Which Job Should I Take?

[Sprayed]

I currently work for a large company and provide various contractor duties for the government. I work a 9-80 schedule where I work 9 hours a day and get every other Friday off. I make a decent salary for what I do and the work is quite simple. After telling my company that I had a job offer they were willing to pay almost 13k more money for me to stay. However, this is speculation and it would take a couple weeks for upper management to approve the raise. My manager said that it was not entirely a guarantee and I may only receive slightly less like 10-12k.

The job offer that I received from another company would be a directorate position of what I am doing now. This will require more hours initially and the work will be somewhat harder. I will though have full reigns of the operation and I can mold the company the way that I think it should be. The only person that I have to report to is the CEO of the company. It is a pay increase of nearly 15k with potential of annual bonus and profit sharing. Both companies have similar benefits (i.e. medical, vacation, stocks, etc.)

My question is, is it worth the risk to take on such a high level position or should I be content where I am at and work my way up through the company and hope that their offer pans out? I have to make a decision by COB Friday the 24th. I am 31 years old and this would be a big step in my career which could propel me to bigger things. Or I could fall flat on my face. You have two choices, and no, poker pro is not an option unfortunately. Someday hopefully.

[euphoricism]

15k gaurenteed bonus + chance to mold company to your aspects = way above contract duty, even with every other friday off.

Grow a pair ;p

[Warpe]

New job = new challenges = new heights. No use wondering what "might have been".

[ensign_lee]

I don't know about you, but if I took the first job, I would spend forever wondering "what might have been" if I'd taken the second one. However, I'm a bit more footloose than some, so that may influence me more than others.

For me, the only way that I would stay at the original job would be if they ponied up at least $27,500 additional for me to stay, which in your case they're not. They may not even pay you the extra $15,000 that you're worth, if I read what you said correctly.

I think you should take the second job.

[flomo]

Great opportunity. GO GO GO DO IT TAKE THE NEW JOB
If not now, when?
Where you going to be in 10 years? Will somebody still want to move you up the latter?

Good luck at your new job.
flomo

[metaxy6]

Good luck at your new job.

[lolzzz_321]

Yep, new one.

[a500lbgorilla]

You should definitly trust the casual advice of this board.

[ttanaka]

Don't fear change.

Good luck!

[chardrian]

Ummm - guess who is gonna be the devil's advocate?

Thass right me.

Personally, right now I could probably go look for a firm job that would pay me 6 figures and I would have a good shot at getting one. But I am not even coming close to doing so. I know I would be much much unhappier working more than 40 hours a week that the extra pay does not matter to me.

To me, work is not hugely fulfilling (I don't hate it, just am never amped to GO TO WORK woo hoo!!). So that time off of work is worth more to me than extra pay for working more. 3 day weekends every other week sounds cushy to me, I wouldn't be breaking down doors to leave my current job as fast as everyone else is saying especially since they are offering a raise and therefore it sounds like there might be some growth potential where you currently are as well.

Then again, if the new job actually sounds like it would make your life more enjoyable - go for it.

[kingnat]

IMO, life is about more than money. I don't ever expect to find work that so completely stimulates and fulfills my interests that I wouldn't find myself looking for time to do other things that interest me. I know lots of people that have the drive and desire to succeed in their careers and seem driven to work 80+ hours a week in order to achieve their goals.

After entering graduate school, and having a kid I've changed my outlook a great deal. I just hope to find a job that I don't hate and that can allow me to live comfortably (not extravagantly by any means... I make due w/ a lot less than many people), support my family, and provide me with enough extra time to pursue other interests; e.g., cooking, music, community service, poker, etc. Though I realize that's probably not capitalistic enough for most people.

Keep your job...

[ttanaka]

Ok, I'm going to expand now.

Totally agree there is more to life than money. Totally agree that a cushy job is better than a back-breaking 80 hour/week stressful job.

But you know what's better than a cushy job? A cushy job that pays way more. And what's better than that? No job at all.

Is work really fulfilling for anybody? No. No one likes working and no one likes their job. That's why it's called "work" and not "play". And here's the test, would you do your job if you didn't get paid at all? No. I like playing video games, no one needs to pay me to do it, cuz I truly like it. (Ok, that's pretty black and white, and I know there are grey areas, but that's pretty much my opinion.)

Ok, so how does this crap that I'm spewing relate to the question. A new job that's pays more isn't the end of the story. It's just a step.

A step to achieving the cushy job that pays way more or no job. Extra money earned, means extra money saved, extra money invested, bigger house, rental properties, increased net worth. At some point, when your net worth becomes high enough, well then you don't really need to work, or you can take a job that is real cushy, and not get stressed out cuz you don't really care anymore, or you can work for yourself and pursue some real dreams and have way more fun doing that.

And accumulating wealth is just another step. A step towards not having to work for anybody. To not care. To have no stress - work or financial related. To spend more time with loved ones, to have more fun, to be happier.

Is there more to life than love & happiness? For me, no, and this is how I could reach it.

Anyway, just my opinion, and just speaking from my own experience.

[metaxy6]

chadrian, i hope you take this the right way, but you're situation is a little different. you have the chance to go to a firm now, and it's likely that you'll have the same chance 1,2, 5, or 10 years from now.
your profession gives you a lot of open options.
sprayed is talking about an opportunity that, by the nature of his job/profession, may not come up again.
also,
he didn't frame the question as a choice of work less and be happy vs. work more and be unhappy, he framed the question as avoid risk and stay stagnant in career vs take risk and propel career, where propelling career is something that he'd (by the looks of it) like to do...

so imo, euphoricism gave the correct answer when he said grow a pair.

[euphoricism]

Char is also a lawyer, and is expected to absolutely despise his job, just like every other lawyer

[flomo]

If it was a poker question, we would all be telling him to move up to the next level.

[boost]

where is the "Male Dancer" option? If you wont put that up, atleast gimme something to pick that involves a banna hammock.

[Sprayed]

If it was a poker question, we would all be telling him to move up to the next level.

I wish it was this simple.

I took the job. I will be the new director of a billion dollar company's government security department. I start on the 10th so when I work a few weeks I will let you know how I feel and if I made the right decision. Although, I don't think it will be a bad decision no matter if I fail because the position is a reward in itself and will be with me for the rest of my career. Thx to everyone for helping me make this decision and grow a pair.

[ttanaka]

Congratulations! Good luck and feel proud of what you've accomplished!

[flomo]

YOU are the MAN.
Good luck.