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viewsFor Love or Money – take the job or not??
By andibooher, Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 11 commentsBefore Christmas I was asked if I would be interested in applying for a job; a unique job with great future potential. I was excited to be “asked” to apply and began researching the position as much as I could over the weekend. Then, the next work day rolled around and I applied. I have since been enjoying their well planned out interview process which has included a phone interview, a personal interview and a “meet and greet” with the office staff. This possible position offers me a challenging job with great future potential…and they evidently understand the importance of team as they are being oh so careful in their pick for this position.
On the other hand…
My current job offers me, security. Though it’s a dead end job (no forward mobility is available) I at least feel secure in the knowledge that I have completely mastered my job. So, I have a sense of security in knowing the day in, day out routines. I know that nothing that gets thrown at me will be out of my ability range and I pride myself on anticipating the needs of my office and my co-workers. But I’ve been sleep walking through the last few years. I know my duties inside and out and frankly, I’m bored…Oh yeah, did I mention that my current job pays pretty well?
So, here’s the problem…
The new job will come with a pay cut. It will require me to cut my spending habits, change my work day hours, learn new skills, and stretch myself. I’ve taken these issues very seriously and over the Christmas holiday I’ve been bending my problem one way, then the other. I feel very strongly that my answer is the right one but…
What would you do? Do you take the leap? If so, why? If not, why not?
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11 Comments
Don't sell yourself short for
Don't sell yourself short for what may appear to be a glamorous job. If they won't meet your current salary, then why should you curtail your standard of living to work for them? If they really want you, they will at least meet your current salary.
The old standard though is never leave a secure job unless you'll receive at least a ten percent raise.
Something to think about. In today's world, there's something to be said about security.
Thanks
Thanks Cam! What a wonderful point of view. I failed to mention that both jobs are within the same company and the company has caps on the salaries available in each position. So, to move, I would have to drop in salary...there is no wiggle room. But, I love your self confidence and go-get'em attitude!
Cheers,
Andi
The real question is
which job will make you happier. I'm a firm believer in taking risks and making sacrifices in order to make yourself happy, but taking a risk just for a change of scenery or a wake up call could be a different story.
Hope it all works out!
Humm...happier....
I'm learning that I'm a risk taker too...to a small degree. Like you, one of my major questions has been, "will I be happier?" There is always so much unknown in a new job...how do you ever know if you will be happy until you try it? I guess this is where being a risk taker can either save you or sink you.
Thanks for the reply and the point of view...every thought counts and helps with my decision.
Andi
So, how OLD are you???LOL! I
So, how OLD are you???LOL!
I can relate...one thing to consider is ... are there other benefits to the potential job that offset some of the salary discrepancies? Or is that a point of negotiation? Vacation, flex time, prestige, potential for advancement- there are more things to consider than salary. Obviously, if you are eating taters and beans (LOL), money makes a big difference, but depending on where you are in terms of financial comfort, you might have the luxury of risk-taking vs. a safety net.
Not so old I can't afford to take a few risks
Susan, you kill me (lol). I'm not so old that I can't take a few risks. If I accept this job I will be working for the same company but a different "branch" so to speak. I will retain my current vacation/sick time, my longevity will remain at its current rate, and so will my retirement. I can't say that the money loss won't hurt or be scary but I can't go anywhere in my current position. I've maxed out the position and there isn't anywhere I can go (within this office) that will allow me promotions.
I happen to know that the open position is a highly coveted position because of the opportunities it allows its employees. Not to mention the great team that I would be working for...
Thanks for the insights and thoughts...it gives me more to weigh on the pros and cons.
Andi
Well, I am glad you are not
Well, I am glad you are not using a walker yet and that you stoll have your teeth...Hahahah
Reason I mention that... at 48 , which is my age, my job has become simple, there is no where to go in my company. Sadly, to say, in my "field" which has suffered tremendously thsis last few years, I am LUCKY to even have a job. But I know the feeling of, "I have masterd this" where do I go from here. I have a lot of great perks at my job, and hope the projects will imprive this year. But I have certainly lost that feeling of being competitive and at teh top of my game. I am kinda hoping my writing may lead me to some other opportunities and fulfillment, becasue I don't want and could not afford to leave.
I know you have been
I know you have been struggling with this decision for awhile. It is extremely flattering that this company has expressed such a fine interest in you, and that they are taking notice of what a truly delightful and talented woman you are. It is nice to be noticed and appreciated, and you defintely more than deserve it:-) However, I do agree with CamBrownJax that they should be pushed to pay you at least what the other job is paying you. If I'm not mistaken, they are the ones who sought you out. It's not fair for them to ask you to leave your other job and to make a financial sacrifice to be a part of their team. The question is, are you sacrificing more than you'd like to? Is this job worth the sacrifice? Or, is this job merely a stepping stone to get you to thinking that there are certainly plenty of other possiblities out there for you, plenty of other jobs just waiting to finally meet you and notice your talents, without asking you to make a financial strain? There's a lot to think about here... I know that you will make the right decision. I don't believe there really is any wrong decision here. It's just a matter of what you are ready for right now:-)
Also, I think that many job interviewers have been confronted with the fact that some people just "can't afford" to make a particular transition. I told this to a job recruiter once. I told him that if I took a job with his company that I'd have to work a second job to make ends meet and that I didn't have the extra time to work the second job. He then offered me 3,000 more per year. (Unfortunately, for me, that still wasn't enough, but, still...he understood that sometimes we just can't afford to make desired changes sometimes and he offered to meet me half way). --Just a thought...
Best wishes with all of this:-)
The world I work in
Hey Kimberly, unfortunately the world I work in is strictly controlled with pre-set salleries. Unlike a lot of independent businesses my company doesn't have the freedom to offer salary increases...salaries are pre-set acording to years of service, and the position in question. I should have mentioned this earlier but I'm so used to this way of thinking that I didn't mention it.
...BTW, you're right, the question I need to answer is, is the sacrifice worth it? Thanks, I'll keep you posted. : )
Since I'm a dreamer and
Since I'm a dreamer and always have been, I can hear in your words that the opportunity to take this job sounds super exciting. I once took a downward move in title to be at the magazine I LOVED more and dreamed of and while it was kind of an ego-deflate for the first year or so it paid off in spades later on in life. The connections, the cache and the writers I worked with made it all worth it.
I once heard someone say, I'd rather be at the bottom of a ladder I want to climb than at the top of one I don't want to be on. Only you know whether that resonates with you.
I'll have to remember that quote!
I'll have to remember that quote! And, yes, it does resonate. What a clever quote. It describes so well how easy it is to look back and go, gee, was that really what I wanted to be doing with my life?
I'm definitely looking forward in anticipation to what the future has in store for me and how my decisions might change my life.
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