think it would prove to be so popular and I've had lots of enquiries etc. It doesn't pay as much as the job does, but it fits in with my other childcare commitments far better and I'm enjoying it.
Yesterday, nearly 4 months after my interview the job emailed me and said when did I want to come and pick up my laptop and arrange a start date?
I'm now in two minds as to what to do.
I feel like the job has dicked me around a bit. And it's in the field which I was trained for (social work Managerial
Role) but which if I'm honest I'd started to like a bit less by the end of my last contract. It would make family life much harder to take it. Due to an odd court order we have a 3 hour round trip school drop off two mornings a week and a hour and a half round trip pick up for DSS's to do three nights a week. DH can't do this 80% of the time as his job requires him to be in the office or out with clients and as he is by far the higher earner we need him to be doing well at work to sustain all our outgoings. Mostly it falls to me and it would be tiring to fit it in around full time work-though doable-I did it for two years previously.
The dog walking etc fits in with this more but pays less and is less secure and in this climate is that a risk worth taking? Without the salary we are managing but we have to be be super careful. With it there might be room for some more fun stuff or at least a bit of a buffer for emergencies.
I've turned this over and over and I just can't decide!
Help me o wise mumsnetters! I'm driving myself insane.