Work for DWP or large high street bank?

emmany

Received offers for two jobs, one is for the DWP and the other is for a well known street bank. Both are fairly customer service and will need a thick skin but the banking job is more back office and the DWP job is strictly for customer service, specifically people chasing their claims. What do you think is the best choice?

epm-84

Think about the answers to the following questions:
1. Prior to being interviewed, which company did you think was the best choice?
2. Did that change at the interview stage?  If so why?
3. Prior to being interviewed which role did you think best suited your skills?
4. Did that change at the interview stage?  If so why?
5. From who you met at the interview stage and from what you learnt about the people you'll be working with, which team would you most enjoy working in?
6. Is there any noticeable time/cost difference between commuting to one place and the other?
7. Is there a noticeable difference in salary and benefits?

Only you know the answers to those questions.  Someone else can't make the decision for you and be aware if you stall the companies for too long they get fed up of waiting and you'll end up with no job offers, when in the current circumstances, having a choice of two good job offers is as rare as a lottery win.

emmany

epm-84 said:

Think about the answers to the following questions:
1. Prior to being interviewed, which company did you think was the best choice?
2. Did that change at the interview stage?  If so why?
3. Prior to being interviewed which role did you think best suited your skills?
4. Did that change at the interview stage?  If so why?
5. From who you met at the interview stage and from what you learnt about the people you'll be working with, which team would you most enjoy working in?
6. Is there any noticeable time/cost difference between commuting to one place and the other?
7. Is there a noticeable difference in salary and benefits?

Only you know the answers to those questions.  Someone else can't make the decision for you and be aware if you stall the companies for too long they get fed up of waiting and you'll end up with no job offers, when in the current circumstances, having a choice of two good job offers is as rare as a lottery win.

Thanks for your points, they were both very rushed phone interviews for customer service/admin style jobs though and I was hired on the spot without a formal interview, I was hoping to get feedback from others who have also worked in these organisations. 

GHolmesAdmin

Go with the bank.

TELLIT01

I worked for DWP - take the bank job.

Dox

Without knowing anything about you, your interests and aspirations, who knows which is the better choice for you? Getting feedback from others is likely to be completely irrelevant, since nobody knows what you are looking for/comfortable doing.

JReacher1

Better job security and benefits at dwp. Probably better chance of advancement and money at the bank. 

emmany

Thanks given to everyone and appreciated.

Dox said:

Without knowing anything about you, your interests and aspirations, who knows which is the better choice for you? Getting feedback from others is likely to be completely irrelevant, since nobody knows what you are looking for/comfortable doing.

epm-84 pointed out, wise points. This is more like a job for just the now so to speak. I'm not looking for a career in either department specifically, they aren't career jobs, I'm just trying to get in work and out of the house.

t0rt0ise

Take the bank.

Savvy_Sue

epm-84 said:

Think about the answers to the following questions:
1. Prior to being interviewed, which company did you think was the best choice?
2. Did that change at the interview stage?  If so why?
3. Prior to being interviewed which role did you think best suited your skills?
4. Did that change at the interview stage?  If so why?
5. From who you met at the interview stage and from what you learnt about the people you'll be working with, which team would you most enjoy working in?
6. Is there any noticeable time/cost difference between commuting to one place and the other?
7. Is there a noticeable difference in salary and benefits?

Only you know the answers to those questions.  Someone else can't make the decision for you and be aware if you stall the companies for too long they get fed up of waiting and you'll end up with no job offers, when in the current circumstances, having a choice of two good job offers is as rare as a lottery win.

Would you prefer to be back office or dealing directly with customers? And DWP customers chasing claims, at that? I know what I'd prefer right now, but maybe you like a challenge and the buzz of helping people...

bouicca21

I’d add point 8 to epm-84,  which offers the best springboard for moving on?