Changing Jobs - What to do?

Lexx0r

Hi Guys,

I am in a huge predicament and need some help.

I currently work in a dead-end career within a Insurance Callcentre.
There is no progression but payreviews happen yearly and increases are minimal. It is a very basic and no-demanding role where I work 35 hours a week, with the possibility of almost unlimited overtime paid at a time and half basis.

Current Salary: 16.5K PA
Overtime: Paid at time and a half - almost unlimited
Hours: 35 HOURS Per Week
Shifts: Shiftwork, so regulary changing
Progression: Very minimal/None
Payrises: Yearly reviews
Bonus: Uncapped
Security: Currently secure


I currently was seeking to change roles and have been offered a position in one of the largest recruitment consultancys within the UK. Work would be 47.5 hours a week, but MONDAY to FRIDAY - rather than shift. There is no overtime paid, but overtime may be nessacary (free work on business needs)

Offered Salary: 18K PA
Overtime: Business needs- but not paid
47.5 HOURS Per Week
Shifts: Mon-Fri Only
Progression: Clear business structure
-after 3 month: 21K + Bonus (if probation passed)
-future progression avaliable
Payrises: As per progression
Bonus: Uncapped
Security: 3 month probation then secure

I am young, and want to proceed a career. I am a strong sales induvidual and want to progress but am unsure if now is the time to do so. I have the contracts in hand, but am unsure wether to sign. I do have needs, I run a car, bike and rent a house for my family.

Please help!

RuthnJasper

Sweetie - I can quite see your dilemma.

The new job looks the better option - but 47½ hrs a week is quite a lot. Have you Googled the new firm to check out career progression opportunities - maybe it appears on forums like this one, where you can read what other say about it...?

Try and picture yourself in six months' time - if you turned down the new job would you then feel cross with yourself and frustrated that you didn't join the new company, or happy that you remained where you are? If you accepted the new job - are you happy there, or pining for your old workplace?

I guess the main thing is personal happiness. Do you like where you currently are and get on with your colleagues? But do consider that there MUST have been a reason why you are looking around for other opportunities... perhaps the benefits of the new place will far outweigh the frustrations of the current.

If it were me, I think I'd go for the new job. But that's just me - ultimately, only YOU can make the decision. If you DO take the new job and find that it isn't right for you, nothing is stopping you from looking for something else.

You sound like a very responsible, intelligent and considerate person - I am sure that you will do the right thing.

The prospect of change in any circumstance is daunting - but don't let that fear of change hold you back.

I wish you every success and happiness - whatever your decision. xx

Uncertain

Lexx0r wrote: »

Security: 3 month probation then secure

Not really!

Probation has very little meaning in law. You don't get unfair dismissal protection until you have been there for a year and this is likely to rise to two years in April.

Obviously this is only one factor amongst many....

Wellery82

Having worked as a recruitment consultant myself for a number of years i can vouch it is a good career to quickly progress and earn good money, but is also demanding and many people do not adjust to it, or succeed for varying reasons.

The recruitment role will never be particularly secure - you are always as good as your last months performance. If however you are hitting your targets you will be earning very good money, be able to walk into another recruitment job elsewhere, and be in a really enjoyable job - telling someone they have that dream job is a nice thing to be able to do. It is hard work, and especially in your first 6 months you will be on a big learning curve, which brings with it frustration, stress and pressure to perform.

Ultimately it is a sales job, and as with any sales job your performance dictates your security and your progression. You will find however if you can stick it out for a year and do well there will be countless other recruitment agencies interested in your services, often with many different perks, more flexible hours etc. If you look at the Sunday Times top 100 companies to work for many are often recruitment consultants for example.

I am really glad i went into recruitment. It gave some great training in sales techniques, gave me better money than i could have got elsewhere at that stage of my career, and has helped me in many other ways. I didn't particular enjoy many aspects of it though, and also saw many people dismissed for failing to hit their sales targets. Most found other recruitment employment relatively easily however

Good luck in your decision and feel free to ask any quesions you may have

Wellery82

Uncertain wrote: »

Not really!

Probation has very little meaning in law. You don't get unfair dismissal protection until you have been there for a year and this is likely to rise to two years in April.

Obviously this is only one factor amongst many....

Definitely - the probation just means they will get rid on a 1st warning. Be really aware this is a sales job - 1 years service or ten years, if you aren't hitting the sales targets repeatedly you will be out

On the contrary however if you have hit your numbers in sales it is probably one of the easiest professions to walk into another job - basically you are saying if you employ me your business makes more money!

Lexx0r

Its very hard as you can appreciate. My current role is very simple and easy and pay is not too bad. I can easily excess 18K in doing the extra hours overtime BUT I have no future here. I fear if I dont break out of the call centre environment I could be stuck here forever, and with experience, if all did fail, I could always easily revert back to a simular role.

I am stong and confident salesmen and the company in question are Meridian BS, who seem a large aware winning company according to the REC and many other sites/accreditors. I am willing to put hours in, and previously have worked over just under 100 hour weeks to suceed to where I have previously been with other companies (sales manager in Scottish Power).

I am progressing extremely fast within the enviroment and wish to continue. By young, I am 18 years old - so I have a clear future still ahead - but I have the mentality to suceed, and to suceed fast.

I dont enjoy my current role. Its dull, extremely linear and sales is a underestimate for how limited our role is. I appreciate and enjoy challenges, and feed on future progression. I do enjoy my secure income with my current employer, easily making enough money to afford what many others within this country would only dream of affording at my age - but could still easily live on just 18K per year - without any changes. My current collegues are great, friendly but its a very large firm (RBS) who are extremely linear in there processes and restrict the role entirely.

I appreciate where everyone comes from in regards to sales roles being easily dismisable, but I do not consider myself or my ability and determination to ever recieve a dismisal on this basis.

The new company also is very tightly fit, very close and seem to be a extremely free and friendly environment where everyone is left responsible to their own accord. I am feeling a career change - so I feel maybe I should just take it!

RuthnJasper

Lexx0r wrote: »

Its very hard as you can appreciate. My current role is very simple and easy and pay is not too bad. I can easily excess 18K in doing the extra hours overtime BUT I have no future here. I fear if I dont break out of the call centre environment I could be stuck here forever, and with experience, if all did fail, I could always easily revert back to a simular role.

I am stong and confident salesmen and the company in question are Meridian BS, who seem a large aware winning company according to the REC and many other sites/accreditors. I am willing to put hours in, and previously have worked over just under 100 hour weeks to suceed to where I have previously been with other companies (sales manager in Scottish Power).

I am progressing extremely fast within the enviroment and wish to continue. By young, I am 18 years old - so I have a clear future still ahead - but I have the mentality to suceed, and to suceed fast.

I dont enjoy my current role. Its dull, extremely linear and sales is a underestimate for how limited our role is. I appreciate and enjoy challenges, and feed on future progression. I do enjoy my secure income with my current employer, easily making enough money to afford what many others within this country would only dream of affording at my age - but could still easily live on just 18K per year - without any changes. My current collegues are great, friendly but its a very large firm (RBS) who are extremely linear in there processes and restrict the role entirely.

I appreciate where everyone comes from in regards to sales roles being easily dismisable, but I do not consider myself or my ability and determination to ever recieve a dismisal on this basis.

The new company also is very tightly fit, very close and seem to be a extremely free and friendly environment where everyone is left responsible to their own accord. I am feeling a career change - so I feel maybe I should just take it!

Poppet - I think you should go for it. It sounds ideal for you. But - again - this is MY opinion only. Be happy and keep smiling, OK?

Oldernotwiser

When you say you rent a house for your family, what do you actually mean?

I had assumed that you had a partner and children to support and was going to suggest the more secure option in the recession but then you said you're only 18, so I'm now rather puzzled.