Applying for Administrative Work Again

Although I registered with a temp agency hoping for a nursing assistant job, I haven't heard anything back. Since there's little hope in waiting, it has become my daily routine to search for jobs that meet my criteria on job sites.

Then, I found a company hiring for an administrative position. The job involves general administrative tasks, primarily accounting.

The hours are from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with a one-hour break, four days a week.

I applied immediately, and my application passed the screening. I was invited for an interview.

The interview felt much more formal than I had anticipated, which made me nervous.

Starting with a self-introduction, they spent a lot of time asking about my motivation for applying, my strengths and selling points, when I feel stressed, and when I feel a sense of accomplishment.

It felt like I was back in my job-hunting days as a new graduate. I deeply regret going into the interview with vague ideas about the job description, company philosophy, motivation, and self-analysis, just because it was a part-time interview.

As the interviewer said, 'I cannot say this is an easy job,' the work itself seemed quite high-pressure. They did say, 'Your background seems fine,' but as someone with a five-year gap, I honestly feel it's too much for me to handle.

It was an interview directly with the president, and they also introduced me to the staff. The atmosphere was good, the office was clean, the work seemed rewarding, it offered opportunities for skill development, and it seemed to match my background. If I were younger, this would have been perfect, but...

In reality, I am 50 years old, and to be honest, my mental sharpness is declining. I am not looking for skill development, and I find myself thinking that if the hourly wage is the same, I would rather work somewhere more relaxed.

I used to have a 'Showa-era' mindset, prioritizing work and not minding overtime or working on holidays. However, after thinking about it after this interview, I realized that my life stage has changed. I don't want to work to the point where it affects my family, I don't want to push myself, and I want to work with enough flexibility to cook proper meals and feed my family.

It seems there are quite a few other applicants, and I was told I would be notified of the results next week.

Even if I were to be accepted, I feel like the job is too heavy for me and I would want to decline it.

If that's the case, I should probably let them know sooner rather than later, right?