New Job Concerns

[crazymotorbik...]

Hey,
Just looking for a different perspective i guess so thought why not ask the masses of BCF!

Anyway, I've worked for Morrisons for 5 years now, started on checkouts then moved into the admin office. I don't mind my job but at £6/hr i feel like im just working to live, no money left over to do anything with. However the job is very very secure and i've gotten used to the £780 a month that I earn.

Recently I've applied to work at the DWP (Department of Works and Pensions) as an Admin Officer and have made it through to the final interview stage. The pays better at 15000 a year however the contracts only up to 18 Months with a possibility of it becoming permanent.

What would you do?

Stay at Morrisons in a secure job on 12000 a year.

or

Work for the DWP for 15000 a year but only have a 18 month contract with the possibility of being made redundant at the end of that period.

Thanks for reading,
Shaun.

[Burnside]

Go to the DWP, it will give you 18 months experience of the job and other internal job opportunities will come up. You would only kick yourself 5 years down the line thinking 'why didn't I go for it'

Good luck for the interview
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I started out with nothing and I still got most of it left.

[Robby]

Standard thing in most civil service recruitments these days - we take people on on 18 month contracts, then run a proper permanent recruitment exercise during that time so they can apply to be permanent staff.

Keep the official staff in post numbers down, because temps don't count as staff in post, and means we don't have to keep them if they're shit. Very difficult to fire permanent civil servants.

Go for the DWP job. Just bear in mind that its a shit department to work for, though probably better than Morrisons.

[Phoenix]

Go for DWP, the money you're getting from Morissons is abysmal to live on these days, if after 18months you became jobless it wouldn't take much to find another job paying what you have now. As long as you do your job I doubt you'd get the boot after 18months though.

[steppen22]

[Itchy]

Those who risk nothing become nothing.

And hell its civil service , which means the UK economy may completely collaspe ,total nuclear war may break out the human race may become completely extinct , but the job will be secure , unlike privateers.

EDIT , in my anedotal experience , civil service work experience is actually worth less than that of private sector having spoken to HR types.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[iooi]

Ok so you get a extra 3K a year.

Do you get staff discount at Morrisons or any bonus. Something you won't get with the DWP, at a guess. Might be other perks though.
Will it cost the same, more of less to get to the new job ?

Other than that i would go for it.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[jack_zxr400]

go for the new job
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Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[JonB]

Fuck sake that has gotta be a no brainer. Surely?
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[crazymotorbik...]

Thanks guys all round.

I've been offered quite a few jobs over the last couple of years but always find myself talking myself out of them, even jobs which would have seen me earning 20K a year.

As has been said those who risk nothing become nothing.

If offered i will accept it

Thanks again,
Shaun.

[Scotsman37]

DWP has a system that you have to get regularly assessed as like when you joined i.e. english, basic arithmetic, etc, plus they are still trying to get rid of the original 75,000 or so personnel in the beginining from a few years ago. Also, if you fail it you are out and their jobs are not secure at all and nobody really go up the job scale rate on wages over the years because they keep changing the goal posts in how to increase your wage packet. I know this because my friend has been an Admin Assistant for years within DWP and he hates it and has been on regular strikes and so has many others. His longest strike was about 12 weeks!

[Robby]

If he's been an admin assistant for years (AA is the lowest grade), hates the place, and keeps striking, he's not going to get promoted. You get promoted by doing your job, putting up with the constant change and bullshit, and demonstrating your ability to work at a higher grade.

Also, departments are big things - nearly every department is shedding jobs in one area and recruiting in another, particularly the big ones with offices all over the country. DWP in particular has a history of having some really shit staff, so they have systems in place to get rid of them.

So, generally 3 options:
1. Be good, play the game, get promoted.
2. Be shit, don't play the game, get fired.
3. Be OK, don't play the game, stay where you are and complain.

[Scotsman37]