Door #1 or Door #2? - Job edition
October 16, 2015 9:41 AM Subscribe
I may be coming up on two different opportunities within my company and I'm debating which one to take. I'm looking for advice on what others have done in similar situations and how it worked out for them.
Option one: Remain at current location (9-5 Monday through Friday) and move up to middle management in an effort to increase salary
Option two: Do the same work that I am currently doing but switch to a different location with a higher pay due to the location and schedule
Pros of switching locations would include:
-A more appropriate salary scale
-Closer to very good schools
-Near an unpaved trail system
-Wouldn't have to move up to middle management and manage challenging staff for a good salary
-Could expand my network
Cons of switching locations include:
-A schedule change that would sometimes mean working nights and weekends instead of day shifts
-I wouldn't have the friendly network of coworkers I have developed in my current location
-My husband's commute would increase from 45 minutes to about 70 minutes
-Housing in the area might be less affordable
My husband and I (DINKs for now) are having trouble coming up with a game plan in case both of these opportunities fall into place, which is starting to seem incredibly likely. I like the idea of better pay and being around well scoring schools and although I like my current location's work culture, I'm not sure that I could manage some of the people with whom I can get along as a coworker. At the same time, I would miss the people I currently work with and the increased commute time for my husband would be tough, even though his flexible schedule would allow him to telecommute some days.
What would be/have been your priorities in a similar situation? Has it worked out well, or if given the opportunity would you have made another choice?
Option one: Remain at current location (9-5 Monday through Friday) and move up to middle management in an effort to increase salary
Option two: Do the same work that I am currently doing but switch to a different location with a higher pay due to the location and schedule
Pros of switching locations would include:
-A more appropriate salary scale
-Closer to very good schools
-Near an unpaved trail system
-Wouldn't have to move up to middle management and manage challenging staff for a good salary
-Could expand my network
Cons of switching locations include:
-A schedule change that would sometimes mean working nights and weekends instead of day shifts
-I wouldn't have the friendly network of coworkers I have developed in my current location
-My husband's commute would increase from 45 minutes to about 70 minutes
-Housing in the area might be less affordable
My husband and I (DINKs for now) are having trouble coming up with a game plan in case both of these opportunities fall into place, which is starting to seem incredibly likely. I like the idea of better pay and being around well scoring schools and although I like my current location's work culture, I'm not sure that I could manage some of the people with whom I can get along as a coworker. At the same time, I would miss the people I currently work with and the increased commute time for my husband would be tough, even though his flexible schedule would allow him to telecommute some days.
What would be/have been your priorities in a similar situation? Has it worked out well, or if given the opportunity would you have made another choice?
How does your husband feel about the increased commute? Is he supportive of the change?
It sounds to me like switching locations would be a boost in quality of life for you with less stress, and I imagine you'll find a new friendly network of coworkers in your other location, but I think it all has to be weighed against your husband's feelings on the matter. Good luck with your decision.
posted by phreckles at 10:10 AM on October 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
It sounds to me like switching locations would be a boost in quality of life for you with less stress, and I imagine you'll find a new friendly network of coworkers in your other location, but I think it all has to be weighed against your husband's feelings on the matter. Good luck with your decision.
posted by phreckles at 10:10 AM on October 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
If very good schools is a factor in your equation, I'd also think about daycare logistics. E.g., who would do drop-off/pickup and cost in your new location or if you'd need a nanny if you have kids with the new position.
Also, is your husband likely going to stay with his current position long-term? are there any companies in his field that are a better commute to the new location or tele-work?
posted by typecloud at 10:16 AM on October 16, 2015
Also, is your husband likely going to stay with his current position long-term? are there any companies in his field that are a better commute to the new location or tele-work?
posted by typecloud at 10:16 AM on October 16, 2015
If you currently don't have kids, I don't think you should factor the school system into your immediate plans. It would be at minimum five years before you'd need a good school system, and who knows what will happen in the meantime.
I think being happy in your everyday life is key. If you're adding a half hour onto your husband's commute each way, that's an hour of his life (if traffic is GOOD) that he's losing every day. Also shift work is really hard on real life. A regular schedule makes everything easier to plan and deal with.
There's nothing saying you have to move into management now. You could skip this round, and if you have kids in the next few years then think about making the change. Obviously I get that the opportunity might be there now and not then, so that's a risk. But in my life the cons would outweigh the pros in your example.
posted by clone boulevard at 12:27 PM on October 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think being happy in your everyday life is key. If you're adding a half hour onto your husband's commute each way, that's an hour of his life (if traffic is GOOD) that he's losing every day. Also shift work is really hard on real life. A regular schedule makes everything easier to plan and deal with.
There's nothing saying you have to move into management now. You could skip this round, and if you have kids in the next few years then think about making the change. Obviously I get that the opportunity might be there now and not then, so that's a risk. But in my life the cons would outweigh the pros in your example.
posted by clone boulevard at 12:27 PM on October 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
What type of social life do you have/want to have? Working nights and weekends can be very disruptive to getting together with friends, particularly if it's not a reliable schedule. If working nights keeps you up past your normal bedtime, trying to shift back and forth on sleep schedules is not really fun and various studies show it has negative health outcomes.
If your husband is working regular hours, it'll also affect the time you get to spend with him, which can be problematic in some relationships. Throwing in the extra commute time for your husband, I can see this having a lot of negative effects on your marriage, so make sure he's really on board with things.
What would be your fallback plan if the new job doesn't work out well? Would you have the option of transition back to your current office/position?
posted by Candleman at 12:56 PM on October 16, 2015
If your husband is working regular hours, it'll also affect the time you get to spend with him, which can be problematic in some relationships. Throwing in the extra commute time for your husband, I can see this having a lot of negative effects on your marriage, so make sure he's really on board with things.
What would be your fallback plan if the new job doesn't work out well? Would you have the option of transition back to your current office/position?
posted by Candleman at 12:56 PM on October 16, 2015
It sounds like the comparative increase in salary between the 2 locations is actually an attempt to compensate employees for:
- shift differential (working nights and weekends)
- higher cost of living in the new location.
Try to estimate how much of a net increase to your finances this move would produce, given that you will actually have higher costs of living due to:
- higher housing expenses
- higher general living expense (businesses will generally charge slightly more in those areas)
- increase in your husband's commute.
If you do choose to pursue this opportunity, try to negotiate for a relocation assistance package.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 2:41 PM on October 16, 2015
- shift differential (working nights and weekends)
- higher cost of living in the new location.
Try to estimate how much of a net increase to your finances this move would produce, given that you will actually have higher costs of living due to:
- higher housing expenses
- higher general living expense (businesses will generally charge slightly more in those areas)
- increase in your husband's commute.
If you do choose to pursue this opportunity, try to negotiate for a relocation assistance package.
posted by cynical pinnacle at 2:41 PM on October 16, 2015
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In my own life, I always prioritize the short commutes.
posted by aniola at 10:03 AM on October 16, 2015