Is it worth the risk?

[nervousal]

I've worked with NHS for about 10 years. Current job is getting very stressful, too much work to do, complex project management etc etc and I really think I need a change.

A job has come up working with local authority - which my skills would be perfect for, its concentrating on 1 area (hurray!), working with people I already know and get on with in an area I've been working on fringes of for a while.

Only thing it - its a 2 year fixed term job. I could ask for a secondment - but chances of manager agreeing are slim. So I'd have to resign from a permanent contract and transfer to a fixed term one.

Don't know what to do. Oh and manager is now on hols until after closing date - so can't discuss it.

help? You're all normally so sensible!

It depends how niche your job is. Mine are 10 a penny (well not PT) but some specialist jobs are few and far between.

My gut is to say go for it as I don't believe people should stay in a job they hate or are finding stressful. You should work to live. If you will enjoy the job and will be able to find work at the end of the two years then go for it

Obviously request the secondment first {grin]

opps

guess the only issue is that I've only ever worked in NHS and wouldn't want to leave on a bad note - its a small world and I might be relying on them at the end of the 2 years.

Re niche or specialist - well I've got pretty wide generic skills so I'd probably get something - but who knows?

I'd say go for it. 10 years with one employer is a long time so leaving probably sounds scary. But you will probably find yourself wondering why you didn't do it earlier! If the new job is LA with people you know and an area you've already been touching on, the culture shock shouldn't be too bad either.

2 years fixed term is pretty good - it might be extended or made permanent and/or other things are bound to come up in that time as well.

Apply for the job. You don't lose anything by doing that. See how far you get, and if you get an interview and it's looking good, you can ask about a secondment. And if you change your mind, no harm done. Worth exploring to get your feet wet anyway.

How would it influence your pension? would you then have to leave the nhs scheme and move to local authority one?
Apply for the job - you can withdraw if you later change your mind, and you will have lost nothing (and with the benefit of having made your manager seee you as someone who is willing to move to get a better job). So you could apply and then discuss secondment when your manage is back from holiday?

My advice would be to go for it. Life is too short to be in a stressful job and also to worry about your pension!

You would probably be able to transfer your NHS pension into the Local Authority pension anyway.

I believe that you should think of things that happen as an opportunity - you don't know what may become of you as a result of a job change. Someone might finally realise what an asset you are and give you a better job!

Good luck in whatever you decide.

I would just go for it. I know of so many people who stay in their NHS jobs - despite hating them - just because of the pension. Life too short to spend most of your time miserable.

I left a secure, permanent teaching job for a one year fixed term contract teaching job because it would give me a better work/life balance. I don't regret it at all.

The contract was extended and is now guaranteed until 2011 (even though I've now decided to leave again).

Go for it!