Enviable position but I still don't know what to do!!

cruyff73

Well I'm in the lucky position to have been offered 2 jobs after being unemployed for 5 months. The problem is - which one to take. On the one hand there's a job in a call centre, 5 days, shift work (earliest 8am, latest 8.30pm),dull,monotonous but well paid, flexi time and lots of holiday entitlement (never wanted to work in a call centre).Family life, for the most part, would remain unchanged.
The other is 4 days a week (possibility of 5 days in the future) as an admin/training supervisor for a national training company, just above minimum wage with less holidays but nicer environment, more laid back and the possibility of doing more training courses which would be beneficial in the future. Family life would change as I would work Saturdays with days off in the week whereas my wife works Mon-Fri, so we wouldn't spend as much time together.
Financially there's 6k difference in wages.

Really don't know what to do for the best!!!

Mini_Bear

Firstly well done on your job offers, having to pick between 2 jobs leaves you in an enviable position.
I would write down all the positives and negatives of each job on a piece of paper and try to work out which positives you value most.
Sure the ££ may have some weight BUT if the call centre job is high pressure sales and very target orientated, with a family this will no doubt stress you out a lot, so you will need to work out whether its worth it.
Also call centres tend to have a high churn of staff for a reason. If they offered training/qualifications to rival the other job that may be beneficial, but again it needs to be considered.
If you scaled down the call centre job to 4 days pay, is there still a large difference in ££, having a 4 day working week with a family will surely be a god-send and mean you will have a bit of time for housework, batch cooking etc.
Anyway enough of my waffle, i hope that gives you a few things to consider
WELL DONE!!!

cruyff73

Thank for your reply Mini bear.
The call centre is DVLA so no sales, just irate people ringing about tax and licences (not all the time lol) no targets just call time deadlines.
Based on full 5 day weeks the pay is still £3700 better than the training centre. Basic courses are offered I think but not as substantial as the ones I could have available.
I think the time together as a family is the most important which I guess means the call centre wins.
It's just really annoying to know that the best thing is not really the one you want to do!

But hey what am I moaning about..I've got a job!!!! (that's one positive for Gordon Brown, unemployment down by 1!!)

Owain_Moneysaver

Does the training company depend on govt contracts or similar for its workload? Because if it does, and it loses a contract, it could find it has too many staff...

DVLA probably more likely to be a steadier job, more union representation if there are redundancies, and with flexi time you may be able to fit in some part-time or distance learning courses anyway.

Mini_Bear

Yes i think the DVLA is more suitable with the fixed work schedule meaning you can have a good routine and have the most time with your kids at the weekend!
Well done you!

Oldernotwiser

Do you claim Working Tax Credits? hav you looked into how much extra you might get by taking the lower paid job?

Even if this doesn't help, I'd seriously consider taking the Training Supervisor post. You would obviously prefer it and it sounds as if it would have far more career potential in the longer term. Going for the short term financial option is rarely a good idea.

flutterbyuk25

cruyff73 wrote: »

Thank for your reply Mini bear.
The call centre is DVLA so no sales, just irate people ringing about tax and licences (not all the time lol) no targets just call time deadlines.
Based on full 5 day weeks the pay is still £3700 better than the training centre. Basic courses are offered I think but not as substantial as the ones I could have available.
I think the time together as a family is the most important which I guess means the call centre wins.
It's just really annoying to know that the best thing is not really the one you want to do!

But hey what am I moaning about..I've got a job!!!! (that's one positive for Gordon Brown, unemployment down by 1!!)

Congrats on the job offers.

I am ex DVLA and worked in the call centre on phones for 5 years (left Jan 2009). I can tell you lots of good and bad things about the place!!

I hated working there in the end. It is soul destroying, mindnumbingly boring, very little chance for progression, very controled (e.g. you have to take breaks/lunch at set time, have targets for call times, after work time, toilet breaks etc.), you have to deal with some very irate callers at times, you work shifts which aren't always family friendly - unless things have changed you get 10 week rota, with 2 reserve weeks in it where you do not know your shifts until wk before, plus you have to do approx 2 saturdays and 2 late shifts (10.30am or later start). Also you will more than likely be tied to a 3year contract and during that time you cannot transfer to another non call centre DVLA dept unless promoted.

On the plus side, the flexi time is ok (although you can only make max 1hour/day), you get good annual leave, extra bank holidays, make great friends, good social side, good benefits (pension etc).

If you want any info feel free to PM me

HTH

x

flutterbyuk25

Also, I've just coincidentally met up with one of the recruiters from DVLA tonight, and the new starters are all casuals with only 6month contract, which will be turned into 12 months in some cases but will not get extended further than 12months. So unless they have a recruitment drive for permanent staff during the casual period you will not have much job security.

HTH

x

bristol_pilot

Working in a call centre is many people's idea of job-hell. You should only work in a call centre if you either have no choice or if you are one of the handfull of people who absolutely love that kind of work. Ask yourself whether having every aspect of your working day being controlled in minute detail - toilet breaks included - would be restful to you or stressful. If in any doubt, take the other job.

FirstTimer4Me

opps think i should start a new thread

shikoku

You're at work for a good deal of the day, do the one you would enjoy!