Would you apply for this job?

[MissSJM]

I've been at my current job for nearly 2 years and whilst I enjoy my job, I've lost the motivation for it, and I've been wanting more money for a while so I've now decided to look for another job. I'm supposed to work from the office 2/3 days a week but I rarely go in due to anxiety when travelling during peak times (I live in London so having to take the tube during rush hour is chaos!), and the rush between taking my children to breakfast club (which opens at 08.10am) and getting to work for 9am, I find is too much especially when my nearest station is a 15-20 min walk from the school, and my journey to work is an extra 30 mins, making it roughly 45-50 mins door to door.

I've applied for a couple of jobs this week, one being an internal position that's nearly £10,000 more than my current salary, due to it being the next grade up. However, this role would require me to go into the office 3 days a week and the thought of it makes me feel sick!

I also applied for a job at an external company who's head office is based quite local so I wouldn't have to take the tube, and my journey would take about 25-30 mins door to door. However, The advertised salary is £3,000 - £10,000 lower than what I'm currently getting, but I'm hoping to negotiate if I ever get to interview stage/offered the job, and the role is of a higher level to what I'm doing now. I've seen another vacancy advertised by this same company, however, this role is on the same level to what I'm doing now and the salary range is £7,000 - £10,000 lower than what I'm currently getting. I'm tempted to apply for this job purely because of location, but I don't know if it's worth a £7,000 pay drop.

What would you do?

How much would you save not taking the tube for the latter two jobs?

Can you afford to take a drop?

7-10,000 is a huge drop if you're earning 25,000, not so much if you're on 195,000.

You need to do the calculations, I don't know your costs or what value you place on avoiding the tube.

You'll have to do the maths.

I would say however, if you're meant to be going in and you're not (and it's not a formal adjustment) then it's unlikely you'll be top choice for the internal role so yes external and nearer your home may be best.

My travel costs are roughly £9 a day, which, when calculated to yearly, is about £1300 (if I calculated that correctly). With the local job, my costs will be roughly £3.50 a day. Realistically, I don't think I could afford to drop £7,000. I'm working in admin earning around £45,000.

Honestly, I find travelling into the office quite stressful, hence avoiding it. I just wish I could find a local job with similar pay as they are few and far between 😭

Are you talking net or gross pay here?

I would focus on your anxiety. How long have you felt like this? Did you go into work before covid?

Unfortunately, there is no straight forward answer to this as you need to make your choice based on your own circumstances. There is a trade off between how much you ear and where you have to go to earn it and only you can decide what it's worth to you.

Gross pay

It's been a while now, to be honest. I was going into the office 5 days a week before covid and was fine (different job though), but I believe I caught covid travelling home from work on the tube a couple of years ago, so since then my anxiety has increased. My line manager does know about my anxiety and has been very supportive, but the thought of being on the tube like a sardine for longer than 10 mins makes me feel sick.

You really need to get some help with your anxiety.
It really isn't normal to feel the way you do about going to work.

If neither of the jobs are making you want to go for it easily, then neither job is for you. You should be excited for an opportunity not umm'ing and arrr'ing. it's like buying a new car or a new house, you just know when it's right.

Until you have a job offer I wouldn't be over thinking a job application either way.

Definitely don't go for the interal job at the same place. For you place of work is going to be important until you get on top of your anxiety

A £7k drop in gross pay will be a smaller drop in net pay. You're not comparing the right numbers.

Depending on pension contributions and anything else specific to you, a £7k drop in gross pay if you're currently on £45k is only a £4-5k drop in net pay.

but I'm hoping to negotiate if I ever get to interview stage/offered the job

What basis do you think you'd be negotiating on?

I would apply for the job nearer with less salary and negotiate. I would not apply for a job which meant more travel time as unlikely to work out.

Do you have a formal diagnosis of anxiety? Might it be possible to request that you WFH or have working hours that avoid rush hour travel as a reasonable adjustment?