New Job Opportunity - what do you think?

[Nettie]

Could you perhaps try to do a few dummy runs in the next week, so leave early and get home later.

Funny enough, I will be going to a three day workshop next week - for this very project (not linked to the application). Then I'll go to town for the interview on Friday afternoon - so it should give me a good idea of the travel 'costs' on me and my time with DS, tiredness, etc.

[Nettie]

Well, I'm halfway through my 'dummy-run' and feeling ok!

I'm getting to leave town around 4pm - so getting home around 5.15 pm, which isn't much different from now! (work until 5 usually) I don't usually get to see DS before I go off to work anyway, so if I get offered the job and decide to take it - I might ask to work 8am - 4pm. Then I'm not missing out on him - just having to get up around 6am

Which I think I can cope with. Just have to learn to go to bed earlier!

[Lulu]

one thing to consider - traffic is far quieter in school holidays. It may be a bit different in a months time.

I didn't want to post that cos I really think you should go for this job, but I got a shock traffic-wise...(does that even make any sense?)

[Jaycee]

Nettie, I think the 8-4 plan sounds like a winner!
Plus, if you're starting at 8 you may find there's less traffic on the road as the majority of people start at 9

[spenceee]

Work is where I go to get money, Home is where I live, If it were me, I would ask whether the benefits I get from the new job will outweigh the time I lose at home.

The hard part is that Kids spell Love T-I-M-E rather than M-O-N-E-Y.

The thing about Govt Jobs too is that after a period of un-rest those who survive often float to the top and get better roles sooner.

[Nettie]

Spenceee - that's part of the reason I'm considering the move. Another is for my sanity and stress levels.

Well, my interview is tomorrow afternoon and after spending the last 3 days with these people, then coming back to my office late today - I think it's pretty clear to me that I would rather have been in town.

While I found the workshops quite hard and taxing, they were also exhilirating and got me enthused. Something MY work hasn't done in ages.

I even enjoyed the travel as I listened to NOVA (which I haven't done before) and laughed half the time!

Lulu - good point about School holidays, but I'll ask tomorrow if they'd consider a 8-4 routine and then see how I go with the School traffic. I suppose it's either school traffic or commuter traffic At least I haven't cut into my time with Liam over these last few days... it's been almost normal (except crawling out of bed at some un-godly hour! I am NOT a morning person )

Thanks everyone for your support and I will let you know how the interview goes tomorrow.

xxx Nettie.

[Jaycee]

Good luck Hun!

[spenceee]

good luck

[montyp]

Hey Beema,

Fellow public-servant here, Sydney-based and also a one-time supervisor who had severe anxiety issues coupled with bullying from my direct managers. I rode it out, and being a worker again has its benefits, but the glass ceiling is something else again.

We moved from inner-west to outer-west, effectively doubling my commute. For me, though, it was more time to spend doing uni work or, when uni's not on, catching up with reading, or puzzles, etc. The 20min commute didn't give much time for relaxing, and you'd never get a seat unless you got the all-stops train with the school-kids.

As for leaving a full-time job to go non-ongoing and so far away and for only $10K extra, I would have to advise against it on the following grounds:

1) How much is seeing your son worth?
My brother just scored a promotion which landed him as much as I earn in a year, on top of what he was already on! But it's now as a national manager, involving junkets like you wouldn't believe, including a 4-day regional conference in China. While SIL doesn't have to work any more, he reckons it won't interfere with his seeing his boys. Although they're 8 and 5, I still reckon he has no idea.

2) Will the $10K cover your added expenses - lunch, commuting - as well as the inevitable toll on your mental health?
Getting up that much earlier and getting home that much later will exhaust you. We have a super-commuter from the Central Coast here who gets up at 0400 to be here by 8, and isn't home until 1830-1900 .. that has to be telling!!!

Just my $0.02 worth.

[Nettie]

Well, I thought I'd better let you all know that I didn't get the job anyway.

I'm quite disappointed and a little bit peeved because I sent an Email last Thursday asking about what was going on (the Chairperson had said she would let me know early last week) and I got no response until today.

The Email I got had 'Re: position' and then an attached letter which simply stated that my application was unsuccessful and to contact her if I required any clarification.

I immediately replied to the Email and asked for feedback on my application - and I have had no response (this was about 10am this morning).

I'm ok with not being selected, but with the Email/letter? Whatever happened to the phone call? Gutless...

[montyp]

BOOO! They suck!

I hate when that happens. You can almost never take the date they give you: I was told that I would have an answer about my transfer request before the Director went away, and had to chase him up a week after we got back.

Anyways, in a way I'm glad you didn't get it, for the reasons I set out ... it happened for a reason: something better will come up soon, anyways!

[Jaycee]

That's ridiculous!
I'm sorry you didn't get the job
Hopefully she at least has the decency to provide you with some feedback...

[Mak]

Oh that is disappointing. I hope another opportunity comes up for you soon. xx

[Nettie]

I spoke to the woman this morning and she told me that no-one was selected (there were multiple positions) as what they were looking for was probably too specific (IT savvy and specialist knowledge). I had the specialist knowledge - but not the IT experience.

Feel better about it now - so thanks for your support!