I have another job interview this morning, at the place I worked before I took my current job. I enjoyed working there, not least because I could walk to work (just over a mile from home), and only left because I took on the role of full-time carer for my mother during her final illness. It's the first non-direct care role I've had an interview for for several years. It's a care charity, but this is an office role. They asked for experience in care and admin work, which is why I was short-listed - though my last pure office role was in 2004, so I may be a little rusty with the programs they require familiarity with: Excel and Outlook. I guess I could soon bone up on both.
If I'm offered it, I'll have a difficult choice to make. Before Christmas, I was offered another role as Learning Support with PMLD at a local FE college. I've got that in the bag. But with two offers, I'll have to give serious consideration to the pros and cons of each - and they kind of out-balance one another.
The College is term-time only, so gives long holidays (two months in summer). But it's more traveling, and there's more difficulty with parking as there's none on-site. It'll mean trawling back-streets for a space, and probably a 15-minute walk from there. Bottom line is, I'll have to keep the car, with attendant running costs, and it'll make for a longer day (an hour, or slightly more). The College is also front-line work with PMLD, so feeding, personal care... but I don't mind that, and it can be very rewarding work.
The other place is a charity, and they do great work. It'll be the usual 9 - 5 routine that I like (the College is 8.30 - 4, so pretty much the same), but 28 days a year annual leave against the College's 14 weeks. It's office work, too. I used to enjoy that, to be fair, as long as I was left to get on with my work and didn't have to engage in the other stuff: small talk, banter, office politics. I'm not sure how I feel about returning to a sedentary occupation, too. I'm sure I'll be good at the work. But I doubt it'll give the same level of satisfaction. On the other hand, it might be good to give direct care work a rest. I suppose I'll get a better idea after today. And I might not be offered it anyway, in which case it won't matter.
Basically, if I get both offers, it'll come down to: more cost and hassle with traveling with the College, but lots of time off in a more rewarding job; or cost-free walking to work at a place I like, but back in an office (even though the work will be care-associated). I'll also get free lunches at the place today - cooked on-site. In both, the money is the same - though at the College, that'll be for 38 weeks instead of 52, so I'll actually be getting paid a higher hourly rate for the role. About time I had a care role that paid a salary more commensurate with the responsibility involved with the job!
I have a DBS already for the College job, so could pretty much start straight away. I'd have to wait for one for today's job - up to 12 weeks. I can't see myself returning to my current job, so it could be a long wait on UC. My sick note runs out on 2nd Jan, after which I get zero sick pay. I'll either have to leave through ill-health, or just renew my note and play it out until they let me go.
I also have Occupational Health ringing me later this afternoon to check in and see what they can offer. Don't really know what to tell them - except I don't feel like going back just yet. Although I suppose that at least knowing I have a new job to go to means I can return a little safer in the knowledge that it's only short-term. I spoke to my Employment Support Adviser at The Shaw Trust about the issue, and he reckons just stay off sick. Why take the chance of going back to more passive-aggression - even if the end is in sight?
Stuff to think on.
I'm terrible at decision-making. Why do I have to wait for ages, then get two interviews at once? Always the way it goes...
