Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Dilemma - Exciting job with good work/home balance or exciting new role with mega bucks??!

33 replies

andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 10:46

I'm a teacher. After years of working towards a good balance between work and home as well as getting chances to be creative, I've got it. My 'dream job' starts in June: teaching at my current (very good) school 3 days a week, very good for proximity to home, great boss PLUS now one day per week working for the County as an advisor in my subject. This will give me the chance to run courses, advise other schools, coach and mentor, and work for my own school as well as others. I also have 1 day off a week. My 2 dcs are school age and nursery age. Downside is that money is mega-tight as our LA is skint: the extra job is only for a year as that's all they have funding for, but strong poss of it being renewed if they can find more money next year. I'm working in a role which is worth much more than I'm being paid.

But now a job has come up locally in an academy school (meaning they have mega-bucks to invest in improvement). The role is exactly what I'm qualified for but all the work is within the same school: teaching, coaching, observing, mentoring, initiating and creating new things. The big bosses are excellent (heard from a colleague)- very forward-thinking, positively encourage new ideas and creativity; there's a real 'buzz' about the place... and the pay is fantastic: 12K more than I'm on now

Trouble is... if I apply for it and get it (and I am very well-qualified for it, without wanting to preen too much!), I would royally piss of my current Head as he really fought for me to get my current role, and I'd piss off the LA too, thus very much cutting myself off from ever working for the LA again in this kind of role.

I've got a feeling my ego is running my dilemma a bit - part of me wants to be paid well for the job I know I can do well: dh would be able to go part-time from the job he works mega-hard for but doesn't really like much, and this would make life easier with the dcs as he's very hands-on and would do the shopping, organising etc if I had to go f/t.

Advice / virtual slaps welcome!
(I've name-changed in case I get 'recongnised' but I am a regular)

OP posts:
Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 10:48

or even recognised

OP posts:
chicaguapa · 05/03/2010 11:12

That IS a dilemma! If you can manage on the lower salary, I would suggest sticking to your current plan. You were obviously happy with it before you saw the job in the academy. You'd kick yourself if the academy job didn't work out and there was no way back.

You can always make a new plan where you look for another job in the academy in a year or so and your DH can look forward to going p/t then. Then you won't have pissed anyone off and burnt any bridges and it gives you somewhere to go career-wise.

But it probably comes down to how important the extra money is NOW - over and above the people you will leave behind/ the actual job you do. If the new job paid more or less the same, it might not seem as tempting.

HTH

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 11:27

Thanks. I guess I feel a bit guilty that dh's life could be made a bit better if I earned more. We survive just fine at the money: the usual I guess... we manage a holiday every year, nights out, treats and are usually overdrawn but not hugely. Life is good.

The extra money would help dh and we could also afford to extend the house and improve the holidays... and maybe save a bit (ha ha)

OP posts:
chicaguapa · 05/03/2010 11:31

What does DH think you should do?

Bonsoir · 05/03/2010 11:31

I would have thought that in the long term the role working for the LA would be more valuable and prestigious than the role working within a single school. So as a career investment you should probably do the LA role.

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 11:35

Dh wants me to do what makes me happy. His eyes lit up when I told him about the salary in the new job but he'd honestly be fine with what we have. The part-time thing for him is like a running pipe-dream

Bonsoir - I think you're right about the LA job. In the long run it would give me more scope for future opportunities. The new school knows this is a consideration for advanced skills/leadership teachers, which is why the money is so good.

OP posts:
Tortington · 05/03/2010 11:35

i'd go for the mega bucks.

people and personel within the LA will turn over as they do. its not like there will be no road back.

besides you cant go on any job site without tripping over teacher roles - so you could go back to basic teaching (perhaps at a lower level) if it all went tits up.

as far as i can see - this would be a huge personal boost for you and enable your dh to have a better quality of life too.

anyway - go for it and make the decision if they offer it you.

Tortington · 05/03/2010 11:36

the other thing is once you get to a new pay bracket - its easier to get similar roles in that pay bracket.

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 11:38

argggghhhhhhhhhhhh

(but thanks as well)

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 05/03/2010 11:38

Aha - so you have an explanation for the discrepancy - it's a clear choice of experience/seniority versus money.

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 11:40

the other thing to bear in mind is that my new LA boss (the secondment thingy) is very highly thought-of; has worked for national projects and is seen as a real 'Education Guru'. Is real kudos for him to have appointed me.

In fact, thinking about it, this might be the thing that swings it...

OP posts:
Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 11:41

so, yes, Bonsoir, you're right.

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 05/03/2010 11:43

I would go for the boss-who-is-going-places any day. One of the best ways to get on in your career is to attach yourself to someone more senior who is going in the direction you want. Think of all the openings and experience and people you'll meet!

chicaguapa · 05/03/2010 11:47

Good old MN eh? Sorts out any dilemma. Good luck.

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 11:49

Indeed. Hurrah for MN!!!

Thanks for a great career consultation

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 05/03/2010 11:50

Congratulations on having two great offers to choose between!

SexyDomesticatedDad · 05/03/2010 11:53

Why not apply for the job - you may not get offered it anyway!! Money for LAs isn't going to get much better in future so what if your LA job finishes in a year....

The new role sounds pretty involved and must be paying for all that responsibility so that would also look good on any cv for future.

IF you get the new job if you put in your resignation the reasons you are taking the new job would that preclude you from working with the LA again??

Try to put down the pros and cons of each and see if you can make an objective decision. If new place is same distanc etc travel is not an issue. Is the new job a permanent contract etc..

CMOTdibbler · 05/03/2010 12:06

I'd apply for the academy job - the only one year of funding/don't know if there will be any next year etc always makes me nervous. You won't piss people off - you are just protecting yourself and family by taking a job where they aren't going to turn round and tell you that there isn't a job anymore in 12 months, and anyone with sense will recognise that.

If this guy is going places, if he is inclined to help people, then he'll still do that (but I never ever rely on that sort of thing)

And it's always easier to get higher paid jobs when you have moved pay bracket

JustAnotherManicMummy · 05/03/2010 18:59

Apply. Then decide if/when you get it.

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 05/03/2010 21:53

Cheers for further comments.

I can assure you JustAnother - it's been very hard work and 16 years' coming!

T'other thing is that, although the secondment is only a year, my old job will remain and I will be able to go back up to 4 days if I want; same wages. I know not to rely too much on other people but it will be excellent experience working for this chap anyway. If I didn't have the secondment I'd definitely go for the other job. As it is, I think I'd be silly not to give it the year as planned.

Money isn't everything! and dh can wait a little while longer for his life of leisure

OP posts:
chicaguapa · 06/03/2010 10:16

Well done. I think you've made the right decision. Life's not all about money!

JustAnotherManicMummy · 06/03/2010 12:11

No judgement. Just very envious

Original poster
andthatshowsueseesit · 06/03/2010 12:28

No worries JustAnother - I've just had a couple of similar comments from younger members of staff like 'you lucky cow' or 'jammy bitch'

funnily enough the job started very badly when I first started working there. A couple of people were very obstructive and tried to 'keep me in my place' because I was p/t and they didn't think i should be getting involved with stuff that would extend my role. I hated it to begin with! So now, although I feel very sorely tempted to do a big Nelson-from-Simpsons-style Ha ha in their faces, I'm thinking that the job itself will be enough and I should keep my tongue between my teeth. Tis very hard though!

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 06/03/2010 12:39

you should apply for other post.stretch yourself.if you were so happy in current role you wouldnt be contemplating this role.dont stay put just because you can and and up stuck in comfy slippers role.

also as a partner/family issue if you can earn more and perhaps ease dh responsibilities you should do so

but most of all if you are capable then stretch yourself and apply

Bonsoir · 06/03/2010 15:06

From the sounds of it, the OP will have far more opportunity for professional growth in the LA role than in the albeit better-paid academy role.