Hi Wise Women!

Just a warning this might be long:)

Some of you may recall just over 12 months ago I started a new job.

The job is with a national not for profit, and my role is Volunteer Co-ordinator. It has been a job share role (2 days me and 4 days my colleague). She is a lovely woman but has not been good at the job 'share' part, so for the past 12 months, I have been somewhat under utilised and not particularly stimulated or challenged in the role. A new manager came on board and he is brilliant. Could see the situation, appreciated my skills and work experience and has been slowly working to change the situation... note 'slowly'. I have recently been considering if I needed to move on from this situation as I felt that I was not going to be given the opportunity to reach my full potential in the role. I am actually more skilled and experienced than my colleague which is not an issue for me, she works more days than I so should take the lead. We get on very well and I do enjoy working with her, it's just difficult when she micro manages as she does and tries to keep the job to herself.

Given the job is only two days, I took on another part time casual role with Motto Fashions which I absolutely love! That has regulated and I currently do two shifts a week for them. One on Monday and one on Friday. And of course I receive a very generous 50% discount from them which is rather nice.

Soooo, today is my day off and I had a call from my colleague at the not for profit. She has tendered her resignation today and will finish up at the end of June. She is retiring. She wanted me to be the first to know, after our manager so called me at home, which I really appreciated. She indicated that I need to think about if I would like to take on the role full time. Of course I haven't heard that from our manager but previous conversations have indicated that in the event that my colleague left the job, the opportunity would be mine.

This has sent me into a bit of confusion.

I am not sure I want to work full time. I haven't worked full time since my son was born. One option could be to recruit another person and created a legitimate job share situation with three days each. I could give up my one day off during the week and go to three days.

And do I give up my work at Motto to facilitate a more satisfying position at the not for profit? If I did that I could negotiate to work 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday and be able to drop Master 13 at school and also pick him up in the afternoon and be around after school. At the moment DH and I share school drop off and pick up and that's a great arrangement but I do sometimes feel I miss out as I do less of these.

In the my most previous roles, I have been the lead, holding management positions and I seem to be at my best when I lead. A very close friend suggested that me taking the lead and the organisation perhaps recruiting someone more junior in a support role might actually create a situation that I find much more satisfying.

I think the most challenging idea here is the possibility of giving up my sales job. There is no question the NFP job is a secure one. The sales not so much. It is a casual role so no guarantee of hours.

Given I work there, I am spending most of my clothing allowance there - but I feel that I am limiting myself a little style wise. We have to wear current stock when we are in store and couple that with how much I love clothes and fashion its a no win situation lol.

Truth is I was kind of hoping that in time, I might be able move more permanently into the sale environment. There has been talking of training me as a store manager. Oh my NFP job is very well paid... just saying

Ok so that's it, I am confused. I would like to have formulated some ideas before I meet with my boss next week.

Any advice, experience that you may like to share? I would be every so grateful.

xxx Deborah