Job Offer - Doubts

todayisagreatday

sammyjammy wrote: »

One other thing is to consider is that you have it good right now but as a fellow Civil Servant I know that things don't stay still forever, this job could disappear/the grade could change/ you could be reassigned to another role....

Yes, I've been in a variety of Civil Service roles over 15 years but I'm glad to say the department I am in is big and even if my specific department was no longer I could easily get another role within the bigger department.

This other job is a very small department that was set up a few years ago and in some respects has more risk associated with it if we were comparing risk.

Having read just these comments it's made me feel more like staying put. The grass isn't always greener as they say.

elsien

Taking the money out of the equation, you need to weigh up where you are in terms of career progression and job enjoyment, and is it worth it balanced against the time you would lose.

I wouldn't do it, but I'm at a stage where I'm not looking to progress my career any further, I'm quite happy at the level I'm at. Other people may feel getting on in their chosen career is worth the sacrifices. So where on the scale are you?

an9i77

I recently left a working from home job for an office job which was a step up, and I bitterly regretted it.

I knew by the end of the first day that I would not be able to work in an office and quit 2 weeks later to focus on finding a home based job again.

I used to be able to work in offices many moons ago before I knew different, but now i have tasted the joy that is being home based it was very very hard to go back.

I am now massively kicking myself as I'm not sure I can even get my former (home based) salary again but would rather take a pay cut than go back into an office.

Think very very carefully.

Fireflyaway

If you don't need the money then think really carefully about the whole package. Commuting can be exhausting. My husband commutes by train and it's unbelievable the number of times trains are cancelled, delayed or terminated at different stations. During the week we have no family time. I commute 1 hour by car and that's pretty exhausting and frustrating too. Also ask yourself how you feel working with other people all day. Are you social in which case that might be a benefit or do you prefer to be alone and just get on with it?
I left an ok paid job last year that I hated for one that pays around 10k less and costs £200 a month to get to but I'm really happy now. Happiness beats money every time.

theoretica

Is there any scope for making your work from home job more challenging and interesting?

[Deleted User]

Get any of their promises in writing.

It will be 3 months before I get to work the shifts that I pre accepted believing that would help my commute. (I know I'm rare as most it's other way around! but I accepted an interview knowing job was different hours and have had to smile sweetly and daren't say anything whilst coping with the office hours misery grrr) And was the reason why I said yes, happily with no doubts and actually pursued the job to find they might have well said the working hours were largely office hours!. Save yourself the hassle if you have doubts now then it might not get better.

todayisagreatday

I think I'm going to turn it down. Whilst it's a job that I would totally love and get amazing experience, having a commute from hell in peak times, the rigidity of being in an office in peak times, getting home at 630pm (with no delays) and out again at 630am impacting on time I have with my partner etc it just seems too much. Sometimes I have to be away from home 1 or 2 nights but then when I get back I'm working from home and this isn't too frequently (and not at my expense).

My current job knows I was applying as I had to make it known to them anything once I had an interview so I'm hoping the fact I declined a better paid job I can use this to negotiate more challenging work and hopefully if a promotion comes up within the team I'm in a better position to apply (with still being able to work from home).

Thank you everyone for your advice. Its good to get opinions and it's helped me realise what is important to me.