unsure whether to take job

rhianna99

Hi, im looking for some advice, I have been a stay at home mum for the past 3 years, my hubby works full time and I have been looking after our children. I have been looking for work for the past 2 weeks, and have just been offered a job with Tesco for night work. Now when I applied it said it was a flexi contract with 2 core nights (wed, thurs) i asked at interview and they said that they could ask me to work up to five nights per week if needed and that this would probably be the case in the run up to christmas. I am very grateful to get a job and I want to take it, however I am concerned that it isnt realstic for me to do up to 5 night shifts(10-7am) when I have young children, two of which are not in school (a 2year and a 10 wk old baby).

Iv worked out I could sleep in the evenings between 5pm and 9pm but that would be about it. I could keep this up for 2 nights a week but not sure about any more than that. Also its half an hr drive away so will use a lot of fuel. I wont be much better off financially either becasue of reduction in tax credits/hb. I want to work but do you think this is do-able, or should I keep looking? Thanks.

dizzyrascal

If it won't make much difference financially then I personally would look elsewhere. You have 2 very young children who need you to be fit and healthy. Grabbing a few hours sleep is no way to live.

persa

rhianna99 wrote: »

Hi, im looking for some advice, I have been a stay at home mum for the past 3 years, my hubby works full time and I have been looking after our children. I have been looking for work for the past 2 weeks, and have just been offered a job with Tesco for night work. Now when I applied it said it was a flexi contract with 2 core nights (wed, thurs) i asked at interview and they said that they could ask me to work up to five nights per week if needed and that this would probably be the case in the run up to christmas. I am very grateful to get a job and I want to take it, however I am concerned that it isnt realstic for me to do up to 5 night shifts(10-7am) when I have young children, two of which are not in school (a 2year and a 10 wk old baby).

Iv worked out I could sleep in the evenings between 5pm and 9pm but that would be about it. I could keep this up for 2 nights a week but not sure about any more than that. Also its half an hr drive away so will use a lot of fuel. I wont be much better off financially either becasue of reduction in tax credits/hb. I want to work but do you think this is do-able, or should I keep looking? Thanks.

Forget the financial side, if you can only ever get 4 hours sleep max, you are putting yourself at risk of making mistakes at work and getting yourself fired (which will make finding another job even more difficult) and/or not looking after your children properly.

Is there any way you could get more sleep than that? Can your hubby work from home, flex his hours, can a kindly friend or relative help out?

If you've exhausted all the options and you still can't get that 4 hour figure to go up, this job just unfortunately isn't suitable. It's really positive you managed to get an offer though, it proves you can hold your own in the application process.

meg72

rhianna99 wrote: »

Hi, I wont be much better off financially either becasue of reduction in tax credits/hb. I want to work but do you think this is do-able, or should I keep looking? Thanks.

Think that just about says it all, if you are not going to be that much better off, I would say dont do it, theres more to life than an extra couple of pounds I think you are better off not risking your health and family time.

rhianna99

I think you are all right, I just want to get a job because Im worried that the longer I am out of work the harder it will be in the future, I also want to cut down our dependency on tax credits etc. also I dont have any references becasue my last place of work closed down, so I know I am lucky to get this offer. The interviewer said the average amount of nights the workers normally did was 3, which I think is manageable. If I could make it through the busy christmas period I have a feeling my hrs would drop back to 2 or 3 nights.

I dont see myself staying there long term but if I took the job I may fnd it easier to find another job next year. Iv got till tuesday to decide anyway, so thanks for your opinions x

morganedge

I guess you could always go for it, but if the hours get too much and they start making you do 5 nights rather than the 2 or 3 you would like to do, then just quit?

You'd be no worse off.
You wouldn't even need to mention that job in any future positions you apply for.

theoretica

rhianna99 wrote: »

Now when I applied it said it was a flexi contract with 2 core nights (wed, thurs) i asked at interview and they said that they could ask me to work up to five nights per week if needed and that this would probably be the case in the run up to christmas.

If they ask you to work five nights can't you simply say no? Flexibility works both ways.

xsupercarlx

IMO if you want a decent wage you'll need a more specialised job. stick with your benefits, look after your kids but work voluntarily at the CAB. It will pay off when you become competent.

rhianna99

xsupercarlx wrote: »

IMO if you want a decent wage you'll need a more specialised job. stick with your benefits, look after your kids but work voluntarily at the CAB. It will pay off when you become competent.

I had a career in accounts, (am qualified AAT) however working during the day with the associated childcare costs is completely out of the question, so am looking for work I can fit around hubbys work, until all the children are at school. Thanks anyway

[Deleted User]

I agree with the above poster who said that you could give it a try and see how it goes. If it's too much for you, or they're being unreasonable with the number of hours that you need to work, then quit - at least you'll know that you gave it a shot.

I suspect the run up to Xmas will probably be the busiest time at a supermarket, but I also imagine that many people want extra shifts and hours - so it may not mean that you have to work 5 nights a week?

There is only one way to find out.

And it's always easier to get another job, when you have a job.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

denla

rhianna99 wrote: »

I had a career in accounts, (am qualified AAT) however working during the day with the associated childcare costs is completely out of the question, so am looking for work I can fit around hubbys work, until all the children are at school. Thanks anyway

Have you though about data entry jobs from home? The job at Tesco can 'ask' you to do more nights but you can refuse. Or you can negotiate doing every other night so you can sleep. Accept the job now and negotiate afterwards.