WWYD - job offer amidst huge life changes

Drummer1991

In a slight predicament with my employment and life situation. 

As a bit of background, I currently work as a substantive HEO (£34k pa) in the civil service, but am currently in temporary promotion to SEO (£41k pa) which ends in April. I don’t love my job, but I don’t hate it and I know it’s secure with a good pension and I’ve been there 3 years. We are expecting our first child in August and wife (also in civil service) will drop to 3 days a week after her mat leave. We’re sitting with 6-9 months household costs in the bank but aware we’ll need to buy baby stuff soon and we need to remortgage c 40% of our ported mortgage by end August. I’m 31. 

I have been offered a permanent job at a large national broadcaster which has a much higher salary (£65k) and is in an area I am passionate about and have lots of professional expertise in. However, talking to the previous post holder hasn’t filled me with hope about the role and they believe it’s a massive risk to move to that role from the security of the civil service (they don’t even know about baby and house remortgage).  To top it off, I did interview for a promotion at the civil service but unsure if I’ve got that. If I do get it, I’ll find out on Monday, it’ll be in an area i have some internet in and will be at grade 7 level (£52k pa).

I’m really conflicted. The civil service is the safe option, the National broadcaster is the option I’ve wanted for a long time (and indeed I applied thinking I wouldn’t get it - I was just doing it for experience) but speaking to the previous post holder has really shaken my nerves. If baby and remortgage wasn’t on the way I’d take the chance, but as the main earner I need to think carefully. 

What would you do? 

Brie

I'd try to find someone else at the broadcaster to talk to.  I've worked for companies that I thought were complete dogs but other's thought were wonderful.  I didn't fit and others did.  

You don't need to decide today.  Wait until Monday to find out about the CS role.  If you are being offered both the have a good look at what all the benefits for both roles add up to.  Look at commutes.  Hours for work.  Can you WFH?  A £13k difference in pay is significant but the actual difference may be much less when benefits and other things are considered.  Overall which is going to give you the better quality of life?

Drummer1991

Brie said:

I'd try to find someone else at the broadcaster to talk to.  I've worked for companies that I thought were complete dogs but other's thought were wonderful.  I didn't fit and others did.  

You don't need to decide today.  Wait until Monday to find out about the CS role.  If you are being offered both the have a good look at what all the benefits for both roles add up to.  Look at commutes.  Hours for work.  Can you WFH?  A £13k difference in pay is significant but the actual difference may be much less when benefits and other things are considered.  Overall which is going to give you the better quality of life?

Thanks for your reply. All other people I’ve talked to, all whom this role directly impacts, have been positive about the employer. But it could potentially be a very difficult role if more senior people aren’t on board - but I suppose that’s my job, to get them on board. 

Both employers offer significant WFH with occasional office visits, the broadcaster is actually 2 less contracted hours per week of work. The CS promotion would have significant line management responsibility too. Pension isn’t bad at broadcaster, 10% employer contribution, but still no match for civil service pension - but I don’t think anywhere is. 

Broadcaster role will involve occasional UK wide travel, but I actually enjoy that as an opportunity to see friends… 

Brie

Wondering now if contracted hours is actually a thing though - where I've worked people on the money you're talking about work as much time as it takes to get stuff done.  That can mean calls at 10 pm, weekends etc.  perhaps the question to ask is about work/life balance.  It was an ongoing joke at work where it was talked about all the time and then so much pressure to get the lower ranked people working on Sundays etc while those on higher wages weren't given an option to say no.

Any difference in practice with regard to paternity leave for either?  I'd bet the CS is pretty good on this but what about the broadcaster?  Likely too my guess but is there anything actually happening in August (other than baby!) that might affect it?  Too many others on holiday?  conferences?  something seasonal???

Drummer1991

Brie said:

Wondering now if contracted hours is actually a thing though - where I've worked people on the money you're talking about work as much time as it takes to get stuff done.  That can mean calls at 10 pm, weekends etc.  perhaps the question to ask is about work/life balance.  It was an ongoing joke at work where it was talked about all the time and then so much pressure to get the lower ranked people working on Sundays etc while those on higher wages weren't given an option to say no.

Any difference in practice with regard to paternity leave for either?  I'd bet the CS is pretty good on this but what about the broadcaster?  Likely too my guess but is there anything actually happening in August (other than baby!) that might affect it?  Too many others on holiday?  conferences?  something seasonal???

Good points re salary, but from my experience that’s the expectations on G7s in the CS too, so I’m not sure it’s much better / worse at the broadcaster unfortunately. 

Re paternity, CS have 4 weeks and I’ve asked for this to be built into my contract at the broadcaster. 

Brie

Well sounds like you're doing all the right things to check on everything so nothing else to suggest here!! 

Good luck with the job - which ever you take - and everything else the future holds!!!

Savvy_Sue

The only other person whose opinion holds any weight here is your wife ... but if I were in her shoes, I hope I'd encourage you to do as suggested: wait to hear about the other CS job, talk to others at the broadcaster. THEN make the decision.

I would never have wanted to stand in DH's way, and we made some radical choices along the way. 

strawb_shortcake

As a CS that can't actually imagine leaving myself, I'd be really tempted to leave and go to the broadcaster. 

I know some departments have or have had stops on recruitment, but given the difficulties they seem to have in recruiting its likely to be very easy to get back in one way or other.

Drummer1991

Savvy_Sue said:

The only other person whose opinion holds any weight here is your wife ... but if I were in her shoes, I hope I'd encourage you to do as suggested: wait to hear about the other CS job, talk to others at the broadcaster. THEN make the decision.

I would never have wanted to stand in DH's way, and we made some radical choices along the way. 

Of course you are right - she’ll support me whatever I want to do. She does think the extra month would come in handy though! annabanana82 said:

As a CS that can't actually imagine leaving myself, I'd be really tempted to leave and go to the broadcaster. 

I know some departments have or have had stops on recruitment, but given the difficulties they seem to have in recruiting its likely to be very easy to get back in one way or other.

That’s interesting. Do you mind me asking what would tempt you? I’ve tried to see if I can take a career break from the CS ‘just in case’ but it’s coming back as the broadcaster being a conflict. They have told me about the CS re-appointment rules though which say I can get an easy-isn easy back in within 5 years. Interestingly my SCS friend has told me to snap the broadcasters hand off… 

strawb_shortcake

Drummer1991 said:

Savvy_Sue said:

The only other person whose opinion holds any weight here is your wife ... but if I were in her shoes, I hope I'd encourage you to do as suggested: wait to hear about the other CS job, talk to others at the broadcaster. THEN make the decision.

I would never have wanted to stand in DH's way, and we made some radical choices along the way. 

Of course you are right - she’ll support me whatever I want to do. She does think the extra month would come in handy though! annabanana82 said:

As a CS that can't actually imagine leaving myself, I'd be really tempted to leave and go to the broadcaster. 

I know some departments have or have had stops on recruitment, but given the difficulties they seem to have in recruiting its likely to be very easy to get back in one way or other.

That’s interesting. Do you mind me asking what would tempt you? I’ve tried to see if I can take a career break from the CS ‘just in case’ but it’s coming back as the broadcaster being a conflict. They have told me about the CS re-appointment rules though which say I can get an easy-isn easy back in within 5 years. Interestingly my SCS friend has told me to snap the broadcasters hand off… 

I'm currently undecided where I actually see my career going at the moment, I'm an SEO for promotion in my function now there are huge hoops to go through for my next promotion (not for several years).
But, if I had the offer of a job I felt so passionate about and an easy ish way back I'd jump at it. I wouldn't want to look back in years to come and think what if?

Drummer1991

annabanana82 said:

Drummer1991 said:

Savvy_Sue said:

The only other person whose opinion holds any weight here is your wife ... but if I were in her shoes, I hope I'd encourage you to do as suggested: wait to hear about the other CS job, talk to others at the broadcaster. THEN make the decision.

I would never have wanted to stand in DH's way, and we made some radical choices along the way. 

Of course you are right - she’ll support me whatever I want to do. She does think the extra month would come in handy though! annabanana82 said:

As a CS that can't actually imagine leaving myself, I'd be really tempted to leave and go to the broadcaster. 

I know some departments have or have had stops on recruitment, but given the difficulties they seem to have in recruiting its likely to be very easy to get back in one way or other.

That’s interesting. Do you mind me asking what would tempt you? I’ve tried to see if I can take a career break from the CS ‘just in case’ but it’s coming back as the broadcaster being a conflict. They have told me about the CS re-appointment rules though which say I can get an easy-isn easy back in within 5 years. Interestingly my SCS friend has told me to snap the broadcasters hand off… 

I'm currently undecided where I actually see my career going at the moment, I'm an SEO for promotion in my function now there are huge hoops to go through for my next promotion (not for several years).
But, if I had the offer of a job I felt so passionate about and an easy ish way back I'd jump at it. I wouldn't want to look back in years to come and think what if?

Thank you. If it is wasn’t for the baby I’d be in 100% agreement. That’s all that’s making me think twice. Plus, I’ve seen the stress G7s can be put under - it’s a policy team leader I’d be promoted to - and not sure if I went that!