New Job - Change of Plans?

Well, the original plan was that I was going to write a follow up piece to my masterplan, telling you all how utterly marvellous I'd been and how I'd managed to complete my June objective, already by bagging the job, closer to home and with an increased salary. Win, win - right?! Well, maybe not. Today I have spent the day having serious doubts. Granted the job is closer to home and it pays more. However, I have asked to delay my start date for a week, so I can have some downtime between finishing my current job and starting my new one. This means they'd have to wait three weeks for me to start, which I didn't think was too much of a hardship considering most people would have to give a months notice to their current employer. Also, wanted to get doctors and dentists appointments out of the way and take a look for somewhere new to live. Seems I'm asking way too much, as not only do they want me to not take that week off (I should probably add that I wasn't expecting to be paid for it), but they also want me to start a week earlier, when I'm still contracted into my current job. They assumed my start date before I had confirmed it to them and are now holding me to a date that they have created!

It's really started alarm bells ringing in my head and rather than feeling excited about my new job, I'm now, er, thinking of withdrawing my acceptance! It leaves me in a bit of a pickle as I've told all the people at my current work that I have this fab new job and while I may be able to work for a few more weeks in my current job, it potentially still leaves me in the same position in July when I may find myself scrabbling round to find work. But I think that might be a risk worth taking. First up, if they're being this inflexible before I even start the job, what's it going to be like when I am in the role? Will I be told I'm working until 8pm one night without any choice? Will I actually be able to take my holidays when I want them? To say they're not giving me a great first impression is an understatement, and to be honest it's highlighted some other concerns:

Why did I have to fight for the pay I wanted?
Why are they so desperate for me to start?
Why is their website still not up and running?
Why did they assume my start date?
I'm giving up a lot of additional benefits to take this role on - is that a good idea?
What if there's something better out there?
What if they're a bit small fry in comparison to where I'm working at the moment?
What if it's a step backwards?
If I'm as good as people keep telling me I am, then maybe I should be going for something more challenging?

And, just like that, it would seem I have talked myself out of the job.

Well, not just like that. . .

It started with them giving me a bad first impression of the company which got my back up and reminded me of another inflexible place that I worked at in the past (never want to go back to working that way!).

It then got me thinking about other aspects which concerned me, which I'd probably swept aside until now.

I then started thinking of the feedback from my colleagues where I'm currently working and realised I am good at my job. That coupled with a heavy dose of SATC-style girl power made me realise I need to respect myself and look after number one.

By this stage I was scared, but with the way they'd made me feel before I'd even started working for them I figured that it was better to risk that there was a better opportunity out there for me, than to risk working somewhere which was already managing to make me unhappy!

I've had a quick look on t'internet and there are some exciting (and big) opportunities out there. I'm going to sleep on it and speak to the agency tomorrow, and dependent on how that goes will depend on what I say to my current employer - but the way I feel at the moment June's objective may still be outstanding! Watch this space!

Money Spent: £1.99 lunch
Money Saved: Cancelled my train pass so that's £51.00 per month saved, although may have to be reinstated dependent on what happens on the job front
Money Made: Nope, nothing!