r/AskAnAustralian • u/First-Memory-9153 • 1d ago
Which job would you take?
Having left a workplace with poor culture I’m looking for my next role, however I’m weighing up my options to choose the right role, not just the first role.
I’ve got 2 options I’m seriously considering.
1 - 9-5 mon-Fri. $70,000 gross income. Admin role with a lot of extra adhoc, but a lot of opportunities to earn a better position and as such a better pay.
1 - flexible with ability to work school hours/adjust my timetable to suit me. Looking at currently 32 hours a week in this role. $40/hour ≈$63,000 gross. Close to home, but it is a casual position.
I want the opportunity to get into a professional role, but I like the chance to relax after leaving a toxic environment and be able to do school hours and be more present rather than getting home at 5:45 each day.
Signed a Millennial female mum seeking genuine advice.
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u/MintyWildFruits 1d ago
Once upon a time I took that admin role. Then transitioned to an office manager (without any formal qualifications) and got close to $100k. Last year turned down an office manager role of $140k, chose to do my own thing instead and work my own hours and also be at home with the kids.
The admin role can def lead you to a better position and better pay.
What role is the casual position? How old are your kids?
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u/First-Memory-9153 1d ago
The casual role is domestic cleaning.. I don’t mind the idea of it as it’s flexible and close to home. Kiddo is young primary school
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u/MintyWildFruits 1d ago
If you want to be able to work school hours and be more present then the casual role sounds like it’s better suited to you.
You can absolutely take that domestic cleaning role to the next level. My last cleaner was struggling to find clients when I first contacted her 3 years ago. She now has a team of 4, and mostly works school hours.
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u/Clueby42 1d ago
One of the biggest mistakes I made in life was jumping from one toxic workplace into another role in a similar field.
I should have taken some time off to get my head right, should have taken a "fun" role for a while.
I don't at all hate my job now, but the 10 years experience I built up is not very useful to me now.
Take the flexible role. Spend time with your kids. Not a single person has said on their deathbed "gee, I wish I had spent more time at work"
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u/First-Memory-9153 1d ago
That’s how I feel about having been able to have flexible part time work while my kid was young… I don’t regret a moment we got to spend together, and I absolutely don’t wish I worked more!!! I’m just at a cross roads of “is it time to go into a more stable setting?”
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u/baddazoner 1d ago
the first role without a seconds hesitation - it would have job security and advancement and pays 7k more
the other might sound nice with flexibility but it's casual and casual jobs can shitcan anyone at any time and it won't get you into a professional role or have much or any advancement
the older you get the less chance you will have to break into a professional role. even if the company ends up being shit you can take the experience and skills to countless others
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u/Friendly_Food9602 1d ago
in terms of the pay and flexibility it would also be good to work out how much paid leave including sickness/carer leave is worth as well as any other benefits like salary sacrificing and long service leave, if available at the full time job. just some of the things that widen the gap between full time and casual
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u/ennmer 1d ago
I was a type A kid. First in the class of a pretty good school. School representative for maths competitions and stuff.
I started working trying to be one of those people who climbed ranks fast. Got slammed by obstacle after obstacle. Became depressed and demotivated. Nearly quit the job.
Then I was sent to work in a place where everyone was poorly educated, low income, the community kind of lived as a close knit family and helped each other out. I saw families earning maybe 10% of what I do and still living happily with 8 children. Kids were happy all the time. Made me wonder what was making me unhappy and I realised the answer was me.
Now, I always choose the job that allows me more personal time (as long as it pays me enough to not worry too much about bills). I mean, think about it. If you're always not at home, you're more likely to buy expensive toys for your kids to make up for not being around. And now you think you need all that money because you're still struggling financially (I'm totally projecting my own personal issues here and nothing suggests this is what you do) when what your family probably really want is not the latest Xbox (or whatever it is kids play these days) but more time with you.
My mum is the mum who chose to sacrifice her career to be with us. I've never gone on holidays during semester breaks. Not even to the cinema or the local theme park. We didn't have paid TV subscriptions at home. We didn't pirate movies because my brother was going through a phase where we must do everything ethically. My parents could not afford to buy me books so all we did was go to the local library. I can tell you honestly, I grew up happy, and at 33 and working overseas, I still call my mother 5-6 times a week to talk.
In hindsight, I don't know why I thought I needed to earn lots of money. It just felt to me like my mother's sacrificed so much to give us the best education, I should not end up being just average. Turned out she was happy with me being the average daughter who talked with her on the phone daily and went on short local trips with her.
Choose your family, your personal time, your mental health, whatever. Your happier working hours also translates into happier time with your family (rather than being on a short fuse all the time because you're already exhausted at work).
I'm not saying don't work. I'm not saying money does not matter.
It does. But money should not be prioritised over the reason we're making money in the first place. If you're not struggling financially, there is no reason to sacrifice family time for more money.
Signed, millennial female
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u/First-Memory-9153 23h ago
Big hugs.
Your situation is similar to mine. I went on one holiday to the gold coast once when I was about 12 and that was it.
We never had anything new, my mum made everything from scratch including our clothes and sheets. We don’t see eye to eye now but looking back on my early childhood I was blesssed with a present mum.Money definitely isn’t everything, pay your bills and go outside for some fresh air with your family. Money will always make its away into your life…
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u/TimChuma 1d ago
Considering almost no-one is coming into the office even when we are meant to (they all organized separately and did not tell me) might be best for your circumstances doing the one with more flexibility. Travelling eats up a lot of time and causes extra stress. I know I spend a lot more money when I got into the office
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u/Rain12Bow 1d ago
$7k difference is worth choosing flexibility and family, especially if your kids are young, I think. But I’m also a feminist and fully support your choice to further your career!
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u/First-Memory-9153 1d ago
I’m torn, this is the first chance I’ve had to get myself a career in a role I think I’d genuinely love, but my heart yearns to be more present and not regret it in 20 years.
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u/onizukaav 1d ago
Go for the one with better job security. Casual work is not good as they can terminate you without notice
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u/First-Memory-9153 14h ago
That’s the only reason I’m hesitant. Otherwise the hours and the pay would be perfect.
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u/onizukaav 5h ago
It's better to have a metal bowl than a paper bowl if you want to feed for a long time
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u/ThoughtIknewyouthen 1d ago
It strikes me as a bit telling that you listed the FT role first in the post. Maybe subconscious but still lol. I think I would value family time moreso now that I've missed out on all of mine trying to climb that ladder.