Help, had job offer - don't know whether to accept?

kitster2222

Hope to get some advice and appreciate any opinions to help me make a decision before tomorrow.

I work full time (37.5 hrs) between Monday to Saturday in a permanent senior admin job that I really don't enjoy. I work various shifts such early starts or very late finishes at short notice which is a nightmare with family life. I have a boss from hell and I am extremely bored and desperate to leave. My present employers have put me through various training courses which they have paid for over the past two years. In my own time, I decided to retrain in HR and I am halfway through the CIPD Level 5 HR Management Diploma and I have been applying for HR jobs for 3 months.

Now here's my problem. After quite a long recruitment process, I have been offered a HR Assistant position with a really good company in the area that I want to move to and fantastic HR exposure. However, it is only a 12 month contract and 2k less. The hours are standard 8-4 mon-fri which is ideal. They said it may lead to a permanent position but it is not guaranteed.

I am really torn, I want it really badly, and I know career wise it would be a great opportunity, but with the salary reduction and giving up job security for possibly only 12 months work.

My heart is saying go for it but my head is saying turn it down. I don't know what to do.

Anyone offer any advice for me?
Thanks
X

AP007

Depends how long you have been in your current job. More than two years?

If you can manager on the £2k less per year? You can work out how that changes your monthly take home online look for a salary calculator or go here http://www.listentotaxman.com/index.php

It's only a 12 month contract you say that's why you should think carefully. However if could turn out to be longer you just don't know just like you don't know if you will have a job where you are in 12 months time as anything could happen

With starting in HR (where you want to be) in 12 months you should have some good experience to take with you to the next role. HR staff are in demand and its pretty hard to get into.

If its making you unhappy and its creating a nightmare with family life as you say it may be worth the jump.

Nothing in we have is for life.

kitster2222

Thank you for the reply, I've only been in my present job for 19 months

persa

kitster2222 wrote: »

Hope to get some advice and appreciate any opinions to help me make a decision before tomorrow.

I work full time (37.5 hrs) between Monday to Saturday in a permanent senior admin job that I really don't enjoy. I work various shifts such early starts or very late finishes at short notice which is a nightmare with family life. I have a boss from hell and I am extremely bored and desperate to leave. My present employers have put me through various training courses which they have paid for over the past two years. In my own time, I decided to retrain in HR and I am halfway through the CIPD Level 5 HR Management Diploma and I have been applying for HR jobs for 3 months.

Now here's my problem. After quite a long recruitment process, I have been offered a HR Assistant position with a really good company in the area that I want to move to and fantastic HR exposure. However, it is only a 12 month contract and 2k less. The hours are standard 8-4 mon-fri which is ideal. They said it may lead to a permanent position but it is not guaranteed.

I am really torn, I want it really badly, and I know career wise it would be a great opportunity, but with the salary reduction and giving up job security for possibly only 12 months work.

My heart is saying go for it but my head is saying turn it down. I don't know what to do.

Anyone offer any advice for me?
Thanks
X

If you take a job with more 'normal' hours, you may find you become less tired, you may be able to do MSE things like meal planning - I have a high pressured job with long hours and find I'm too drained to cook properly on many nights and therefore waste money on junk food. Have a think about what lifestyle changes this new job could bring.

8 to 4? You could have an interview at 5 elsewhere. When you get towards the end of your contract, being able to slip away for interviews will be handy.

What does the 2k difference work out as, after tax and deductions each month? Probably not enough to sway the decision.

Will you need to pay back any training costs to your current employer?

How much do you hate your current job? Is it just boring when you're there, or do you feel sick thinking about it when you're on "your time"?

What do family think?

kitster2222

persa wrote: »

If you take a job with more 'normal' hours, you may find you become less tired, you may be able to do MSE things like meal planning - I have a high pressured job with long hours and find I'm too drained to cook properly on many nights and therefore waste money on junk food. Have a think about what lifestyle changes this new job could bring.

8 to 4? You could have an interview at 5 elsewhere. When you get towards the end of your contract, being able to slip away for interviews will be handy.

What does the 2k difference work out as, after tax and deductions each month? Probably not enough to sway the decision.

Will you need to pay back any training costs to your current employer?

How much do you hate your current job? Is it just boring when you're there, or do you feel sick thinking about it when you're on "your time"?

What do family think?

The meal comment is a very valid point because I'm at work three evenings so we don't often have healthy meals together. The loss of earnings isn't really an issue because I can budget in other ways to cover it and I'm hoping the job would lead to a position with more money long term anyway. My present job is really boring and I have terrible problems with my manager, and if I'm honest some Sunday nights I feel positively low at the thought of going in. Worst case scenario I would have to pay the company £400 to cover last months course, but I have that in my savings if necessary.

Finally my family are very supportive and they all think I should go for it, as they know how unhappy I am and how much I want to move into HR, but I really wanted an opinion from someone that doesn't know me

Thanks again, this is giving me lots to think about
X

persa

kitster2222 wrote: »

The meal comment is a very valid point because I'm at work three evenings so we don't often have healthy meals together. The loss of earnings isn't really an issue because I can budget in other ways to cover it and I'm hoping the job would lead to a position with more money long term anyway. My present job is really boring and I have terrible problems with my manager, and if I'm honest some Sunday nights I feel positively low at the thought of going in. Worst case scenario I would have to pay the company £400 to cover last months course, but I have that in my savings if necessary.

Finally my family are very supportive and they all think I should go for it, as they know how unhappy I am and how much I want to move into HR, but I really wanted an opinion from someone that doesn't know me

Thanks again, this is giving me lots to think about
X

It sounds like the only thing holding you back is the contract being fixed, rather than permanent?

Even if it was permanent, they could sack you after a year anyway - there are no guarantees these days. It's now 2 years to build up employment rights.

My gut reaction is this sounds like a scary but good move. If you are this unhappy in your current job, you may end up making mistakes/poor judgements which affect your performance. If you leave now, you may get an ok reference, you have a better shot of happiness both on and off the job and better long term prospects.

The fact your family are behind you is great. It also suggests to me you are genuinely unhappy at work - they'd be trying to talk you out of it otherwise.

Good luck making your decision - if I were you, I'd go for it.

PS Whatever happens, well done for getting the offer.

OurKev

My advice - take the job!

Good luck whatever you decide.

kitster2222

Thanks everyone, I think I'm going to go for it. Really value all of your opinions and it's a really good point that no job is guaranteed not even my present one.

I'll keep you updated

X

gallygirl

TBH a 12 month contract is as permanent as any. Can you guarantee your current job will still be there in 12 months?

To go into a new area with only a 2k drop in salary looks like a great opportunity. Go for it :T

mountainofdebt

A question to help the decision process - I assume you it was a temp-to-perm position when you applied......so why did you apply????

marlot

I took a perm job in January. 11 months later there is a reorganisation and potential redundancies. so nothing is safe. i would follow your passion and take the job