dilemma - accept the job offer or not?

[WhiteBear]

hi guys,
you may have recall recentley that i had been made redundant - well to be exact it was the ROLE that was made redundant not me. well i had a call last week from the agency that my last place wants me back, but working under ak diff manager, diff dept so basically compleletly diff role.

the work is supposelly more intense etc ....... but the pay is alot lower than i was getting before (almost half!!!!!!!!) which means i will be on just over the min wage per hour!!

so what should i do? accept the rubbish pay? or stay on benefits? i have worked out that i would be only around £50 better working than claiming benefits. i am attempted to claim benefits which would give me more time look for better pay job.

what are your views?? thanks :)

[buildersmate]

It depends on how much success you are having in finding roles that you are qualified to apply for, and success in getting interviews for those roles. It's obviously pretty tough out in the job market right now in many parts of the country.
However I'd be inclined to stick it out to find a role more equally aligned to your previous pay if you think you can afford to do that.

[ruthandsam]

I appreciate WhiteBear's response to your question, however, in my experience it is always easier to look for a better paid job when you are already working. Therefore, I would be inclined to accept the new role (for now). I have pondered a similar question to yours. I decided to wait until I could find a job more suitable for me, however, 35 applications later and only one interview, reality has spoken for itself. Claiming benefits is all very well but it does nothing for your self-esteem alongside the knowledge that you have no job!

All the very best to you.

[ruthandsam]

Sorry I meant to refer to Buildersmate in my reply and not WhiteBear!

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with Ruthandsam. If you have a job you willl be more likely to get interviews. A prospective employer 9 times out of 10 will respect someone more who is working, even in a job that doesn't meet their qualifications and experience, than someone who sits back and waits for the right job to come along.

[WhiteBear]

Thanks for your views, this exactly the same mix views im getting from my friends, and ex colleagues, so i am still indecisive whether to accept it or not. my main concern is, if i accept this job, then later i find another role, i would prob be offered alot lower salary, if you know what i mean.

i know im not going to be happy workng there coz of the pay, however i have at least til this month to decide. with or without benefits, i am still financially ok for the next few months.

[buildersmate]

OK, fair points, and Ii'll offer a bit more logic.
I said what I said for 2 reasons:
1) the job is only a little over the JSA amount
2) having a new job diverts one's attention and time away from finding a new career role.
It's just my view - I do see the other side to this.

[sara3]

hi WB :O)

you may be offered more interviews but you may not have time to attend.. I can also see both sides of this. have you been offered other jobs? what's the possibility of something better coming along within a few weeks/months.

if you think you're going to hate it and financially be no better off.. what's the point? keep your job offer letter to show to prospective employers.

good luck x

[Jan1957]

I would wait and keep looking. If you take the job how are you going to get time off to attend interviews if a better paid job does come up?

[tamborine]

Negotiate an increased wage or refuse the offer.

Dont step back, keep looking for a new position with the adventure it would offer in a new situation. Upward & onward!

[WhiteBear]

thank you very much guys, i am more into builders views, cos its exactly what i was thinking in the first place. it will also give me more time to jobsearch if i dont accept the job.

Jan and Sara also have a point, however i was told that if i do ever have a job interview then they will aloow me to attend it, i just wont get paid for the days i take off.

tamborine, i have asked for an increase, but they cant do it. only because there are others who has been there for a while (two yrs) are just getting around £6.50 -£7ph.

just makes me laff, im just quite shocked.

[Twenty20]

I'm not sure how it would affect any benefits youre getting if it was found that you were turning down offers of employment? Would you still be eligible? I dont know the answer but logically I'd expect them to cut your benefits if you are, in effect, keeping yourself intentionally unemployed.

[zbearspirit]

From one bear to the other, you need to realise that the country is in one of the worst recessions that could be worse than the early eighties. I cant see things improving in the neart future. There are people out there who are desperate for jobs. I strongly believe that one job will always lead to another job as you can provide references that are current, and you can evidence current performance to prospective employers. It would upset anyone to work for half pay, but let this situation be the driving force to allow you to find something much better.