Should I take the job? The "both jobs are awesome, though" edition.
February 15, 2019 11:38 PM Subscribe
I have the opportunity to take on a new and exciting role, but my current gig is pretty ok. How can I weigh the pros and cons of each to make the right choice?
My current job has a lot of what people look for in a job - it's challenging, pays decently, is full of amazing people who are great to work with, and is with a company that has a mission I truly believe in and think is making the world a better place. But it has a few downsides too. One is that sometimes the job is too challenging and high pressure (I'm talking multiple 80+ hour weeks in a row of work that is well outside my current skill set), and the other is that a majority of the office works from home all the time, so I'm essentially working alone in an empty office, and it's a bit lonely. Lonely enough that I end up working from the Starbucks next door nearly every day in an attempt to not feel completely isolated from the world.
I was speaking to an old friend about the loneliness issue, and that conversation snowballed into a job offer with a growing team at a large and growing company. The job offer comes with an office that people actually work out of, better benefits, and a 10% raise. The downside here is that, while the responsibilities of the new role are challenging and interesting to me, I don't really care about what the company is making as a product, and the position itself is a slight demotion - I'm director level now and manage two people, and this will be an senior level individual contributor role. They think I can work back up to management, which is ultimately what I want to do long term, but it will be a few years.
What do you think? Does one position stand out above the others? Is there something I should be asking that I'm not?
My current job has a lot of what people look for in a job - it's challenging, pays decently, is full of amazing people who are great to work with, and is with a company that has a mission I truly believe in and think is making the world a better place. But it has a few downsides too. One is that sometimes the job is too challenging and high pressure (I'm talking multiple 80+ hour weeks in a row of work that is well outside my current skill set), and the other is that a majority of the office works from home all the time, so I'm essentially working alone in an empty office, and it's a bit lonely. Lonely enough that I end up working from the Starbucks next door nearly every day in an attempt to not feel completely isolated from the world.
I was speaking to an old friend about the loneliness issue, and that conversation snowballed into a job offer with a growing team at a large and growing company. The job offer comes with an office that people actually work out of, better benefits, and a 10% raise. The downside here is that, while the responsibilities of the new role are challenging and interesting to me, I don't really care about what the company is making as a product, and the position itself is a slight demotion - I'm director level now and manage two people, and this will be an senior level individual contributor role. They think I can work back up to management, which is ultimately what I want to do long term, but it will be a few years.
What do you think? Does one position stand out above the others? Is there something I should be asking that I'm not?
80+ hour weeks would be a deal-killer for me. A demotion that set me back years from the management level I had and wanted would be, too. You sound like you’re a highly desirable employee. Consider becoming pickier and seeking an option 3?
posted by daisyace at 3:59 AM on February 16, 2019 [13 favorites]
posted by daisyace at 3:59 AM on February 16, 2019 [13 favorites]
If you're working 80 hour weeks and jumping to a position where you'd be working 40 hour weeks pays 10% more, consider whether you're being taken advantage of and underpaid.
posted by Candleman at 8:33 AM on February 16, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by Candleman at 8:33 AM on February 16, 2019 [6 favorites]
How long have you been in your current job? Which one offers better long term growth?
I tend to think you should probably wait to jump into a job that feels like more of a “yes” to you at the outset, but if the second company offers better growth and better connections (ie with more people on-site), that might be wise. If you stay, do try to leverage your offer into a raise.
posted by vunder at 11:07 AM on February 16, 2019
I tend to think you should probably wait to jump into a job that feels like more of a “yes” to you at the outset, but if the second company offers better growth and better connections (ie with more people on-site), that might be wise. If you stay, do try to leverage your offer into a raise.
posted by vunder at 11:07 AM on February 16, 2019
I wouldn't downgrade from a director job to an individual contributor job. Instead, I would look for another director job or senior manager job in a role that would challenge you more.
If I were you, I would work with my management to mitigate the 80-hour weeks, and would see if I could establish a regular presence at a co-working space nearby. Even if it's a coffee shop, try to find one where they know your name and have your drink waiting for you on the counter.
posted by dancing_angel at 2:10 PM on February 16, 2019
If I were you, I would work with my management to mitigate the 80-hour weeks, and would see if I could establish a regular presence at a co-working space nearby. Even if it's a coffee shop, try to find one where they know your name and have your drink waiting for you on the counter.
posted by dancing_angel at 2:10 PM on February 16, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oceanjesse at 12:37 AM on February 16, 2019