Hello peeps.
SB - good to talk to you tonite. And LS, thanks for your PM.
As you can imagine, thoughts are running through my head at record speed, and so far, the pros and cons are literally neck in neck.
There is not one peice of the puzzle that is stronger then the other. Same pay. Same benefits. Same industry. Both good hours for different reasons - one, I would have mornings and afternoons free. The other, I would be home for the long summer evenings.
In a way, I am leaning, just, towards the new offer. Main reason - it is not a call centre. It is a proper office. ANd you have your own portfolio to work and working relationships established with the clients. No longer a number, but a name. No headsets - no SLA's - no cubicles. Just 9 or 10 people working together - taking time out as and when they can to have a chat and a giggle. All over 30. No back-biting and am told they all look out for each other and care as. A proper office, which is what I always worked in back home. Never heard of a call centre till I came over here.
I always said at my last job, that I prayed my new job would not come with a headset. The only good thing about having a headset on is you can pretend to be Madonna or Britney SPears for a minute.
But that is a real appeal.
But my manager at BUPA is absolutely lovely. And all the team speak very highly of her. And they are all friendly and nice and have made me feel instantly welcome. The commute is fun, the city is vibrant and exciting. Brightons a wonderful place. Shops all around - great restaurants and coffee houses all over. Always buzzing.
BUT, In contrast to the bonus of this new offer not feeling like a call centre, the worst part of BUPA, I think - or forcast - is its probably going to take its toll on my neck. I have found in learning to live with chronic pain, that I am much better earlier in the day. By the end of the day, the weight of my head and the compression really leave my neck painful and fatigued. I am now working as late as 11:30pm, but I still always wake at 6am, no matter what. A real lay in for me is 7, and if I ever make it as late as 8am its a miracle. SO I worry that my neck will not get the benefit of rest. ANd that is a strong consideration.
Oh yeah-I felt so comfortable with the two directors today, that I told them up front about my neck. That I will need a special (expensive) chair, and that I need to take a short break every hour to stretch etc. They were so understanding, and thanked me for my honesty and assured me it was not a problem.
While I do think BUPA will be supportive - I didn't feel as comfortable talking abut it with them in the interview, in fact haven't mentioned it to my manager yet even.
Environmentally speaking, BUPA's a very nice building, and nice flash canteen, etc. The new one, well - its in the midst of a very busy industrial park, upstairs above a warehouse. But inside, its very cheerful - bright - lots of natural light. ANd spacious. And QUIET!!!!( i realised today how noisy call centres are - someone is ALWAYS talking!! lol) But its quite different.
Oh my god - if anyone has read this far, you deserve a reward. This is really just another stream of consciousness, and probably boring you to tears, but its helping to put these things out there.
My OH was a bit hesitant this morning when I called him, but now after talking to me, he supports either decision I make. He felt like me, that I should think long and hard about it over the next few days. Then he came down 20 minutes later and told me "take it."! LOL I was a bit shocked. I said I needed to think longer and harder then that.
I really always wondered what it was like to have choice. This is all very new and unchartered territory for me. As said earlier, I would stop at the first job offered to end the torturous task of attending interviews and being judged, and then rejected. To be honest - I hate it! I really am struggling, in a pleasant way though I 'spose - but its a tough decision and I just wish there was some definitive proof or evidence of the best choice.
Well, I will sleep on it. I hope. lol
Thanks so much for letting me unload. I'm pooped. xxx