Week of July 26th-When is it time to go?

[andream]

So you've got a job that makes you very happy. You like the people (mostly) and you've got the skill to get the job done.  The problem? someone has come along and offered you LOTS more money.   More a higher place in the ORG chart too.  But it's an unknown entity.  What do you do? Stay where it's safe or take the plunge for money and status? Which is more important to you and have you ever been confronted with this situation? What did you decide and how?

Do tell...
Andrea

[potofgold]

I took the money - it was a £4000 payrise and was a promotion following a "group structure" where my boss got promoted and asked me to go with him.  After the novelty of the extra dosh had worn off I started resenting the additional travelling, resenting his mood swings as he cannot cope with pressure, and also the lack of ability to make decisions at a senior level.

Having taken such a nice payrise it took a further 18 months to get out, as it's hard to justify taking too large a paycut without people questioning your motives for leaving, and also hard to find an equivalent job/salary when you're reasonably well-paid for what you do.

I recently started my current job which I love to bits, have a great motivational boss, and an interesting workload.  Luckily for me, the salary is also more (and the travelling much less) ... but it took 18 months of misery till I managed to escape and with hindsight I may not have taken the job if I'd known of the hassles to go with it as my previous role was not at risk.

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[Cozwaz]

A similar situation, about 15 years ago before I moved back to England from Guernsey I was temping to fill in time.  I got offered 3 jobs in a week with excellent salaries, the company where I was temping (and had been for four or five months)  basically asked me to name my salary ...... difficult decision?  NO!  For me it was easy - my happiness has always come first (along with my health),  I wanted to move back to England - even though I had lived on the Island for 15 years, I had spent several years away at school so didn't see it really as my home anyway.  So in January 2000 I move back to England and I have never looked back since ....... ok life has had its ups and down, but thats normal.

Two weeks ago I was back in Guernsey for a weeks holiday, even though I do miss friends and the Island and I know I could get a job really easily on a fantastic salary & benefits, I really have decided that I could not move back - even though I had an evening of friends ganging up on me trying to change my mind!!

Money and Status - there are far more important things in life in my eyes

Coz

[gee4]

While money is usually what most people go for, it is not always what makes us happy.  

Personally I am back at a level in a job within a company I wanted to work for.  After redundancy you think you will never get that back and especially salary wise.  For me I left public sector in NI to gain experience in England.  I brought that back to NI after a couple of years and after gaining more experience and getting through redundancy and temping, I finally feel the struggle was worth it.  

I know if I hadn't made the decision to leave an average paid job within the Education sector, I would still be in that job or organisation, earning maybe only 2-3k more.  I took the plunge as I had no ties and therefore no risk but for others it is not so easy to do and much harder to make those decisions as you get older.

I have recently taken on working for a 2nd manager who has recently been promoted.  It will be temporary for now to see how my workload pans out.  However there may be a chance of moving with him to set up a new dept and of course I would welcome the offer of more pesos to do so.  At least I know what is in store and what kind of work/people I will be dealing with.

G

[uberpa]

This is one of those hard ones for me...

I've taken the money and position and it wasn't worth it

I've known people who have done so only to lose their job because of downsizing etc.

It's risky to the take the leap but I think if you do your research and really soul search you'll come up with the decision that is best for you.  Don't just do it for the money make sure you know what you are getting in to as best you can.

On the other hand, don't be afraid of a new challenge or opportunity just because you are afraid of what might happen.  If you don't leap you'll never learn.

[leg_65]

If you have a job that makes you happy and you have the skills, I think taking another job with more pay will not make you happier.  I have went through this and I have regretted leaving my other job.  The consequences should be considered. Is your current boss happy with your work? Do you have a very good working relationship with all the people at work? A business is only good as its people, which makes one ask, " How much is your contribution? Does the boss know your worth?"  Do you want to risk your current job at the risk of another higher paying job with status?  I am sure I could have had this at my last job, but I thought I would be happier with more pay and higher status.  My current boss is very happy with my work but I still miss my last job where I know I was happier. Think it through and decide very carefully.  Good Luck.

[countrigal]

If the new job offer meets in with my goals, then I'd definitely take the extra money and promotion, even if it's more unknown than where I am currently.  If it doesn't fit in with my goals, then there would be no reason to move.  It's all based on personal goals.  I want to be a Director, and have a chance to do just that with my current company, though it will require some moves and job changes in the ensuing years.  With that goal in mind, I evaluate every job offer and opening that comes my way and determine whether or not it will help me in attaining that goal, and then go for those that will.  This has allowed me to stretch my skills, knowledge and expertise and has resulted in me being promoted higher and faster than anyone else with my years with this company.

My point, I guess, is that job moves shouldn't be driven by pay and position solely, but should be driven by personal goals.  If your goal was to become the PA to a movie star, and you suceed at doing that, then you'll be less likely to be swayed by an offer of more pay or a high position in a company, because you have attained your goal.  Or if your goal is to have a flexible position, making good money and you have it, and a higher position with more pay becomes available but with less flexibility, you'll be less likely to put in for that higher position because it does not fit with your goals.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[laalaa41]

I've done this.  Left a contract position that by now would have probably gone permanent, for the security of a permanent position and a really nice promotion and wage rise too!  I love a challenge and when I was warned the MD was prone to turning the air blue, it really didnt phase me.  I thought I got along with him very well.  Except they've extended my probation because "they're not sure" from 5 months to 9 months and I cannot pin anyone down to a meeting to tell me what it is I need to work on/fix or what is annoying this MD of mine so how on earth can I fix it!  I'm fairly intuitive, I haven't picked up bad vibes and have asked (about every 2 months) how I'm doing with positive comments back and now this!  In the last 6 months I have worked late nights and weekends to sort things out (I received no handover).  So its not like I haven't shown I'm committed to the job either.  So I'm pretty devastated and looking for another job - I really want to have the pleasure of handing in my notice, being magnanimous and professional to the end but as soon as I tell people what salary I'm on, I'm out of the picture.  All this salary and no security, I'm not even a pucker employee - don't have access to pension or BUPA yet either and I'm 49! I wish I'd stayed where I was now!