should i apply?

LegacyUser

I need a bit of guidance and advice on what to do as I'm a bit uncertain

basically I've been on the dole for the last while and really want to get back to work; I've seen a job opportunity in a city where I want to move to and the job opportunity is basically working in a call center in management which I have experience of and the sort of things they're looking for I have done, the whole role and responsibilities and everything so hence I'm confident I'd get it.

But I kind of fell into working a call center before and just took on different roles and grew with experience (more because I needed to be challenged and because the chances were there and it stopped me from getting bored in the main job I had), it was never intended and a world away from what I had studied in college and not at all what I ever wanted to do. The job is ok, salary is not mentioned, benefits more or less in line with where I worked before, the industry is of a fair interest (not a huge interest, but passively) to me, has shift work and that's where the but comes in...

In my last job in a call center I missed out on a lot of things with friends and family because of shift work and I didn't really have a very positive work/life balance and eventually I was really unhappy working there because of the lack of balance, often because I couldn't get time off because I was so well trained up and generally exhausted at the end of the day; the job was fine but I missed out on weekends away, socialising, time with friends and family celebrations, difficulty getting holidays, just never had enough hours to enjoy the fun stuff in life and while I feel I know I could do the job no problem, I really don't want to get sucked back into that as even a relationship ended up being a major stress because it took a lot on my part to organise swaps and stuff to get time off and often the hours I worked were within shifts from 8am to 8pm. It all really effected my mental health and general well being, I ended up being stressed so much over little things and was basically burnt out by the time redundancy came and in the time afterwards realised I hated the hours I worked which were rolling shifts (some weeks weekdays off, other weeks weekends off, had to work bank holidays in accordance with company's customer market in a different country so I'd get their bank hols off) because it meant I always ended up sacrificing something somewhere if not friends, then it was family, if not one it was the other and if neither than it was time for me to learn new things and get involved in hobbies and activities.

But the thing also is, while I know I could do that job, and really want to be off the dole, really feel I should just go for it to get off the dole, I feel I have more to offer than that job could ever provide me with and I don't really want a career working in a call center even if I did work my way upward, which seems unlikely as further upward is not based in Ireland.

I feel really uncertain because I know I could do that job and do it well, but even while typing this thinking I might have answered my own question, I'm actually stressed thinking of what it was like and knowing when I started in the call center it was supposed to be just a stop gap for me before I pursued what I really wanted; and I want what I want more in line with what I've studied and where my real passions are but I've been overlooked by companies I've applied to that I really want to work with where I feel the broader person I am fills the vacancies that they have, if they gave me a chance. And that is looking grimmer as time passes even though with a skills match I am an excellent match for the jobs I've applied, and they are much more in line with what I want.

I'm just worried I'd end up sacrificing a lot in a job while would be interesting and I know I can do, would be challenging to a point but is not in line with what I want at all or where I want to carve out a career in.

I'm not sure if any of that makes real sense; but I feel on one hand I'd be stupid to pass up on something that gets me to the city I want with skills that I have and a job I know I can do, but I have about as much interest in being in as I would in entering a pie eating contest. Should I sacrifice a future chance of a dream job in what I want and settle for less but at the same time knowing I could enjoy a job to the point just not with how I would use the same skills and working what could be shifts where I have less control over my work/life balance like before?

Any advice?

I think it's easier to get another job while in a job already, and it would get you back into a routine and off the dole and the place you want to be.
Unless it would have a profound impact on your health, mental or otherwise, I would say go for it and keep looking elsewhere

jessiejam

Apply for the job, go for the interview.
You can always turn it down if you get offered it.

It will at least give you a chance to find about a little more about the job, and what you would like to gain from it.

Even take it until something else comes up.

Best of luck with it

HOS 1997

I would think it's better for your mental health to be working than being on the dole.

Go for the interview and if you get the job, write down a specific plan with what your goals are (e.g to find new job within x months). This will stop you getting distracted and losing focus on getting your 'dream job' in the industry you want to work in. Apply for other roles while you are in the job and it will look far better to future employers to see you working than being unemployed.

I've worked shifts like this up until very recently and while it is hard you need to learn how to organise your free time as best as possible.

okiss

I would apply for this job. I know shift work is not wonderful but it will get you up each day and get you meeting new people. You might learn some new skills or computer packages which could help you get a better job.
If your offered the job take it and keep looking for a job that would suit you better. Doing shifts means you may have mornings off ect which you can use to look for work or have interviews.
Also when you go to a job interview it is better to say that you are working and you will be in a position to give information on this.

LegacyUser

Thanks all for the vote of confidence...and I would be inclined to agree with everyone if I was responding to it because I know it makes sense.

I really enjoyed what I was doing in the call center before.....basically doing a manager's job on a csa wage so I always had a lot of responsibilities and required quite a bit of sacrifice in some parts. Because I'm single and have no dependants I feel again someone who has kids or is in a relationship will get favoured over me for time off or holidays or even preference of shifts as that did happen to me.

I'm probably being ridiculous about that really but I ended up missing out on a lot of things in my 20s because I ended up typically getting the short straw, I missed some milestones with siblings even big gatherings with my extended family that I was really gutted not to go and missed out on so many things like cultural and art events, trips to theatre, meeting up with long standing friends who got pissed off with me because they were always arranging things for like Friday/Sat/Sun and I'd always end up saying I can't meet them because they'd arrange it last minute and I'd be stuck in work and lost a few friends that way. And the hours of business in this job are longer something mad like 7am to 10pm and shift work is expected and advised to be available for evenings and weekends, but it doesn't quite fit with what I want for myself which is to be available evenings and weekends for activties I enjoy like events, like going hiking and camping, seeing new places and trying out different activities, getting more involved in volunteering things that I feel are more fulfilling in life; I've never had a job that didn't require shift work, even in college some places I worked would be evenings to 2 or 3 am and that wasn't in pubs or clubs. I've never experienced 9-5 monday to friday before.

It's pretty much a world a way from a whole other different route I am seriously considering which has been repeatedly suggested to me which is working with the UN which is closer to what I want to do with my life and have greater ambition for. There's a part of me that wants to take that job because it's familiar and I know I could do it, I see the logic in taking it even typing that post earlier I was crying just remembering how stressed out and unhappy I was, how much I went from being a happy person to an unhappy person that ended up escaping it all by getting into drugs and alcohol and addition problems which never crossed over into the workplace and not acknowledging I was depressed and I really really don't want that to happen again and I don't want to have the same fights with friends about having to work and not being available to meet up because they could never understand or having to feel really guilty knowing I'm missing out on big events in extended family where I'm the only one who couldn't be there. I feel like I missed out on so much of all the fun stuff people do in their 20s that I never did always because I was responsible either with myself, or in college or working taking jobs and making sacrifices....putting what I really wanted on hold because making ends meet was more important in any job regardless of hours even with missing out on certain things if the benefit was to learn more; part of me feels that who I am is beyond that capability of that role and it would be a step backward for me, literally I would be continuing on from where I left off and I can't see where it will get me when I keep feeling that there is something bigger out there waiting for me. But at the same time I can see the merit and reason for taking the job because I know I could make a success of it but I do realilse it seems like a dead end for me

Or am I just being ridiculous?

orchidsrpretty

Have you applied for this job yet? Why all the over thinking? No offence, but you will be on the dole a long time if you are putting this much thought into just sending in your CV.
Think about all the other stuff once the interviews are done and you have a job offer on the table. Then is the time to weigh up the pros and cons of the position.
Good luck.

Overheal

Apply for the job. I've seen far too much research into the unemployment problem lately. After too long your mind just starts to degrade to the point where you aren't even really the same person anymore because you lack the self esteem to be in the workforce. So many professionals that are back in the workforce now are actually quite upset at themselves that for the last 2 years they thought that they were above flipping burgers in order to keep themselves working and active and paying their own way. Sucks as it might on the face of it to take a job in a call center it really does cause you great benefit in the long run. I do recall snubbing my nose at a few jobs too and I spun my wheels for a few extra months as a result. All it did was cause me more lost income and to put on more weight and feel ****tier about myself.

Just because you are employed somewhere else, it never means you are going to miss a job opportunity. You can always hand in your notice and your new employer will give you time to switch. As well as that nobody is really legislating against employment discrimination against the unemployed - at least not yet, at least not in the states from what I know and understand. You stand a better chance of getting employment by being employed. The discrimination with the unemployed is they are broken goods or would prefer to collect the dole than do something meaningful for themselves; in the hiring managers mind it makes you the lazier candidate.

Raven_Melody

OP, I completely understand your position; having experience and beimg good at something doesn't always mean you want to do it forever. But this isn't forever - this is now. Unless the position itself is a step backwards in terms of your CV progression (which it doesn't seem to be) then there's no harm in going for it just for the interim. I understand that shift work can be a fuucker to your quality of life, but in fairness what's it like at present on a dole wage?

Stavro Mueller

If you want to work at a different job, chances are you are going to have to put in place a plan that will get you into a position to do this. Even though you are not working in that old job any more, it doesn't sound like you're any further along the line towards than you were before. I'm sure you have your own reasons for that (mainly lack of money?) but it might be something to reflect on.

If you do get a job such as the one you're talking about, look on it as a stepping stone to doing what you really want. Something to put bread on the table and pay your bills while you go about making the changes you want in your life. Go see a careers advisor or a life coach if you need to. Look into doing distance learning courses. Perhaps see if you can organise your spare time better if you do end up back in shift work again. If you don't think you're staring into an abyss but that there is a brighter future ahead for you, it might help you.