What do I do?? :(

Blighter · 19-04-2009, 21:33

In a bit of pickle with jobs atm. Unlike a few people I have the (possible) fortune of having a choice between two jobs...

As some of you know I'm starting at Cotswold tomorrow. Pay isn't all that but it's a great job and has a lot of benefits that apply to me (paid training abroad, BIG discounts on stock.. which I need, etc).

Now I have had a letter from Kent Police inviting me for an interview for a job as Communications Officer. Better pay (£17.5k) but crap hours and not something I'm 100% into.

My dad has been in the police all his life and really wants me to go for the Police job, but it's not something I want to do, although the money is better.

What do I do?

edit: Obviously a question I need to answer, but am looking for some advice

Haly · 19-04-2009, 21:39

Purely my opinion (i.e. if you take my advice, don't blame me if it goes wrong

):
You have a choice of a job that is something you really enjoy from what I can tell (the Cotswold job) or doing something that you're doing because of your Dad but that your heart's not in it.

While you're able to, go with your heart

If money's not too much of a problem then do the job you enjoy. Not enough people get that opportunity imo so while you've got that chance, do it.

You seem mad keen on outdoorsy stuff so makes perfect sense to me why the Cotswold thing is right for you and hopefully your Dad would understand that too.

Knipples · 19-04-2009, 21:43

You should do what makes you happy, and not what your dad would like you to do, its your life, and you have to make your own happiness, if you were living your life for someone else, I doubt that would happen.

If your Dad wants you to be happy, he will understand that.

Briggykins · 19-04-2009, 21:46

In your position I'd go with the Cotswold job. I've done the Communications officer job for our force and it's horrible

Or at least, certainly wasn't the job for me (I know some people enjoy it).
If you were older I'd possibly say follow the money and take the police job, but at your age I'd go with something you enjoy. Also you've got time to see if you can make a career out of it, and if you eventually decide you want to move on you've got plenty of opportunity to look for something else.

Blighter · 19-04-2009, 21:55

Thanks peeps, you've kinda confirmed what I was hoping you would

The only thing is, is that I want to be in the outdoors industry, I just don't know where - and I know that if I say to my dad that I don't want the police job, then he'll want to know what it is that I want to do instead....

LeperousDust · 19-04-2009, 21:56

Don't sell out, both jobs should have career opportunities, you enjoy one. Whats a little extra money really, 17.5k isn't the end of the world, if you really don't need it don't stress yourself out over that. As a guy who worked a year in a job i hated (truly hated

) don't put yourself through it

//Edit: Grown a spine tell your dad he'll understand if not now eventually anyway, it makes things much easier for you and him in the long run. He might not like the answer, you will grow to despise "his" choice if you took the job you don't want. Just talk to him, if he doesn't understand its his problem not yours.

NokkonWud · 20-04-2009, 01:21

Depends on the pay difference for me. I would do something I'm not into for a lot more.

Blighter · 20-04-2009, 01:27

It's about £4k difference a year.

Pheebs · 20-04-2009, 07:39

Dude. My CV is as long as my arm (and then longer). I have been in so many different jobs due to moving and doing temp work and occasionally realising "OMG wtf... why am I doing this job!?" and moving on.

I'm still young and no doubt have a lot to learn but there's one big major thing I have learned in all of my times working... and that it's really not worth going for a job based on the pay/making other people happy (obviously this depends on your financial situation).

If you have money... great! Woohoo, yippee! You get to go out and play a little bit more at the weekend and in holidays. But... if that means you're going to wake up every morning of work and think "Oh God not again... ground hog day" and do something your heart's really not into... is it really worth it? To me... no. 100% no.

As said, I've been in many places. Bar Manager, Estate Agent, Admin Jobs, Teaching Assistant, Volunteer to Train Special Constables, Police Civvy work. The main bulk of the jobs I have just mentioned I have been in them for... a year... maybe 2 for some. Out of all of them, Estate Agent was the best paid... and it was horrendous. Police work followed closely and it wasn't in the line of work I wanted to do... and that too (after about 3months) was tedious and horrendous. And so many people... such a great amount of people on the way through these jobs have been so miserable with their lives. Completely and utterly miserable... and yet they'd been stuck in the same old job for 20years.

It's not worth it. Honestly... 100% not worth it. Plus... this jobs "only" 4k less. If you're much more enthusiastic about it and have more energy for it, you will no doubt go through promotions and build yourself up. It's only... what... £400ish more before tax a month? If you're money concious and get a plan sorted for what to do with your wonga you can save and not be that far behind it.

My nine eggs

Good luck Mister

Kitten · 20-04-2009, 07:49

It's about 360 before tax Pheebs, generally 1k works out at 20 quid a month iirc.

I agree with the majority here. If you're not in a position to have to do what you *have* to do, then do what you want to do. You'll only end up packing in the other job when you can't take it anymore, and end up without the other option.

Unless of course it turns out to be better than you think, then you could be onto a winner, but personally, I've worked very closely with the Comms officer for Merseyside police and she found it a very difficult (and I don't mean 'challenging') and thankless job. Police comms involves a hell of a lot of spin and it only takes one 'wrong' comment and you're out on your bum.

You're young, you have choices. If you earn more, you'll just spend more and it won't mean anything (stereotype, but it happens to most of us). Doing something you enjoy is worth so, so much more than 4k, if you don't actually *need* that 4k

Good luck with making your decision

19-04-2009, 21:33	#1
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	What do I do?? :( In a bit of pickle with jobs atm. Unlike a few people I have the (possible) fortune of having a choice between two jobs... As some of you know I'm starting at Cotswold tomorrow. Pay isn't all that but it's a great job and has a lot of benefits that apply to me (paid training abroad, BIG discounts on stock.. which I need, etc). Now I have had a letter from Kent Police inviting me for an interview for a job as Communications Officer. Better pay (£17.5k) but crap hours and not something I'm 100% into. My dad has been in the police all his life and really wants me to go for the Police job, but it's not something I want to do, although the money is better. What do I do? edit: Obviously a question I need to answer, but am looking for some advice __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

19-04-2009, 21:39	#2
Haly Do you want to hide in my box? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 14,941	Purely my opinion (i.e. if you take my advice, don't blame me if it goes wrong ): You have a choice of a job that is something you really enjoy from what I can tell (the Cotswold job) or doing something that you're doing because of your Dad but that your heart's not in it. While you're able to, go with your heart If money's not too much of a problem then do the job you enjoy. Not enough people get that opportunity imo so while you've got that chance, do it. You seem mad keen on outdoorsy stuff so makes perfect sense to me why the Cotswold thing is right for you and hopefully your Dad would understand that too. __________________ Halycopter

19-04-2009, 21:46	#4
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	In your position I'd go with the Cotswold job. I've done the Communications officer job for our force and it's horrible Or at least, certainly wasn't the job for me (I know some people enjoy it). If you were older I'd possibly say follow the money and take the police job, but at your age I'd go with something you enjoy. Also you've got time to see if you can make a career out of it, and if you eventually decide you want to move on you've got plenty of opportunity to look for something else. __________________ Last edited by Briggykins; 19-04-2009 at 22:02.

19-04-2009, 21:55	#5
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	Thanks peeps, you've kinda confirmed what I was hoping you would The only thing is, is that I want to be in the outdoors industry, I just don't know where - and I know that if I say to my dad that I don't want the police job, then he'll want to know what it is that I want to do instead.... __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

19-04-2009, 21:56	#6
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Don't sell out, both jobs should have career opportunities, you enjoy one. Whats a little extra money really, 17.5k isn't the end of the world, if you really don't need it don't stress yourself out over that. As a guy who worked a year in a job i hated (truly hated ) don't put yourself through it //Edit: Grown a spine tell your dad he'll understand if not now eventually anyway, it makes things much easier for you and him in the long run. He might not like the answer, you will grow to despise "his" choice if you took the job you don't want. Just talk to him, if he doesn't understand its his problem not yours. __________________

20-04-2009, 01:21	#7
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	Depends on the pay difference for me. I would do something I'm not into for a lot more. __________________

20-04-2009, 01:27	#8
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	It's about £4k difference a year. __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

20-04-2009, 07:39	#9
Pheebs Deep Throat Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,512	Dude. My CV is as long as my arm (and then longer). I have been in so many different jobs due to moving and doing temp work and occasionally realising "OMG wtf... why am I doing this job!?" and moving on. I'm still young and no doubt have a lot to learn but there's one big major thing I have learned in all of my times working... and that it's really not worth going for a job based on the pay/making other people happy (obviously this depends on your financial situation). If you have money... great! Woohoo, yippee! You get to go out and play a little bit more at the weekend and in holidays. But... if that means you're going to wake up every morning of work and think "Oh God not again... ground hog day" and do something your heart's really not into... is it really worth it? To me... no. 100% no. As said, I've been in many places. Bar Manager, Estate Agent, Admin Jobs, Teaching Assistant, Volunteer to Train Special Constables, Police Civvy work. The main bulk of the jobs I have just mentioned I have been in them for... a year... maybe 2 for some. Out of all of them, Estate Agent was the best paid... and it was horrendous. Police work followed closely and it wasn't in the line of work I wanted to do... and that too (after about 3months) was tedious and horrendous. And so many people... such a great amount of people on the way through these jobs have been so miserable with their lives. Completely and utterly miserable... and yet they'd been stuck in the same old job for 20years. It's not worth it. Honestly... 100% not worth it. Plus... this jobs "only" 4k less. If you're much more enthusiastic about it and have more energy for it, you will no doubt go through promotions and build yourself up. It's only... what... £400ish more before tax a month? If you're money concious and get a plan sorted for what to do with your wonga you can save and not be that far behind it. My nine eggs Good luck Mister __________________ http://www.spiffingdesigns.co.uk

20-04-2009, 07:49	#10
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	It's about 360 before tax Pheebs, generally 1k works out at 20 quid a month iirc. I agree with the majority here. If you're not in a position to have to do what you have to do, then do what you want to do. You'll only end up packing in the other job when you can't take it anymore, and end up without the other option. Unless of course it turns out to be better than you think, then you could be onto a winner, but personally, I've worked very closely with the Comms officer for Merseyside police and she found it a very difficult (and I don't mean 'challenging') and thankless job. Police comms involves a hell of a lot of spin and it only takes one 'wrong' comment and you're out on your bum. You're young, you have choices. If you earn more, you'll just spend more and it won't mean anything (stereotype, but it happens to most of us). Doing something you enjoy is worth so, so much more than 4k, if you don't actually need that 4k Good luck with making your decision __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher

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