I have a job interview next Thursday

Its with Contact a Family as Program Administrator - Parent Participation. Its part of the 'Together for Disabled Children' program that they will be running for the next two years.

It offers everything I could want from a job. 21 hours, so above the 16 which gets me away from the jsa. Flexible hours, so I can easily continue my voluntary work, and it allows me to carry on with my own personal development. This is important as it is a fixed contract. There are several courses I have recently identified that I want to do, including an introduction course to training and a follow up course with the Directory of Social Change.

It also allows me to carry on with some of the other opportunities which have recently presented themselves. Including the opportunity to give a talk on community involvement to degree students at a local college.

Those two years experience, along with continued personal development and other involvements on a local level could open doors I have not even considered yet.

Downside? Well I know the support team are currently putting together another job under a different scheme which offers a full time job for three years at £30000 a year. This is a follow up from the governments 'residents as community workers' scheme. It offers the same opportunities, though perhaps in a different way. The downside with this position is it will mean having four or five different employers. Upside is it is a badly kept secret that the position is being designed around my skills and knowledge. And while it will be advertised locally I am expected to get it.

The problem I have is if I'm offered the Contact a Family job I know it is unlikely I will even bother to apply for the other one, even though it pays over double. However the other job is not firm yet and depends on finding five small TMOs who will commit limited finances to the position.

I guess I need to work out what is worth more, a bird in the hand, or two in a bush

good luck with the interview George

only you can decide what is going to be best as each opportunity comes along, base it on where you are happy and where you are getting job satisfaction!

Fingers crossed for the interview George. I'm sure you'll make the right choice.

I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you George. Good luck.

Thanks DQ,

Unfortunately I am certain both will provide me with job satisfaction and both will be sufficiently challenging. CAF will offer me the kind of work structure I am used to, the other, while providing an element of this, would give me much more autonomy, and a much wider remit. For this reason it is a much more scarier prospect, but the more exciting for it. Both would certainly provide a sprinboard for the future.

To be honest I did not expect to get as far as the interview I certainly didn't meet all the criteria, but did tackle them head on to say how I'd done similar things and what I would expect the main differences would be.

OH!!!! Just realised, I was messing about with another application, and put my voluntary work down with Miss G. I said my position was 'Evil Minnion' and under duties put 'as directed by my beneviolent boss'. Guess who sent of the application without taking that out

Thanks Dinny and Tiki,

I guess it is possible that I'm being over optimistic that I'm going to be offered the job

Nah, I'm definately the right person, unless my modesty gets in the way

LOL George...and they are going to give you MORE autonomy!!!!!

Hey George - just relish the opportunity to be able to choose. It's been a long time coming and you deserve it - hope it works out the way that's best for you! Do many people employ evil minions?

LOL DQ, five small TMOs, many don't employ full time staff, and count on the goodwill of their staff to do the right thing.

In theory there is supposed to be supervision, but most of them will have no experience in employing a community worker. I would imagine that I will be given 'targets' and left to decide how I achieve those targets.

So more autonomy

Jaydee, do you think that might be what is scuppering my chances? Perhaps I should stop describing myself as 'evil minion'

Hmm - might help!

Good luck George and hope all works out well for you whatever happens.

george, just go with your gut instinct. As you said both jobs are right for you, but deep down you must have a preference.

No problems here about you knowing you will get the job, Mr V is confidence personified (sp?) and I am trying to learn from him.

Good luck, you really deserve a job that can show off what you are capable of

Good luck George will cross my fingers x

good luck George
my fingers are crossed for you