Afraid of new career risks?

**Broken Arrow** · 10-27-2007, 07:39 PM

Hmm. I really can't tell you why. Personally, it sounds like a great deal, and if I was in his shoes, chances are good I just might take it!

Come to think of it, what is this job anyway? Is it still open? Can I have it?

**sweeps** · 10-28-2007, 03:49 AM

Maybe he was playing hardball with you and he wanted you to reimburse his tuition debt.

**InDebtInDC** · 10-28-2007, 04:34 AM

Originally posted by Broken Arrow View Post

Hmm. I really can't tell you why. Personally, it sounds like a great deal, and if I was in his shoes, chances are good I just might take it!

Come to think of it, what is this job anyway? Is it still open? Can I have it?

Do you have a degree and are you willing to relocate?

**InDebtInDC** · 10-28-2007, 04:35 AM

Originally posted by sweeps View Post

Maybe he was playing hardball with you and he wanted you to reimburse his tuition debt.

No way. I've known him for more than 10+ years and he would have said so. Plus they would reimburse a part of it as well. That's a given.

**humandraydel** · 10-28-2007, 11:52 AM

I'll take the job!

I don't know why people are afraid. I know I'm not - I just changed jobs 6 months ago after 2 years in a job because I was in an industry I wasn't all that happy with. Some people said I was crazy, but I think this job provides more opportunities. I will admit though, starting a brand new job can be pretty frustrating. Learning everything all over isn't very fun.

**mariogreymist** · 10-29-2007, 08:53 AM

I'm in the category that has been afraid of risks. Part of it is having a resume with significant holes in it - I am a recovering alcoholic who went back to school with a couple of years sober. Part of it is just being comfortable with what I have - a decent paying job, a nice apartment and car and enough money to put a little away and have some fun from time to time.

That said, I recently did a salary analysis on my job duties, and it turns out I am significantly underpaid. I did up a potential budget including what I should be making, and saw how easy it would be for me to own a home, save the max in 401k and IRA, and still maintain my lifestyle.

My boss got a letter this morning explaining the situation. My company took a risk hiring me, but I have now been here a year with duties that dwarf my posted job description. I'll get what I am worth, and I certainly hope it's here.

**Broken Arrow** · 10-29-2007, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by InDebtInDC View Post

Do you have a degree and are you willing to relocate?

Haha, seriously? I have a degree but I can't relocate. Thank you for asking though.

**Caoineag** · 10-29-2007, 10:08 AM

Hmm...don't think I am afraid of trying to get a new job but a headhunter did tell me I was too loyal and that later in my career, it might cost me. For me, jobhunting is such a pain that for me to do it, it requires a lot of external motivation, i.e. feeling like I am not appreciated, complete disatisfication with the type of job or something else along those lines. Even knowing I had another job lined up would require a lot of motivation because you still have to change your habits, adapt to new people, feel like an idiot again and pray that you can make yourself indispensible as you were at your last job so that you have some stability.

Way too much effort without a strong motivating factor.

**InDebtInDC** · 10-29-2007, 10:13 AM

I agree with everything that was said, but ultimately in the end no company really cares about you and it's up to you to carve out your career. Sure, your boss may superficially pretend to care about you, but if they can get somebody to do the same job for less money do you think they would hesitate?

I wouldn't necessarily listen to headhunters because their interest is for you to change job so they get paid commissions.

I just think it's tough for people to make a change for the better unless there is something dramatic that happens, like layoff or huge dissatisfaction with their job.

While I don't think pontificating is a good trait, I think that everyone should objectively reassess their job on a regular basis. After all, it's employment at will and the job may not be there for you in the future. I also think that settling into a job for a long time is not a good thing either. After a while you start losing your ability to learn new skills and if you should lose your job it'll be much harder to start from scratch.

**Caoineag** · 10-29-2007, 10:55 AM

Actually, in my case, the bosses do care which is why I refuse to work in a larger firm (the head boss owns the company). And at my firm there is a limit to how much they can afford to pay you, but you get hired based on personality not salary requirements (if the other way, I never would have been hired).

That said, I do agree that people need to periodically evaluate whether they might be better off somewhere else. I just acknowledge that I really need to work on that.

**Scanner** · 10-29-2007, 11:13 AM

I'm a weird egg.

I have a lot of degrees and business experience and I would leave/sell my small business, cash my chips out, and go work for "the man" if the right opportunity came along. I would even take a little less pay to just have it be steady and Even Steven.

The problem with me is cultural I think. I have never worked in big business. I haven't been on an interview in years. I guess the fear is of fitting in.

MOst of the time the problem I run into is attitude:

"You're a chiropractor. . .well, you are probably rolling in it as a doctor so why would you be interested in something else?"

I'm a self-starter and enjoy some discretionary freedom (but I think I respect authority). But if the job doesn't entail some creativity, I think I would lose interest. It would be very hard to go in and turn a screw or nut everyday on an assemblyline (figuratively speaking)

It's also hard for me to just leave business. Transition out of a business and into a new career would entail selling it, which can take 2 years.

Most people want help now, mostly yesterday, not in 6 months.

These are probably the factors that keep me where I am at.

Plus, having your own business is a weird kind of security. Although it's ups and downs, you are never subject to layoff or downsizing.

That's a legitimate fear that this person may have. He may be thinking:

"Sure. . .InDebtDC is sounding good now. . .but when the company's stock is in a freefall dive in 6 months and stockholders are angry. . .I'm out on the street with a hard boot in my rump."

Just some free thinking on the subject.

**RetireEarly** · 10-30-2007, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by InDebtInDC View Post

I think he's afraid of leaving the known for the unknown.

I think you hit the nail on the head right there. It's hard to leave a job if you're comfortable in that situation, regardless of the increase in opportunity and income.

BTW, that's not the best job security in the world; I have better job security than that. In the 99 years we've been in business, we've never had layoffs. We've had hiring freezes when times were slow, but the company will not lay people off.. We've also managed to keep producing a steady stream of income during those times. Of course it helps not having stockholders to answer to...

**RetireEarly** · 10-30-2007, 05:31 PM

By the way, what's the job? I'm not willing to relocate, but if you're in DC I may not have to!

**ealimbuyao** · 10-30-2007, 09:34 PM

Yeah...what kind of job is that? It has almost everything that one desires. Maybe I am in the wrong career...

Afraid of new career risks?