Anyone care to talk through a job opportunity with me?

[riverwed070707]

I don't think there is really a wrong answer here but I'm struggling with this and you all always seem to ask the right questions. Curious what others would do.

I got a call last week from a coworker letting me know she had accepted another position within the company and she thought I should apply for her current position that would be opening up soon. Said she talked with her team and they all agreed I'd be a good fit for the job.

Current situation: Been looking for jobs for about 8 months. I LOVE what I do, but I'm not happy with the pay. I started in a supporting role for the job I currently do. When the leading role resigned, I stepped in without a formal promotion which was fine at the time because I wasn't really qualified for it when I took it. 3 years later I'm still doing the job, I've now requested the promotion and nothing has come of it. I feel really stuck. Jobs I've been looking at are in the same industry, which is where I thought I wanted to stay, but its taking so long because they are really scarce in my area, and its not a very big industry to begin with.

Opportunity: Job that's opening up is where my background is, communications. I've kept up on my skills because I've been fortunate to be able to incorporate writing/editing into my current role. While applying elsewhere, I had never even really considered going back to this field because I love my new role so much; however, this job comes with a minimum 15% pay increase and I know I'd be good at it. It's a management role, and has ample opportunity for advancment both internally and externally. Further, while I love the travel opportunities in my current job, I'm gone a lot and I know my family would love having me home more often. This is definitely more of a desk-bound, stationary role which could fit of both my pros and cons lists.

Conflict: I feel like if I get away from my current role, the chances of being able to break back into the market will be *very* slim. I'm afraid I will miss it and wish I hadn't changed directions. I was planning to get my certification this year to help better my chances of finding work in the industry and all the hours I've put toward that will be wasted. On the other hand, while I love what I do I have been very frustrated with my position and feeling stuck in place for some time now and this is a chance to break free of that. It also allows me to stay in a company where I already have 5 years in, great benefits, PTO, etc. where as if I were to stay in my current industry it will most definitely be an external position.

WWSAD?

[feh]

Personally, I wouldn't leave a job I love for a 15% raise. Being happy in what you do is worth much more than that, IMO.

The only question in my mind is how much does the travel weigh on you. You're the only one that can answer that.

[riverwed070707]

Personally, I wouldn't leave a job I love for a 15% raise. Being happy in what you do is worth much more than that, IMO.

The only question in my mind is how much does the travel weigh on you. You're the only one that can answer that.

At what point would you leave for more money? On the low end it's 15%, on the high 33%. I think something in between is likely. It is probably weighing into my decision that I am the breadwinner in the family right now and I spent the end of last year busting my bum at 2 jobs just to make ends meet. We have the budget under control now and DH is contributing more, but I can't help but ponder when the security blanket is more important than having fun.

[MonkeyMama]

Personally, I wouldn't leave a job I love for a 15% raise. Being happy in what you do is worth much more than that, IMO.

The only question in my mind is how much does the travel weigh on you. You're the only one that can answer that.

I agree.

At which point would I leave for more money? Again, a very personal decision. (I have a great job and I wouldn't leave for any amount of money, for the most part. Double my wage tomorrow? No thanks. OF course, any job like that would require considerably more hours and stress, so largely why I am not interested. Doubly not interested with small kids. Maybe more open to the challenge at another phase in my life...).

[disneysteve]

At what point would you leave for more money?

I think if I was struggling financially, I would consider it. Otherwise, time and lifestyle is more important to me than money. In fact, when I took my current job, it was for less money. However, it was closer to home, better hours, less stress, more flexibility and overall better taken care of.

[papa_squat]

That is a tough choice. Until you apply for the job, you won't really have more info to make the right decision, so I would suggest applying for it, seeing if they interview you, and then feeling things out after the interview. You'd feel like it was a missed opportunity until you actually apply and they offer you the position.

If your current job doesn't want to increase your pay to at least compensate for the experience you have since earned in the position, then I would think they wouldn't have much room for advancement in general. You may be able to use the other job's offer as leverage to renegotiate a pay increase, but I'm not a harden business woman and can't say how easily I could do this myself.

If you love your current job, I could understand wanting to stay put, but I don't think I would really love a job that rejected to compensate me for taking on the leading responsibilty when they needed me to. If they compensated with better flexibility and benefits than in the supporting role, take those into account, but otherwise you are undervalued.

If you take the other job you've been talking about, it sounds like you'll be doing less traveling and therefore have a little more free time, too. If you really love your current field, you could volunteer some hours for other businesses to stay current. Just some things to think about. Keep us posted on your decision!

[riverwed070707]

That is a tough choice. Until you apply for the job, you won't really have more info to make the right decision, so I would suggest applying for it, seeing if they interview you, and then feeling things out after the interview. You'd feel like it was a missed opportunity until you actually apply and they offer you the position.

If your current job doesn't want to increase your pay to at least compensate for the experience you have since earned in the position, then I would think they wouldn't have much room for advancement in general. You may be able to use the other job's offer as leverage to renegotiate a pay increase, but I'm not a harden business woman and can't say how easily I could do this myself.

If you love your current job, I could understand wanting to stay put, but I don't think I would really love a job that rejected to compensate me for taking on the leading responsibilty when they needed me to. If they compensated with better flexibility and benefits than in the supporting role, take those into account, but otherwise you are undervalued.

If you take the other job you've been talking about, it sounds like you'll be doing less traveling and therefore have a little more free time, too. If you really love your current field, you could volunteer some hours for other businesses to stay current. Just some things to think about. Keep us posted on your decision!

You really hit the nail here. I do love my job and really and truly the only thing I would change about it is the pay. The biggest frustration is that there is a job description in my company that perfectly aligns with what I do that says I should be getting $20k+ more a year than I do, but because of the way I wound up here they have documented it as a cost savings initiative and continue to compensate me as the backup. That's beyond frustrating, especially when I regualarly receive praise for good work.

Contrary to the typical expectaton that a higher paying job would typically come with more responsibilities, I'm going to be working less hours, be home more, be able to delegate more work, and make more money. I have a lot of flexability in my job now with being able to balance my home and work life, but I think that will carry over into the new role. Benefits, etc are a wash because its internal. From that perspective it largely sounds like the better option.

[YLTL_Dan]

You really hit the nail here. I do love my job and really and truly the only thing I would change about it is the pay. The biggest frustration is that there is a job description in my company that perfectly aligns with what I do that says I should be getting $20k+ more a year than I do, but because of the way I wound up here they have documented it as a cost savings initiative and continue to compensate me as the backup. That's beyond frustrating, especially when I regualarly receive praise for good work.

Contrary to the typical expectaton that a higher paying job would typically come with more responsibilities, I'm going to be working less hours, be home more, be able to delegate more work, and make more money. I have a lot of flexability in my job now with being able to balance my home and work life, but I think that will carry over into the new role. Benefits, etc are a wash because its internal. From that perspective it largely sounds like the better option.

I've always been told to not leave a good job for less than a 20-25% raise - all other things being equal (to account for the new risk). However, it sounds like there are some additional variables here; possibly including some fear. Sometimes the unhappiness of where we are isn't as uncomfortable as the fear of the unknown. Maybe your industry is different, but good athletes can play for any team.

If you're good at what you do, you'll be able to find a new job somewhere else if this new gig doesn't work out. The best advice I ever received from a mentor was to know your "market value". The best way to do this is to go through the interview process with the new employer and see what they have to offer.

I went through something similar to this, but I left a 90% travel consulting job with more upward opportunity for an 'industry' job where I only travel 25% but do make more money. I love my lifestyle now and would never go back.

Keep us udpated and good luck!

[kork13]

First off, I say definitely apply for it. You'll never know if you don't try. If they like you as a candidate for the new job, look at the offer they make, and make your decision then. Personally, for a 15%-30% pay raise (anywhere in between), I would strongly consider taking it, as long as you won't be miserable doing so.

One thing you don't actually say is this: Do you think you would enjoy the new job? Does it offer you something you're interested in? Looking at it differently, did your co-worker enjoy it? What I'm saying.... You love your current job, but it's just as possible that you could love (or learn to love) the new one.

Plus, moving into a management role will only improve your resume for the future. If you take the new job, and decide later that you want to move back into your current field, having management experience (even in an oblique field) will demonstrate your capability to lead a team, and will be a stong mark on your resume. Add in your previous (current) experience, and that would lend well toward your qualifications.

Apply for the job. Go for it, see what happens, then make your decision. I'd personally look at it as a great career broadening and enhancing opportunity. So long as you expect it could be enjoyable, I'd say do it.

[jteezie]

Apply for the job, get an offer, and use it as leverage to get that promotion you want in your current job.

[snafu]

Three years, praise for work well done but not being offered the lead role tells me a different story. Obviously your supervisor is given credit for keeping costs down and you satisfied functioning as lead while compensated as backup or secondary.

If you have the qualifications for the supervisory position, if you wish to move up in the organization, if you plan to continue working for the long term, I suggest you apply for the position when it opens. I'm wondering how it's being handled during this interim. Is there someone on their existing team who is 'wired' for the position?

The act of applying for this opening sends messages to both your manager and the organization. You wish to progress. They need to know that. I would leave the plus/minus of travel out of the mix when talking to management about another job.

[riverwed070707]

Thanks for all the feedback. Interview on Wednesday -- I'll keep you all posted

[LivingAlmostLarge]

So? what happened? I'd take the job because I hate travel.

[riverwed070707]

Outlook is good. Interview went well, I think. Told my boss I had applied and he said they don't want to lose me and are going to see if they can make some changes to keep me around. Haven't seen an offer from either side yet but I'd be surprised if *something* doesn't come out of this.

[kork13]

Outlook is good. Interview went well, I think. Told my boss I had applied and he said they don't want to lose me and are going to see if they can make some changes to keep me around. Haven't seen an offer from either side yet but I'd be surprised if *something* doesn't come out of this.

That's excellent!