New job jitters or something more?

lizzydarcy

I'm currently on JSA and for this reason accepted a verbal offer of employment a few weeks back. Since I did, there has been a lot of messing around to the point where JSA said I could withdraw from the offer without sanctions being enforced.

Rather than withdraw then and there, I continued my job search - lining up a couple of interviews for next week and waited to see what would happen.

I've now heard that the company (lets call them company A) wants me to start on Monday. :eek: I won't get time off for the interviews so I have to make a decision and quickly.

Company A is offering me a temporary ongoing contract. Its a fair commute from home (which will be a lot worse during rush hour) and after training involves a shift pattern that would make most people cry. There is little chance of this turning into a permanent position and I'd need regular overtime to make it work.

The two positions I have interviews for next week are both permanent with salaries exactly where I need them to be. One is very close to Company A, one nearer to home. The first also has a career development program I'm interested in.

I know the smart thing to do is to start with Company A and make the role work for a few months - once I'm out of training then I would be able to start interviewing again due to the shift pattern if needs be. Reason for leaving - its temporary and I need permanent.

My issue is that Company A did mess me around quite a bit, giving me start dates then withdrawing them and requesting paperwork that no employer has ever asked me for before (and previously I've had some really strict background checks done) which I had to jump through loops to provide.

It makes me concerned that its a harbinger of things to come.

Therefore, my gut is telling me that working for them is a mistake and wants me to withdraw in favour of the interviews I have. My head is telling me to start and make the best of it as it's better than dole and will give me new experience for my CV.

I have never been in the position where I have a strong dislike/anxiety to a job before I've started. So, I don't know if its just new job jitters or a sign that it would be a mistake to start with Company A.

Here's where'd put a hard and rock place smilie if one existed.

Any advice?

VXR8

There seems to be little in the way of commitment from company 'A,' so if this is important to you move on. However, if you don't mind the fact you could be finished at the end of the day (sounds like a typical temp job), the traveling and shifts etc, then go for it.

Sounds to me that you've already made your mind up though.

tomtontom

What are the shifts and how long is the commute? Is this not the 9-5 job you didn't want to take last week?

lizzydarcy

tomtontom wrote: »

What are the shifts and how long is the commute? Is this not the 9-5 job you didn't want to take last week?

Same job but its only 9-5 during training. Afterwards it goes to 10 hour shifts between 5am - 12am, 3-4 days a week depending on the rota.

Commute is 40 mins without traffic but requires going along a section of motorway notorious for being gridlocked during rush hour. My hope is that I get a late shift pattern - I don't mind working until midnight. Starting at 5am would definitely make me cry.

Shift pattern changes to suit business needs.

VXR8 wrote: »

However, if you don't mind the fact you could be finished at the end of the day.

I'd be given a week's notice which is not fantastic but I'd be accepting more for the pay and the chance to get some experience from a different industry on my CV.

The reason I say that there is little chance of being made permanent is that there have people there hired on the same terms who have six months + tenure.

tomtontom

You'll get used to early starts, I used to love them as the rest of the day was my own.

Nothing you have said is out of the ordinary, people travel much further and shifts are the norm for many people.

Sorry but it comes across that you are finding excuses not to take the job.

lizzydarcy

tomtontom wrote: »

Sorry but it comes across that you are finding excuses not to take the job.

I can understand that opinion as I am focusing a lot of the negatives of the role - its my gut speaking not my head.

My head can see that this is an opportunity - get back into employment, keep my skills fresh and gain some knowledge and experience of a different industry that could potentially open more doors to me later.

And I can make my life work around the shifts etc, I can switch gyms to one along the commute that will halve the cost each month without losing any of the benefits including being open 24 hours.

Its all been heavily tainted by the experience of trying to get a start date and the other potential 'better' offers which have popped up along the way - all resulting in being very concerned about what the reality of working for them will be like.

[Deleted User]

Is company A really busy, busy, busy - could it really open doors, think what is it covert agreements? and other companies not wanting to know for a period of time.

If that's above my station, then I am sorry

vegasvisitor

It sounds like you prefer option B or C, however you feel obliged to accept A because they might not work out. If you take A, you will never know and will feel stuck in A. However if you turn down A then B or C don't work out you've completely lost all 3 opportunities.

Have they specifically said you can't get time off? Could you just say you have an appointment or something? Sounds like a difficult decision, I don't envy you having to make it. Hope it works out whatever you decide.

Fionabell

lizzydarcy wrote: »

I can understand that opinion as I am focusing a lot of the negatives of the role - its my gut speaking not my head.

My head can see that this is an opportunity - get back into employment, keep my skills fresh and gain some knowledge and experience of a different industry that could potentially open more doors to me later.

And I can make my life work around the shifts etc, I can switch gyms to one along the commute that will halve the cost each month without losing any of the benefits including being open 24 hours.

Its all been heavily tainted by the experience of trying to get a start date and the other potential 'better' offers which have popped up along the way - all resulting in being very concerned about what the reality of working for them will be like.

Your guts telling you not to take it.

It's a 40 minute comute - I'd go for the other interviews. If you took it and was miserable you would end up being sanctioned.

theoretica

Have you considered to option of saying you can't start this week, but could next? Might they accept that or is it group training where that probably wouldn't work?

lizzydarcy

theoretica wrote: »

Have you considered to option of saying you can't start this week, but could next? Might they accept that or is it group training where that probably wouldn't work?

It is group training so unfortunately not an option for me.

I had considered this outcome when I accepted the interviews last week. I said that if Company A sorted out my start date then I would start with them. Unfortunately, as this week went on, I seriously thought that I wouldn't be starting on Monday as I was getting no where. Every time I spoke to them, there seemed to be fresh delays.

So, accepting interviews and researching those positions seemed the natural thing to do - the downside being that I discovered I'd prefer them more. You can therefore imagine my shock when I got the phone call.

I had to make my decision this afternoon. It would have been unprofessional to drag it out over the weekend and then not show when expected on Monday.

My decision was to accept the position and start on Monday. I may regret that decision but ultimately, it was the most logical thing to do. My financial situation isn't overly fantastic but this can be a "survival job" until I can myself in a better position.

Is company A really busy, busy, busy - could it really open doors, think what is it covert agreements?

I am not 100% sure of your meaning but if you mean do I think it would be a springboard then Yes I do. There are a number of companies, large and small, in my home town and surrounding area which would find the skills and knowledge I'll gain desirable.

But I'm also doing a professional qualification at the moment. With the two combined, I could potentially look at going up the ladder after a few months.