Advice appreciated! Employment question...

[rickatheslicka]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

My vote - take the job offer!

Happiness and fulfillment are worth every penny! And more free time? Many would PAY to have more free time!

I know someone who was once offered a much better, but more challenging and less financially stable (at least at first) job, she opted to stay at the "safe" job. She was fired 5 months later, and has had to work pretty crappy jobs ever sense.

Regret is far worse than failure - do you really want to be wondering "what if" for the rest of your life - take this chance!!!

Good luck!

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Regret is far worse than failure

That's an excellent line.

I say go for it!

[lrjohnson]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Well, debt-free is not soon, but I am working hard towards that goal. I should have one of my debts paid off this week, another paid in November, and then a huge chunk of another with my tax return early next year. After that, I should be fine.

Assuming you file taxes early, to me close to debt-free in February is very soon, actually. Take the amount you currently spend on debt. If you have that every month, for an emergency fund (so you don't have to knock on wood), and regular expenses, and savings, that might be the cushion you need. That would mean just six months of potentially hardcore penny-pinching. I'd eat oatmeal for breakfast for 6 months and not go out to eat in order to have a job I loved and a lot of free time.

[Saving in So Cal]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

It's sounds like you are thinking about all the right things. I've switched careers a couple of times in my life. Each time, my first job in the new career paid less than my last job in the old career. However, each new career had a higher earning potential than my old career, so I quickly made up lost ground and ended up better of in the long run. If the switch your contemplating will do that for you, then that is one point in its favor.

Also, is this new job the only prospect of its kind on the horizon. In other words, is the new field hard to break into or do openings arise infrequently? If so, then that is another point in its favor.

[Sadie]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Thank you soooooo much to all of you that replied to me! I haven't been back for a bit because things have been so busy around here.

Well, I have taken all the advice into account, and weighed every pro and con. I got the call just this morning with the official offer, and I decided to take it. I think that I will LOVE the flexibility, and the best part is that not only did they agree to pay me what I make right now for working LESS, but they are working on a 10% increase so that I will stay for a long time! I am ecstatic, to say the least.

I do realize that just because I make more hourly doesn't necessarily translate into more money in each paycheck, since the job is technically a 3/4 time job...but I have been assured that I absolutely can work 40 hours a week if I so choose, and my new boss-to-be said that he would line up as much extra stuff as I want. So, onward and upward!

Thanks again to all of you...I really appreciate your well-thought out advice.

Sadie

[safari]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Congrats! That's awesome

[rickatheslicka]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Sadie-
That is so great!!! Best wishes for the future!

[jodi]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Hooray for you - congrats!

[Staceyy]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

I've always heard that in the long run you will always make more doing something you love as you'll always put in more effort and be promoted faster.

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Congrats!! I didnt see, but was health insurance part of the equation??

In any event, now that youve received and accepted the offer, there is reason to celebrate!!! Enjoy your new journey!

[LuxLiving]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Congrats on the offer! You mentioned earlier getting a tax refund...when you sign up for the new job can you consider upping your exemptions for a bit to get a few of those dollars into your paychecks?

[lrjohnson]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Congratulations! Wonderful news.

[Sadie]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Well, here's something that I didn't entirely anticipate!

I talked to my boss about my impending departure today. I was very surprised at his reaction. He told me that I am making a big mistake, that the department has plenty of money, and that I need to think more "long term, since I have a child". I was a bit offended at even a slight implication that I would not take my child's best interests into consideration. One thing that I forgot to mention...I work for a university. This new position is a "regular" position, not a "term-funded" position that is entirely dependent upon grant funding. So, the potential for me to stay at the "regular" position for a long period of time is much greater. If I stay at the university until my son graduates high school, he can go to college for FREE! (Assuming, of course, that he wants to stay within this state...we'll see.) OF COURSE I thought of what is best for him, and for us as a family. Anyway, he also told me that he has been trying to figure out a way to give me more money and he also had the offer of some out-of-state training...something that I have been asking about for the past year and a half. Funny that it comes up today, of all days. I got a call from the admin assistant a while ago and I guess that after I left my boss went in and talked with the CFO of the department and they are trying to figure out how to give me more money and make me decide to stay...and they are going to corner me about it tomorrow morning. It's not totally about the money...I want to be happy. But what if they offer me a LOT more? What would you guys do? A lot more money still doesn't guarantee that I will have a job, because of the contract issue. Ugh! Any help would be appreciated.

[Great to be Debt Free]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

Hi Sadie! I think I understand all that's going on and my opinion is that you have made a good decision. A manager that is reactionary like that and tries to "scare" you into staying just doesn't sound like the kind of person I'd want to work for.

Someone else also mentioned, and I agree, that you get promoted faster when you enjoy your work because you do better work. If you become indispensable (I know, no one is truly indispensable) to your new employer, they will work to keep you around. And it sounds like they are already doing that.

I'd be as pleasant as a peach to your current employer when he corners you, but just let him know that " the timing and opportunity to work in a field you've prepared for is something that can't be passed up..." etc., etc. Be honest, don't dog the job you have or the bad parts of it, you know, keep your bridges in place. And hey, is it a job you could work 1 day a week until you could be replaced. With the schedule of the new job, you might be able to train a replacement and make some extra cash that way too.

Just my thoughts, though. Good luck!

[lrjohnson]

Re: Advice appreciated! Employment question...

I agree with Great that the way "old" boss handled it wasn't the classiest. A lot of why you talked about the new job was about growth, and opportunity, and a better working situation. Money doesn't really compensate for that.