Which job is better?

[booisbooming]

Haven't been offered either yet but interested in what people think. Three options. All charity sector.

1. Fully remote organisation with no office, complete flexitime. Very obscure but quite interesting in a niche way organisation. No direct reports but chance to build a team. £45k.
2. Hybrid - visit London (2hrs train at own expense, £80ish) once a fortnight. Well-respected but slightly boring organisation. 2 direct reports. £52k.
3. Hybrid but London twice a week (again 2hrs train at own expense - have friends I could stay with but would be a bit much to stay with same person every week). 3 direct reports. Very very cool high profile organisation. £60k.

Similar job titles in each - this is a HoD level. I'm 43, one primary age child, returning to full time-ish after several years freelance. I like visiting London. To a point. Ideally I would flexitime or compressed hours because I have one freelance commitment I would like to keep going. I think this is an option for jobs 1 and 2. Not sure about 3.

1

Interesting!

1. Chance to build a team is amazing!

Plus no commuting costs and being fully remote/complete flexitime is most like being freelance.

My reply listed number one which was turned into a bullet point.

@TheDefiant Yes I am a bit worried I may have gone feral after several years freelancing.

I am not entirely convinced they're not bullshitting / saying what I want to hear about the chance to build a team though! Feels a bit handwavy.

1 all day long, I'm not sure if you've got children or not, but 'complete flexitime' would be like music to my ears! And it sounds like the job would be more interesting for you as well.

2

@loopyloo52 yep one kid. The job in 3 is the most interesting, definitely. But at what price.... The job 1 is fairly interesting. 2 is boring but probably most easy.

@JumpstartMondays I'm glad someone said 2. I quite like the look of 2.

I would hate 1 because I hate wfh.

Is it 2 hours each way on the train?

Yes nice journey though (east coast mainline) and lots of old friends in London to catch up with. Once a month is lovely. Twice a month is quite nice. Twice a week would kill me I think.

But primarily because I am the same age in similar sector and I love not having to worry too much about work and can focus on kids at the moment.

So 3 is out then really. Which is a shame because it sounds like it is otherwise the best/most appealing to you.

Depends on the other benefits, but probably 2, although 3 sounds v.interesting

Absolutely job 1. Yes, 2 and 3 pay more on paper, but you're losing a lot of that money in commuting, before you even consider the time impact. It's a no-brainer for me.

Good luck!

Going to be the odd one out. If I was 43, I'd take 3.

Now in my 50s, I'd go with 2.

I wouldn't enjoy wfh on a ft basis, so would rule 1 out for me.

To me it sounds like just the right balance of hybrid. Not too often commuting and not entirely in isolation WFH going stir crazy, and with a couple of direct reports too. Good luck!

Like PP said, at your age I'd pick 3.

Is there anyway to negotiate option 3 and travelling?

With your freelance will your contract allow for that ? & also how long for?

1 seems the obvious choice with flexibility and WFH - though is it enough? And whether anything really changes around a possible direct reports?

2 - could be a good balance of 1&3 ?

Which one could also be good for future roles & exposure?

Thanks all, this is really interesting and it's good to surmise that there are possibly no completely wrong answers here. If I get offered number 3 and I could talk them down to just once a week in London that might be different, although compressed hours are still less likely there.

2 would be the best balance for future exposure and not being in the office too much. It is the best for future promotions I would think. 3 is a bit too busy and 1 is too isolating. I would pick 1 if I had young children.

1. possibly but I haven't even been offered it yet, just interviewing
2. My freelance is important but non-competitive (editing a book, different field), will be until this time next year.
3. Yes, but it's not hugely adding anything to my CV
4. Yes and also worth adding that when I see other jobs advertised there are a few more in the mould of this number 2
5. Future roles / progression - no idea about 1, 2 is solid and could maybe get a promotion but would probably stay 2 years then leave, 3 is like "oh wow, you work THERE?!?"