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Career change - would you do it?

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  • #16
    Re: Career change - would you do it?

    Originally posted by PrincessPerky
    The only thing I would worry about is the GF looking at you funny...you will have to be in it together if you are looking at a long term marriage and all..she will have to join you if you actually reduce the income totally and semi perminantly....but well, a funny look is mild compared to budget sabatage, so umm what does she think of the whole thing? bit more important than what we think. After all not my income dropping!

    Other than that, sounds like you already know what you want, just a bit worried about the final leap...which is understandable.
    Yeap, worried about her too. She comes from a very frugal family, she has actually been the one to instil some frugal behaviour in me. However, she is also used to total financial security (her parents are completely financially independent, having enough investment income to cover living expenses many times over). They did this by having high income and being absolutely frugal. Pleasure in life is not very high....what carries weight with them is having large sums invested.

    She has always felt very financially secure from her family's position and combined with my income and her savings let us to feel, in hindsight, very upper middle class.

    I do not have certainty as to how she will react long-term to feeling more financially constrained. Plus, she would have to move to a city she doesn't much like, away from family and friends (albeit just 2 hours drive away) and forfeit the seniority she has gained in her job over the last five years (she would maintain her income).

    We love each other very much, but this is a lot to ask of her. We have talked about this ever since we have been together (over five years) as I have always contemplated this change and talked about it. However, now it is real. She knows how I feel, knows I am not happy in what I do and knows my interest for the other line of work. So far, she has been very supportive and encouraging. I do feel, however, that she is quite scared.

    If I go through with this, the plan would be for me to get an apartment for 6 months or so and if all goes well, we would look for a house and she would join me.

    I do not know the long term effects of this. I may enjoy what I do much more, be more present and our quality of live would significantly increase. It may also bring in issues of dissatisfaction into our relationship.

    Should I have to choose between work and her, she would win. I would return and try to come back to this lifestyle prior to letting things get really bad. However, like switching back jobs, I don't think one can easily switch back relationships should things go sour for a significant period.

    So, yeah, one more worry.

    Isn't the anonymity of the internet great :-)

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    • #17
      Re: Career change - would you do it?

      wow, we're on the same boat =(..basically salary is the main reason why I stick to this freaking night shift job..I enjoyed my client, and I learned to love our tasks as if its my own company (goal-oriented)...but then i can feel that my heart isnt happy anymore..I know this isnt really that dream job...I have other offers but then still not the "dream job" offers....so since you have an offer, dream job that is, i strongly suggest you take it without expectations..once you're there, sometimes things wont work your way but dont ever regret...your heart may not always be right but atleast you could not blame yourself for not trying at all ^__^

      All the best to you my friend

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      • #18
        Re: Career change - would you do it?

        I work for the federal government. It sounds like you would be in a position similar to mine, a GS-12. GS-13s are easy to come by in DC. I hear GS-14s are a dime a dozen too. Housing is expensive, but DC has the highest federal employee wages of anywhere in the country. If you find it difficult to live on your salary, you can move as employment opportunities become available in other parts of the country.

        You need to examine what your priorities are. If you want time with your loved ones, a federal career is great. You will have off all federal holidays and my experience is that you don't work more than 40 hours. This is great for folks with kids because you have many of the same holidays off of work when they are out of school. It is just a different climate than the corporate world. You will never be rich, but you have great job security.

        Sometimes I get frustrated with being such a small cog in the government wheel, but overall you just can't beat it!

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        • #19
          Re: Career change - would you do it?

          Just a thought, but because you're already planning on getting an apartment for six months before you have your gf join you, could you ask your current employer for a six month leave of absence? Take the government job for those few months to see if you truly would enjoy it more than what you're doing now.

          If you love it, keep it and move on with your plans. If you don't, you haven't lost anything because you can go back to your other job at the end of your leave.

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          • #20
            Re: Career change - would you do it?

            I guess one of my questions is how much did you put in the bank while you were making the big bucks? If you have a large emergency fund besides the house downpayment of $65,00, then I would say go for it. If $65,000 is your emergency fund, then I would continue to think. Glad you decided not to buy right away. And, I am kind of glad for you that your girlfriend is not going to go at first. You will need some adjustment time to the job, the budget, your status change, meeting new friends, finding new hangouts etc. It would complicate things enormously if she goes with you and she is not happy. You should figure out if you are happy first- or make a niche where you are happy, first, and then invite her into your life. Does she live with you, presently?

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            • #21
              Re: Career change - would you do it?

              Well life is nothing if not full of worrysome choices

              I knew my husband was the one, because he was moving to NC from PA (7 hour drive minimum) and I didn't hesitate to go with him.

              Life has never been perfect here, or there, but the important part was us..(now all 5 of us)

              I hold a different view, I would gladdly deal with the hassle of a new place as long as I had my husband (and now kids) with me. But all people are different, if you still feel a 6 month seperation is right go for it. But that has well and left the relm of financial opinion! Sorry.

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              • #22
                Re: Career change - would you do it?

                Gosh I could not be separated from my husband for 6 days!!

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                • #23
                  Re: Career change - would you do it?

                  I have been a government lawyer (in the US) my entire legal career. The pay does not compare to private (about a 1/3) or corporate (about 1/2), but I do like the work, the working conditions, and the retirement benefits. (The other benefits are not as good as corporate, but better than private). I am not sure how it compares in Canada, but in the US promotions and salary raises for public attorneys are slow to come. Government employees typically have long tenure, especially when they are higher up the ladder. Consequently, there is not much movement to create opportunities for lower level employees. In addition, because of budgetary and political constraints, it is hard to create new positions or justify big salary increases. Forget about bonuses. If you take the job thinking your financial situation will improve in a short period of time, you'll probably be disappointed. You should be reasonably certain you can live on your starting salary for awhile before you decide to take the dream job. Otherwise, you'll end up having to leave prematurely.

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