Dilemma

System

Hi folks

I have a big decision to make. I have been looking for a new job and my agency sent me for an interview with a prospective new employer but it is only for an 18 month contract to cover maternity leave and the job I am in now is full time and I have been there 3 and half years. I have paid all my college fees for the last three years and had to take holiday leave when sitting exams. I have just finished passed my last exam and have now qualified and I have had now pay rise since I have been with this company and I can not see and progression but I love the people there.

This new opportunity is the next level and during the hand over period, which 6 months I can learn a lot more from the present person. Its more money but a few miles more a day to get to work and its only 18 months. It’s a hard decision whether to move from a secure full time job to a short term one when I have a mortgage that needs to be paid. I have the weekend to decide I believe I know what I am going to do but I would like others peoples thoughts on this.

System

Re:Dilemma

Hi Kiwi.

Stay where you are :-)

Scott.

System

Re:Dilemma

Why do you think I should stay where I am.

System

Re:Dilemma

Do you feel you can gain enough experience to enable you to get a better job elsewhere after the 18 months, is there any potential to be kept on if you are good at your job?

If these answers are yes, I would take the job

System

Re:Dilemma

It is only for 18 months then presumably they will let you go. It's also further to travel.

Scott.

System

Re:Dilemma

I took a days holiday and work at the company for a day so I know I can learn things from her during the six months hand over time and she did say it was a lovely company to work for and when people go the they don't usually leave. But initially this is only a 18 months contract. She is taking a year of maternity leave becuase her husband wants her to take three years out she has said that for now she has agree a year so she may not come back. So yes I would be gaining more experience than I have now and I have a number of years but only up to a certain level. But I can not be sure that I will be able to stay on. It's £1500.00 more than I am gettin now for the first 6 months then goes up another £2000.00 for the next year and the extra miles are only 12 more each way a day.

System

Re:Dilemma

That's about £800 more in petrol!

Scott.

System

Re:Dilemma

where do you get the £800.00 from

System

Re:Dilemma

Personally I would go for it, if it really seems that much better then and the opportunities to go further at your current place are lacking then it may be a wise move! you can always pass your CV around during the 18 months to see what comes up! And surely if they thought you were good enough for a job after the 18 months they wouldnt let a perfectly competent person with a bright future leave just because "they have to"

System

Re:Dilemma

That's what I am thinking and the agency said that they would put me details around when I have 6/7 months of my contract left they also said that they could get me into a temp job within 48 hours especially when I know payroll and I am intending to do payroll exams in AAT know that my college are going to doing for the first time this year. I am also going start CIMA and the current person is CIMA qualified and she said she has some books that I can have and she has already advised me on the distance learning which is how I am going to do my CIMA as my college does not do CIMA. The Company must be impressed with me because within 10 mins of having left the company from my days work with them (and they are paying me for the hours and travel expenses)
my agency telephone me saying that they would like to off me the job.

System

Re:Dilemma


There is no guarantee that lady will come back after maternity leave, but you can't rely on that!

It will look better on your cv that you went for the progression, just remember not to rely on them to find you a job after 18 months. If you are happy to temp for a while if the perfect job doesn't arrive, and you can afford a possible pay cut with the temping, then no problem!

Best thing about 18 mth contract - if you hate the other people, it doesn't matter, you'll be leaving anyway!

System

Re:Dilemma

If you've been in the same job for 3 1/2 years, going from no AAT to finished with no support and no pay or job advancement, it looks to me like it's a dead end and you'll never get them there. If you stay anyway it rather invalidates all your efforts unless you just did AAT for fun. You could explain this to them and see if they offer anything. They can't sack you for asking.

I think the new job sounds good. You need to get new/more experience to get better positions. After 6-12 months you will have a better idea whether you can & want to stay. If not you will still have gained and have time to look for something even better.

There's also a 3rd option. Stay where you are and keep looking for something else permanent.

Good luck.

System

Re:Dilemma

I got the £800 from the cost of petrol.

Scott.

System

Re:Dilemma

i have work out the cost of my petrol on the cost of what it costing me to fill the tank up fulling the number of miles I get from a full tank. Then worked out the miles I would be doing a day times it by 5 days (the number I would be working a week) times that my 48 weeks the number of weeks working in a year that's allowing for holidays although it's not accouting for the banks holidays my petrol would be £560.00.

I have thought about the job over the weekend and have decided to take it and shall be starting on the 2 October. I now have to hand in my notice which I am not looking forward to.

System

Re:Dilemma

Good on you and best of good luck in new job. My policy is you are not married to a Company! Cannot believe you never got a salary increase in all the time you stayed with them. You are doing the right thing. The longest I've ever stayed in a Company is 3 and half years. You need a break, follow your instincts and go where you are appreciated. Believe me a lot of things can happen in 18 months and keep your eyes and ears open none of us should stand still regardless of exams, money etc. to feel appreciated and be rewarded for it is the greatest buzz. Your last job was a dead end, they did not appreciate you. You can still keep in touch with colleagues. Go forward, not backwards.

System

Re:Dilemma

Thank you Caroline and Andy for you comments. I am looking foward to job and starting my CIMA not sure who to go with premier FTC or BPP for my distance learning. Having a holiday in three week time before I start both I need it. Cyprus here I come.

System

Re:Dilemma

Hello there,

Did you hand in your notice?? Did your current employers offer you more money to stay?

Just following your thread and was curious. I would have gone for the new job too if i was you!!

I was in the same position just over a year ago and I haven't looked back.

I miss my old work mates but I've finally started to make use of my aat studies and am learning something new constantly. I can't believe I spent four years bored senseless!!

Good luck with your new job, you'll be worth a lot more money with some more varied experience and a couple of CIMA papers under your belt.

I'm thinking about starting ACCA next year too, I have one paper left to sit through AAT then I can move on.

Enjoy and let us know how you get on.

Dawn

System

Re:Dilemma

Yes I did hand in my notice I gave them 5 weeks notice did not realise it at first what with bank hoilday week and in them middle of it I have a weeks break in Cypru. That week would have been my last week. I am quite happy at doing the extra week because I would rather finish my time at the end of a week that I worked and not at the end of a holiday there would be no leaving party.

I really stumped the Directors they had no idea although the MD did say it was understandable that I want more out of a job now but was not offered any more money etc. One member of staff did say she was expecting it. I am really quite happy to be going and looking forward to starting my new job.

I have just received from AAT an invitation to an award Ceremony, which I shall go to. Do not know what to wear though.