Worked a night shift at Sainsbury's for 7 months. Only 3 night's a week but 10 hour shifts. I used to get the oddest feeling of being extremely tired at 7am (finish) yet got home into bed and nothing. It sometimes got to 12, midday before I would be able to sleep, and only then would I be woken up at the slightest disturbance and once again take time to sleep.
Im not going to offer much help here, but doing nightshift for that period of time depressed me, linked with having finished a degree, and masters yet still struggling for a career (all change since last july!!).
I will say working with people you like will help.... ALOT. Night shift is not a pretty experience so making sure you have a good bunch around you is always a help. You'll most struggle with the change from night shift mode to normal mode. IMO the key to that is to stay awake after your last shift and go to bed at a normal time (not early!). You'll be dead throughout the day but the next you'll be fine.
If you struggle to sleep during the day, a few shot's of whisky will help. And that is not a joke! Finally, your stomach will not like the tricks you play either. It can be a bit of a shock to the system.
After 2-3 weeks see where you're at. If you can handle it, then the pay increase by working unsocial hours is quite nice, but if I am totally honest, more often than not I've never enjoyed anything less. 80% down to the fact that I did not get along with most the people I worked with, and the rest because leaving for work in the dark, and leaving work in the dark depressed me. 7 months was far, FAR too long for me. But what can you do when you need a job?
"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL