To accept a job offer or not

Scorpio33

Following on from my previous thread, I have been offered a job. The thing is, it is a job I don't want. But do I accept it?


The basic background is that I have a young family and currently work in a small company and I hate working there. So much so that I have now resigned and leave this job mid January. I have been thinking about why I dislike this job so much, and I think it comes down to working in a small company. I like routine, certainty and working with people in a department. I like the structure in a job and I am not one to take risks, so I am certainly not Entrepreneurial.


I applied for a job, went for the interview. In the interview it became clear to me that I would be the only one in my department. This fills me with dread, as that is exactly what I want to get away from.


On the one hand, what I have been offered is good. They are flexible with the hours and so I should achieve the work-life balance I want. The salary is ok and the benefits are minimal. The job is in an industry and role I know back to front, so I can easily cope with the role. The thing is, it is working in a small company again and it will again put me in a position I am not comfortable with. I do not want the stress, bother or hassle of being the only one performing my kind of role. I also want to be in an organisation where I know what I am doing day to day and there is the training and support available when needed. I worry that I will be going out of the frying pan an into the fire.


I have kind of accepted that I would be much happier in a large organisation, but as these are hard to come across, I accept that I may have to accept a role in a smaller organisation. But the bottom line for me is that I don't want to work in a department on my own. I want someone else to have the stress of being in charge.
Saying that, surely any job is better than no job?


Do I accept the job offer, knowing it will make me unhappy, but at least employed or
Do I turn down the job offer, hoping that something better will come along, but running the risk that nothing may come up.


For context, I have two other jobs I have applied to I am waiting to hear back from, and one interview lined up. I feel the other organisations may be a better fit for me. I also have enough money to last me a futher 7 months or so after I leave my current job.

Undervalued

Scorpio33 wrote: »

Following on from my previous thread, I have been offered a job. The thing is, it is a job I don't want. But do I accept it?


The basic background is that I have a young family and currently work in a small company and I hate working there. So much so that I have now resigned and leave this job mid January. I have been thinking about why I dislike this job so much, and I think it comes down to working in a small company. I like routine, certainty and working with people in a department. I like the structure in a job and I am not one to take risks, so I am certainly not Entrepreneurial.


I applied for a job, went for the interview. In the interview it became clear to me that I would be the only one in my department. This fills me with dread, as that is exactly what I want to get away from.


On the one hand, what I have been offered is good. They are flexible with the hours and so I should achieve the work-life balance I want. The salary is ok and the benefits are minimal. The job is in an industry and role I know back to front, so I can easily cope with the role. The thing is, it is working in a small company again and it will again put me in a position I am not comfortable with. I do not want the stress, bother or hassle of being the only one performing my kind of role. I also want to be in an organisation where I know what I am doing day to day and there is the training and support available when needed. I worry that I will be going out of the frying pan an into the fire.


I have kind of accepted that I would be much happier in a large organisation, but as these are hard to come across, I accept that I may have to accept a role in a smaller organisation. But the bottom line for me is that I don't want to work in a department on my own. I want someone else to have the stress of being in charge.
Saying that, surely any job is better than no job?


Do I accept the job offer, knowing it will make me unhappy, but at least employed or
Do I turn down the job offer, hoping that something better will come along, but running the risk that nothing may come up.


For context, I have two other jobs I have applied to I am waiting to hear back from, and one interview lined up. I feel the other organisations may be a better fit for me. I also have enough money to last me a futher 7 months or so after I leave my current job.

It is generally easier to find a job when you currently have one rather than if you are unemployed.

TBagpuss

Not all small offices are the same.
I think, in your position, I would probably give it a go and see whether it works. I think in a smaller organisation the people you are working with make a huge diference.

I f youtake the job and it turns out that it is not for you, you are no wose off than you are now, and you may find that you are better placed to apply for jobs in larger compnaies if you are in work than if you are unemployed.

missbiggles1

It's fine to say that you have enough money to last for 7 months but each month that passes you become less employable. You could find that you're unemployed for far longer than 7 months.

Malthusian

Maybe you need to question whether you really want to be a manager. If you think that there is no "stress, bother or hassle" in being a manager in a larger organisation you are mistaken. It is just a different kind of stress and hassle. In my opinion, a worse one (because you are less likely to be in control of it). Managers are paid more for a reason.

You said in your previous post that the reason you wanted out of the job was "I feel that a lot of what is expected of me is above my current level of knowledge (without sufficient training), there is no one supporting me or checking my work, the environment I work in is toxic (some very nasty individuals) and the work leaves me feeling stressed, anxious and depressed." IMO the third reason is the real issue, not the size of the organisation. If the new environment is less toxic with no nasty individuals, that will make a tremendous difference, and you may find it easier to deal with the other issues you perceive.

Can you hedge your bets by inventing some reason you can't take up the job for a few weeks so you can see what happens with the other applications?

Unless you are certain that there is a better job on offer, you have very little to lose by giving this one a go.

Scorpio33

Malthusian wrote: »

Maybe you need to question whether you really want to be a manager. If you think that there is no "stress, bother or hassle" in being a manager in a larger organisation you are mistaken. It is just a different kind of stress and hassle. In my opinion, a worse one (because you are less likely to be in control of it). Managers are paid more for a reason.

You said in your previous post that the reason you wanted out of the job was "I feel that a lot of what is expected of me is above my current level of knowledge (without sufficient training), there is no one supporting me or checking my work, the environment I work in is toxic (some very nasty individuals) and the work leaves me feeling stressed, anxious and depressed." IMO the third reason is the real issue, not the size of the organisation. If the new environment is less toxic with no nasty individuals, that will make a tremendous difference, and you may find it easier to deal with the other issues you perceive.

Can you hedge your bets by inventing some reason you can't take up the job for a few weeks so you can see what happens with the other applications?

Unless you are certain that there is a better job on offer, you have very little to lose by giving this one a go.

You are right in the sense that it is the people in the current role that is the issue. I also agree with you re being a manager.


To be honest, I am not 100% sure what I do want.


My original plan was to take as many temporary / contract roles as possible, as then I can experience different firms and different roles to understand better exactly what I want and what drives me.


The only thing I think at the moment is previous experience of working in larger firms was good, but I found working in a smaller firm stressful. Why? Well I think that is due to the lack of structure and predictability, hence why I am thinking what I am thinking now.


I feel so confused.

hutman

Undervalued wrote: »

It is generally easier to find a job when you currently have one rather than if you are unemployed.

Not if you hate your current job as the OP does.... resulting in a negative spiral; failing the interviews you do get.

TELLIT01

Scorpio33 wrote: »

Y

The only thing I think at the moment is previous experience of working in larger firms was good, but I found working in a smaller firm stressful. Why? Well I think that is due to the lack of structure and predictability, hence why I am thinking what I am thinking now.

That is definitely over simplifying things. I've worked for good and bad large and small organisations. It's down to the quality of the management as much as anything.
In large organisations 'structure' can mean an unwillingness to even consider changes to process which could be beneficial. The cry of 'That's the way it's always been done' it much more likely to be heard in large organisations - in my experience at least.

[Deleted User]

hutman wrote: »

Not if you hate your current job as the OP does.... resulting in a negative spiral; failing the interviews you do get.

You've hit it - and yes the quality of jobs you can get when employed.

Just spent a week unemployed and got a better job I could only ever dream of as a result, would never have found the time to go and spend couple of hours for assessment and then over an hour for a formal interview, then return in person with the paperwork (all within days, life changed) perhaps I'm (perhaps only one) that is unlucky whenever I move from employment to employment 90% of the time I have moved into dross as you're standards do strange things. Even if I had to wait till the next due interview with another company booked for 6th January (yes there were others it had been a fun yet scary week) so I'd still know I was in the best position. FREE of lying to myself. If the OP has got to query it he/she knows somethings not quite right no matter how deep down. You're instincts exist for good reason.

Perhaps you do have to sink low to come back up. I've also learnt ideally you are best having some time off inbetween jobs rather then jumping straight into new job back 2 back as that does have an affect as well.

Were there any other candidates being considered? Somebody out there could really want the job you don't. Then if you change mind later on (it happens!) you don't have a company that would never look at you again. Sorry to rattle on.

Scorpio33

I took the job - the best decision I ever made.

I also had 6 weeks off between roles, which helped too!

mgdavid

That's good to hear, congrats...