Page 1 of Job Dilemma - need some help deciding

Hi All

I have a dilemma about my job. Now, before anyone goes "oh f*** me he is complaining about his job again" thats not the case. On Sunday I told my bosses what they could do with their job. Bingo Bango, I am released from my notice period with 6 weeks cash money all paid up.

Now, I seem to be in a more marketable postion - who woulda thunk it? and it looks like I may have a choice of up to 4 jobs to take - but the choice is doing my head in so I want some unbiased advice.

Job 1 - working as a customer service shift manager for a company in Chertsey. 4 miles from my house, but in an industry I am not overly familiar with - emergency services. Its a bit of a coporate shirt and tie place and I am not sure how I will fit in. I have tentatively accepted this position to start on 22nd October, so I am off until then. This carries a 4k pay cut from what I currently earn. It gives me an opportunity to break from the betting industry, which I quite fancy doing as it has gone a little stale in london recently.

Job 2 - working as a telephone centre manager for a large market research company. Based in Wembley, so its a 20 mile journey, and a bit f a git of a drive to be honest, but the job role actually seems like something that, if pulled off, could really further my career. Not been offered the job yet, but they have been chasing me for a second interview and the agency says that they are very keen indeed. This carries a 2k pay increase on what I currently earn. The hours are likely to be a little more unsociable, but I think I can handle that. Also wouldnt start until around 22nd October.

Job 3 - working as a customer service manager for a television based Casino. This is one of those places that have a channel on sky (851 if you are interested) and offer live betting through the phone and internet. Its a turkish guys pet project (his father is one of the richest men in turkey I am told) but its all rather haphazard at the moment, there is little to no infrastructure in place and I am basically going to be in charge of getting this baby up and running, and running effectively in next to no time. My concerns are that that may end up as a firefighting job (just like my last) and being constantly understaffed, undervalued and under-invested. Athough to get yourself on TV means that there must be a fair bit of petty cash in this. It is going to be based in the West End, possibly Soho so it will mean that I have to get the train. I am told that its more standardised office hours - ie I work during the day rather than constant evenings, and does allow me to further myself in the same industry as I am in now, which I generally enjoy being in. Its going to be between 2 and 5k more than I am currently on, although extra travel expense would swallow that up. I got told by the agency yesterday that it looks like I am the front runner for this and to expect a call by the end of the weekend. He wants me to start literally in less than a week, so I will have had around 2 weeks off between jobs, ideally I wanted a month to recharge my batteries.

So there you have it, each has its own merits and demerits, normally you only get offered one job and you have to just take it, anything to get you out of the dump you are in. I just know that whichever I take, I am going to regret the other two in one way shape or form.

How do I choose? :/

If you`re happy with the salary of option 1,it`s a no-brainer,isn`t it ?
Life`s too short to commute.

I am prepared to take the salary cut, it will mean a lot of belt tightening this close to christmas (and somehow we have to find a way for the wife to do her masters next year). Before the other jobs came up I was prepared to take the cut, now it looks like I may not have to I am having second thoughts.

While its only 4 miles away, its a potential git of a drive through 2 towns so could in theory take longer than the train to london. There are just so many variables to this that I dont know what to do

Pedant alert - you said four jobs, and described three?

1st of all good luck, im in similar position, looking at 4 different positions albeit in my industry, I would say i took a break from mine couple years ago and went into new council call center and i hated it as im used to face to face now, personally if money matters then u gotta go with that short term, easier to get job u want in work, if not go with ur gut feeling, its normally right.

Now the 3 jobs individually 1st one seems safest if u can take the pay cut, 2nd i dont fancy at all but thats me, 3rd would be my favorite but i do like a challenge and would love the clean slate there and being able to run things my way.

for what its worth :)

Quote:
While its only 4 miles away, its a potential git of a drive through 2 towns so could in theory take longer than the train to london.

Pushbike ?
Moped ?
Wouldn`t the £2k pay cut be compensated for by the reduced travelling costs too ?
I mean,trains to London are from cheap for commuters,aren`t they ?
Bugger me,you could even go home for lunch,or some `afternoon delight`... :D 8)

BTW,it`s funny you mentioning how thinking "f*** it" has improved your prospects.
I lost interest in my job,started speaking my mind etc.
They offered me a directorship this week.
F*** it,I`m staying put now.

This item was edited on Friday, 28th September 2007, 14:06

Well done for getting that far. TBH noone here can help you too much as we dont really know what you want. After writing it out has it helped do you have a gut feeling tiwards one of them. Make pro and con lists anything you can do.

In the end it will come to head over heart lol go for one that will see you best in the future not just now. So for example going 20 miles to Wembley (near me btw) may earn you more but will mean less time with OTH (could be good or bad lol) so weigh it up that way and then see what do you actually want. Is it the money, the working hours and conditions, the challenge etc. That should help sway your decision.

Quote:
BTW,it`s funny you mentioning how thinking "f*** it" has improved your prospects.
I lost interest in my job,started speaking my mind etc.
They offered me a directorship this week.
F*** it,I`m staying put now.

Good on yer bowfer. Seemed to work for me. Knowing that I already had one job in the bag I was able to go into interviews a little more confident/cocky/arrogant (delete as applicable) and was able to tell things as I saw it rather than bowing and scraping on the yes sir, no sirs. I think the honest approach has endeared me to some - but I was only able to do that because I had nothing to lose.

Oh Dan, your pedant alert is correct I missed job number 4, probably because it isnt likely to happen.

Job 4 - working for a startup company based currently in Milton Keynes, focussing on Skill Based Gaming on the same model used for City Traders. This is a 10k pay increase, but is going to be based about 70 miles from where I live. The positive is that its mon-fri and I can work from home for 2-3 days per week. When the website launches (probably January) then I will be charged with setting up a call centre in London, so it moves closer to home. I have actually been offered the job (back at the end of July) but due to various issues we havent discussed the finer points yet. He still wants me on board, but not until November by the looks of things. This is an Operations Manager job and is a fantastic opportunity if it ever happens.

At the moment, I am leaning towards Job 3 or 4 (if it happens) because they are in the same industry, I can continue with the contacts I have and can continue to expand on my career path.

What will probably happen is that I start Job 3 on 8th October. That gives me 2 weeks to decide whether I like it or not before Job 1 starts. I could do with the extra cash to be honest (wifes 30th at the end of Nov) and it allows me to keep my options open. It all goes tits up, and on to Job 1, Goes well, and goodbye to job 1 and the paycut. I have a new car to pay for, and if I am catching the train then I dont have to worry about traffic or undue wear and tear on the car. My previous car, a very girlie Fiat Punto was traded in at 4 years old with nearly 60,000 miles on the clock...........having paid 9k for a new car, I dont want it to be run into the ground just on getting to work etc.