Got myself in a corner - can you help me!

May-B

Hi, just looking for a little bit of advice from you lovely people.
I'm planning to go back to university in September 2007 and study a really great post-graduate course. In order to save for the fees I am leaving my job with a charity, for which I am (rightly though!) under paid for what I do. I looked at permanent jobs without really thinking it through as I always assumed that temporary work (i'm in the PA/Admin sector) would not pay enough for me to be able to put money away.
I've managed to get through several interviews with a very good company and have been offered a job verbally via the recruitment agency (nothing in writing as yet), I unofficially start the new job in just over two weeks and have handed in my notice.
However as my start date is getting nearer, I've got more and more stressed out about the fact that I'm starting a new job with the knowledge that I intend to leave it in ten months - I just dont know if I can go through with it. I did mention to the recruitment agency that I wanted to go back to study at some point, but they breezed over it and didnt mention it again, and nothing came up in my interview about how long term I was expecting the job to be. If I take this position, I'll have to go through all of the new starter training (they mentioned in the interview that they thought it would take about three months to train me up), sit with someone while they put together a training plan, which I know I'm not going to be around to complete/put into practice. Not to mention the fact that I'll have to conceal my future plans from my new work colleagues. It was pretty silly of me not to have thought of this before, but I just put it out of mind in the rush to sort out my CV and fill in applications forms and then I got carried away with my success at the interviews etc. Dont get me wrong, this wouldnt damage the company in any way, they are very very succesful and my role is a minor cog in a very big machine - its more my conscience (I would have to conceal my plans from people), and the effect on the other people I work with that gets to me.
I've also now looked properly at temping positions and have realised that I could earn enough money to match the salary of the position I've just been offered - plus if I only have a temping job, it'll be much less pressured, and I might feel able to keep on some of my weekend work (which is on a casual basis so I can take it or leave it). Plus it would relieve all of the anxiety about keeping my plans under wraps.
What to do?
If I decide this was a really bad idea, I dont know how to go about backing out of the situation, I've already verbally said yes to the job, although I havent signed anything (or received any paper work from the company). If I were to call up and say that I had changed my mind or that I had decided I want to go back to university in a year - i would need to speak to the recruitment consultant. Now, this is also very silly, but I'm very intimidated by the consultant I've been working with, she is very pushy and really laid it on thick about how difficult it was to get the company to put the salary offer up (I asked them to review it), if I have to phone and tell her my decision - I wouldnt have a clue what to say! and dont even know if I have the guts to say it!
So there is my dilemma for the day, sorry for the ramble - hope you folks might have some suggestions for me, I know I havent handled the situation very well but I'm not hugely experienced in this new job/employment sector and it seems this time, I've managed to back myself into a tight corner!!
Help!

Astaroth

I think you are much more scared to be starting a new job rather than anything else.

Temping rarely is a good option as the work is never guaranteed and you will spend the next 9 months continuously having to go into a new office, not knowing anyone, where anything is, what anyone is like etc which can be very stressful even for someone who isnt a worrier.

The job agency gets money by putting people into a job. They arent there to look out for either your long term prospectives or the employers (hence why they will have brushed over your intention to leave in under a year). Certainly getting a new member of staff is fairly costly for company however you are saying you are going to be there for a fair amount of time (not one of these that turn up to work on the first day and ask when they have to hand in their maternity notice).

Short term, ok it may stop you getting a promotion but then if you are leaving for college that doesnt really matter.

Long term, being a person who is good at a job, doesnt take every other day off sick, turns up on time etc are all going to count much more in your favour than the slight negative of having left after just under a year.

I certainly wouldnt waltz in on day one and ask when you need to hand your notice in but at the same time there is nothing to stop you, if your asked, saying that you are considering further education.... at the end of the day you can honestly state that you mentioned it to the recruitment agency and that it was never asked at interview.

Mics_chick

Hi May-B

I agree with Astraroth - please don't worry about it.

There are lots of other cases I've heard of where people start jobs and have no intention of staying for long but they don't beat themselves up about it.

The nearest one that springs to mind was someone who was made redundant and went for lots of job interviews. She was offered the job she really really wanted. But was then told there was a delay of about six months with the project she would initially be working on. They realised nobody was going to hang around that long but she would definitely be offered first refusal when they got the go-ahead. So she took another job that she was qualified for but not that interested in with the hope that the first job would come up, obviously she had to work somewhere! Anyway she eventually did get her dream job but didn't have any qualms about leaving the other job.

You say you need a better paid job and you've been offered it. If you temp there's no guarantee that it will be continuous. So take this job and don't worry about anything. Also if you have a problem with your future plans talk about them as that - you don't need to mention when you're actually planning on doing it!

I hope you work it out.
Mics_chick

May-B

Hi, thanks very much for your replies (I cant get the thanks button to work at the moment, will suss out why eventually!), they were really helpful!

I am very nervous about starting the new job, which is fine and I would normally relish the challenge, its just the idea of starting a new and very pressured (apparently!) job that I havent really got my heart in (I'm not very good at the work/life balance thing, I tend to throw everything into my work, hence I'm hoping I'll be good at sudying!). I am looking forward to going back to university SO much that I cant imagine being able to focus on anything else! However, you are right, I need to do this job to earn enough money for the fees, and I am certainly a very hard working and dedicated person and I can definately make a positive contribution to the company even if it is only for nine months. I will work hard to break the news to them diplomatically and in good time. I did do my very best at the interview to highlight my 'other' interests in the area I am studying the course in - so it wont be a total shocker when I bring it up! In the meantime I may get hold of some of the books from the course reading list so I have something positive to think about!

Thanks again for your advice
x

CFC

Speaking as an employer, have some mercy on us...people who take jobs when they don't mean to stick around cause us stress and grief. This is a job with 3 months training for heavens sake...go and temp instead. And congrats to you for having a bit of a conscience about it. Business is made up of people, and your boss and the people who need you to deliver are people too, and it might not cause the company any problems (big view) but it sure as anything does to the people who rely on you (small view).


You certainly won't be making a realistic contribution in 10 months, if your training is 3 months, bearing in mind your last month will be a handover. The more employees in general behave this way, the worse the employer gets. And people complain about bad employers....

elisebutt65

Take the job and when it comes time to hand in your notice - go and talk to them about working part time whilst you study. You never know- they may be understanding about it.

Many students work as well as study - upto about 15 hours a week should be fine.

If your good at the job then maybe the company will want to hang onto you and who knows may even offer to help pay for your studies - lol

Don't ask, don't get???