I was offered a position today for a job I interviewd for on Monday. Yay! It is for a Senior Financial Analyst, and I only started working 5 years ago, so that is amazing. It is a $7k raise, and back to do financials that I stopped doing a year ago for what I thought was a great opportunity. My current company has me on the hook for $4k for school, and the new one won't pay it back. I can pay it back, but I'd rather not. I also have a lot of flexibility in my job right now, and I would lose it with the new job. They do not allow tele-commuting where right now I work from home full-time. I also get 5 weeks of leave right now, they give 3 (2 for personal and one for sick). Right now though I am not doing the work I want to do or that I enjoy. It's not financial, it's internal to my company, and it will not further my career. What would you do?
Added - I should have put this in before. My kids are 8, 6, and 4. The older two are in school and the younger one is in daycare. Through the summer they will all be in daycare, but right now I get the kids on and off the bus. I would have to figure that out in the fall. And my husband works 2 hours away, so I am responsible for all of the here and there things that need done.
Commute and clothing - I still take my youngest to daycare every day and pass the place I would be working, so it would probably stay the same. I still wear my work clothes at home (most of the time) so that I am in the right frame of mind. And I like to at least try to pack my breakfast, snacks, and lunch even when I'm working. But still...not sure!
My biggest thing is losing the flexibilty I have right now. I don't think I'll EVER get this again. But I also know this is not forever. And my current company keeps telling me to find something else to work on in the company because this is not a client billable project, so I'm making no money for my company right now.
Wow! What a fast turn around from the company. The Government has decided to hold off on filling this spot because of budget until October 1. So that gives me time to see what I want to do and think about it really hard. Thank you mama's for all of the support. Man - it was a tough decision until they made it for me!!
My main thought is that job flexibility when you have children is worth is weight in gold.
How old are your children if you have any? My first thought is stay where you are since you are working from home and have flexibility. These are two important things in my book and will allow you to attend your children's events.
First of all, congratulations on the job offer! Now, the hard work of decision making comes into play.
Well, there are some things to take into account here. If you took the new job & owed your old company $4k, the raise for the first year would really only be $3k. Also you would have to take into account:
the clothes you'll need,
gas/tolls to get to & from daily,
lunches out,
2 full weeks of leave you'll be losing,
lack of flexibility at the new position,
and time out of your day commuting.
That will, in my best guess, eat up at least the remaining $3k of your raise in the first year and probably a considerable amount more. You'll need to weigh all of that against doing the actual work you're doing now knowing that it's not fulfilling & is not helping you in the long-run. Nobody can make the decsion for you especially considering all of the different things that go into it in your particular scenario. If it was me, I'd likely stay where I was since my dream come true would be to work from home & since this isn't technically going to net you any extra money, why rock the boat, but I'm not in the market for something that will necessarily further my career so I don't know where on the list of gotta-have's that falls for you. I wish you luck & success in whichever decision you end up making!!
I think you need to weigh benefits vs pay. I'm not sure how far your commute will be, but your commuting costs may eat up the extra money you will be making. I telecommute full time but don't really like my job but right now its the most beneficial for my family.
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What prompted you to interview in the first place? Boss issues? I'd say if you have a good thing at your current company why change? If you have the flexibility with work/family balance a $7K increase isn't worth it. If you have to pay schooling back $7K isn't worth it...now if it was a $70K increase ....a no brainer. If you are dealing with a difficult boss perhaps a change in jobs is necessay. If not, why change a good thing?
First of all, congrats on the job offer! That is a great offer for only being i the business for 5 years.
That is a tough position to be in. What does your gut say? I always go with my gut when my mind is in doubt. Both paths have good pros. The fact you are not happy with what you do leads me to say go for the new job. However, the cons of now commuting, higher gas bills, more laundry care due to the need of wearing professional clothing vs what you wear working at home is worth considering. Will having to commute negate the 7K raise? When I decided to quit working one of the main factors was that I was spending almost 7K in gas! Will the new job take away from the family - if so, are you okay with that? Will you have to get daycare? That was the other factor for me when deciding to quit - we were spending over 10K in daycare costs. The two week difference in leaves is big. Having kids, the more time you can have off is totally worth its weight in gold.
Personally, I would rather work from home and have the flexibility you have mentioned. But that is b/c I hated commuting and being away from home 10-11 hours everyday. I never had time to do anything when I worked. I was always tired and my kids say I am much nicer now that I don't work in the corporate world.
Which ever you go with, good luck!!!!!!!
Ouch - this is a hard one..
Usually a new job MIGHT give you a sign on bonus to help you pay the old employer back....I would ask for that ...the worst they can do is say NO.
If you have "Second thoughts" - as a recruiter - i can tell you to listen to those gut instincts.....9 times out 10 they are usually right...
many new employers can "fix" things...like the leave and offer sign on bonuses...as to the flexibility - you need to prove yourself first before you get that freedom...
If you can pay the old/current company back - do. IF this is the right job for you...weigh it out....list the pros and cons...$7K a year is only $134 more a week in pay - then take out taxes, medical care costs and any other items HSA/FSA and what are you gaining? Does this $7K push you up into the next tax bracket? Will you have more money taken out in taxes and in reality still making the same?
You will be paying for gas....instead of working from home...factor in everything and make a decision...my recruiter gut -says stay put...you've got the best of both worlds....
ok money aspect. You are getting 7K raise so if you took out 4K so that would still be a 3K raise. Is that worth it?
How flexible would they when it came to emergency sick days with kids? Are your kids school aged or younger? If they are younger I would keep the working at home job. So much easier to deal with sick kids that way. Plus your current job seems to be family friendlier.
It seems happiness in everyday life and what you do is worth the most to me.
I think it's all about timing and happiness. If you are not happy with your current job and it's affecting your life - then move on.
If you want to go back into your field, learn more, and possibly move up, then take the job. All jobs come with pros and cons. It's really up to you what you chose.
And if you make 7k more and have to pay back 4k - you are looking at 3k more the first year which, after taxes is about $40 a week. So be certain that this new job is really what you want to be doing. Cause it's not about the money, vacation or lifestyle (WFH/vacation time).
ask about their flexi-time.. I am sure they will allow you the same flexibility if you let them know your situation up front - they will be understanding. They wont refuse you just because you have other responsibilities... Just be honest. Tell them you really want the job, but this is where you stand.
good luck
TAKE THAT JOB
two working parents are better than one.. save up for your pension and kids college and those unforseen times when you need the doh
your kids are in school already so its not like they will have to adjust to life at school...
go for it.
thumbs up
It depends on your long-term plan and your financial situation. If you are "on the hook" for $4,000 (which you would need to write a check for) AND you will now need to pay childcare for your children (plan on $8-$10,000 per year per child) you will be losing money annually.
However... if there financial component isn't overly concerning then do what you enjoy and know that it will further your career (and earning potential) in the long run!
