Should I apply for this job ?

[rookiemere]

This is going to be longish so apologies in advance.
About 2 years ago I took voluntary redundancy from my corporate role. It was a good package and my decision to go. I got a decent contract role for a year in a different sector which turned out to be tough but great to have the opportunity to work somewhere different.

However during that time my elderly DPs health declined and as an only DC with them living an hour away and both being fiercely resistant to anything vaguely useful, it’s been a very stressful period. Thankfully both now in a care home 5 minutes drive away.

I didn’t work for about 6 months as I wasn’t able to focus enough to apply and could have only worked part time, luckily earlier this year a previous interview I had passed came through and I now have a 3 day a week admin role. I enjoy having some structure again, and at 56 I thought this was a good role to see me through to retirement.

I do browse jobs though and one has come up that I am perfectly qualified for, particularly with my mixed experiences. It’s also a job share so 0.6 which is perfect as I don’t want to work full time, much better paid than current role.The downside is it’s only until March 2027 so a very short period only and means I would lose my current number, and there are very few part time roles with decent hours. If it was for longer even a year, I would probably just go for it.

I just don’t know what to do. I know the obvious answer is to apply and decide if I am offered it, but it’s so time consuming tarting up a CV and I don’t want to waste their time either.

I thought I would throw it out there for some advice.

Well, you've answered your own question - you've either got to be willing to invest some time to submit your application and potentially have a job for a few months (possibly longer if they like you) or you walk away and find something else.

I'd at least try, because work can often evolve and organisations can make a decision to extend a contract if they don't want to lose the employee, but if you don't feel motivated then that's your answer.

If it truly is only 9 months I wouldn't. But might be worth a chat with the recruiting member of staff to understand why it's fixed term, is it mat leave, is it funding that is nearly always renewed? I presume it's decent money for you consider losing your reliable position.

Thanks both @PermanentlyExhaustedPigeonZZZyes it’s a definite bump up salary wise as current role is around min wage and this is back to professional level. But that equation quickly stops working if I wasn’t extended as it’s very likely to take longer to find something afterwards, particularly part time which is very important to me.
I have also realised that taking it would probably exclude me from future admin jobs which are easier to find at part time as well.
Swaying towards not applying. Even if I did speak to them and they said there was a possibility of extending, it’s no guarantee.