Help, what should I do?

[hamster]

Thanks for all your support! I know that ultimately it's my choice what I do, but it's nice to get a range of opinions. (I must admit it's reassuring knowing that I'm not necessarily going to be scorned by all you worthy people for it!)

I went in today, as I didn't want to pass it up without giving it a chance and being more balanced about it. I would be mostly punching numbers into a computer and posting bits of aeroplane about the country, rather than actively marketing vicious weapons to third-world children, but I still feel slightly uncomfortable about being involved in the defence industry. It's weird, as I'm not usually a hardcore pacifist, and accept that sometimes wars have to be fought, and that there is some sense in having a well-maintained army. I just don't feel quite 'right' being so directly involved in it. That does sound rather hypocritical, but it's my gut instinct.

I was worried about my CV largely because I might get the chance to go permanent there, and if I'm going to take a job of this type at this particular juncture, I'd want to do it for 6 months to a year, rather than doing bits of temping (which I'm very good at talking up ), which isn't the kind of gap you can leave unexplained. Chatted to the bf about it last night, and he very sensibly said I should just be honest on my CV, and if any future employers might have a problem with it, I can explain that that's why I'm leaving.

He also said that since we've been managing with money so far, we can probably afford for me to carry on working a few days a week alongside volunteering, as on balance me being happy and sane is more important than buying each other expensive Christmas presents.

Will ponder it over for another couple of days, I think, vainly hoping that some external event will come along and make my mind up for me...

[Thomzo]

Red's right. What EXACTLY does this defence company do? I also worked at a company that was in the "Defence" sector. In fact it wrote software for helicopters and the MOD happened to buy some of the helicopters. I think you would have to have extremely strong convictions to refuse a job on that basis. If it builds bombs, then carry on looking and tell the BF that's it's too dangerous to work there.

Zoe

[Stonehead]

Rather weirdly, I posted along similar lines to Red a few days ago, saw the post appear and now find it's gone. It's the third or fourth post of mine to vanish like this.

Anyway, further to Red's post, working for companies that may seem morally questionable to some need not be a bad thing on your CV.

I've worked for a few dubious companies in my time and do include them on my CV. I point out that while the companys' philosophies were not entirely in keeping with my own, I did learn or improve transferable skills while working for them - particular in areas like diplomacy, tact and negotiation.

In my vanished post, I also replied to MMM, saying that I'm always honest in my CV because I know there are suspicious, hard-nosed buggers like me out there. When I was recruiting, I always checked, double-checked and triple-checked every single CV that went on to the shortlist pile.

It proved a very effective way of reducing a preliminary shortlist of 10-12 candidates down to three or four. In one memorable case, though, I found every single candidate had major b***s*** in their CVs so I had to readvertise the post - with the added line "Rigorous checking of CVs means previous candidates need not re-apply". We had a much better group of candidates second time around!

Oh, and I was in the army BTW. Does that make me really dodgy and morally dubious?

[QuakerBear]

Best of luck in your choices Hampster, whatever you chose I have confidence that you will have weighed the pros and cons and will have made the right decision. The very fact that you are thinking responsibly about what you do in your life is hugeley re-asuring. Do let us know which way you go, no judgement, just interested