Feeling a bit wobbly about tomorrow!

You'll be fine! Just think of us if you get worried. We'll all be rooting for you!

I'd give it the full 3 days and see how it goes and maybe also t he benefit of the doubt because unless you had a firm job offer from the other employers you mught finish up with nothing. As you have found out, jobs can be thin on the ground and it is always easier to move jobs than to go from unemployed to a job. Yes, you have an interview, but so do how many others? I do not wish to be negative, but I would not turn this down unless I hated it. Re the ironing - I take it you have had a job description? If you feel you are being exploited then by all means demur - but do keep an open mind. Good luck!

Job description, hmm not exactly! The post was listed as Head of Housekeeping & Office Assistant.

I think in 3 days you will get a feeling for the people and what they expect. But they should provide you with a contract and a job description to go with it, if they want to employ you.

I agree Jess , but I still want to interview for the other job. The fly in the ointment with the one that I'm trying is the work pattern. The other 1 is Mon to Fri

Play your cards close to your chest, Phoenix. I wouldn't tell them too much at this stage.

Good Luck tomorrow.

Good luck for tomorrow. I do not think that they were upfront with you, changing the financial goalposts. I agree, you definitely want to go to next week's interview and at least it is on your day off if you return next Monday.

You must see the job description before you agree to anything but I also agree that you should be upfront re the interview but not until Friday. By then you will have had a "feel" of the place and expectations on both sides. Think of the next 3 days as "petrol" money.

Charleygirl not sure that it IS on my day off, I think the winter season works on Mon to Fri, with the days off changing to Weds & Sun during the main season but I will double check tomorrow

That is the kind of thing they should have told you already, phoenix. Make sure you get all the info first thing tomorrow, before you get stuck into the work. How can it be a fair trial on both sides if you don't have the facts?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

There might be some "undocumented features" in this job, Phoenix, which could prove good or bad - and your trial run will highlight them for you.

If you get on well with the whole family, and they are "good people" who need someone capable in the position, able to see when father is in danger of making a mistake and sort it out tactfully, you could end up running the whole show in a short while. If so, you should get a suitable remuneration for your input.

If the business is in a bad way because of father being a bit vague, you could end up doing the lot and not having any job at all at the end if it all fails.

I'd say you need you be businesslike with the boss as well as with the job. If you can do it without falling out with him, he will accept your expertise and you will work well together. If he resents you putting him right, there will be tears before bedtime.

Watch out for all that "housekeeping", it could be a translation of "skivvy and dogsbody" Are any cleaners employed?

The business is very successful and has grown a lot over the past few years. There is a chap in the office who goes back a long way with the owner, I haven't as yet fully worked out his role.

The owner sees himself as the embodiment of the business, he is rather larger than life, shall we say! Over 80% of their trade is repeat business, which is good, and the comment cards all rave about how lovely to see the family again etc.

They do employ quite a large cleaning team, mainly at weekends, but with some cover during the week. Tomorrow I will meet the person who is leaving and I can ask her how her time is divided up.

She has worked for them since leaving school, and is only leaving to have a baby. The job wasn't listed as cover for maternity leave, and they have said they don't know is she will be coming back or not.

I would not mention the other interview you have. I would also ask for a full explanation of just what your duties are. Will you be expected to step into the housekeeping duties only in an emergency or on a regular basis?

Sorry, meant to add that I wish you good luck (also with the interview!)

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thanks all!

merlot tell me about it! He insisted on giving me a bottle to bring home last week! "Legendary" is one word for it, I can think of others!

It sounds as though you could become part of a successful and slightly eccentric team. good luck! Try not to be too much of pushover, though. You need the job, but they need you. They should count themselves very lucky to have you on board. Get as definite a story as you can on whether she is coming back after the baby, and anything you can glean from her about what it is like to work there.

I would keep the other inteview out of the conversation to start with, though you have every right to be covering yourself in case it does not work out.

Good luck - and at least it will get you back on the circuit. It always seems to be easier to get a job if you already have one.

Good Luck Phoenix.

I shall be thinking of you phoenix, hope you will give it the three days before explaining the situation. By then you will probably be indispensable.

Not so sure of that! The present incumbent is extremely well regarded.

Just get through the three days. Say nothing about the other job offer, unless you will need time off for it. But def go for the other job to try to safeguard your Saturdays.

Good luck! It will work out fine.

If the present incumbent does come back after maternity leave, you will at least have your time in the job to refer back to, and a reference from them, but it would be good to know exactly what her plans are.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy it there. They seem to have some longstanding staff so they must be fairly reasonable employers.