Help with a decision

Son

Tough call - sounds like positives and negatives on both sides.

I made a similar decision three years ago. I did alot of thinking. Finally went with my gut feeling and tried something new.

I haven't regretted my decision one bit. I don't make quite as much as I use to (yet :) ), but I'm much happier.

In my case, the key was getting as much info as possible, analyzing it, then being as honest as possible about my own wants and needs.

BTW, no matter what decision you make - your future is not cast in stone. Infinite possiblities...

Best of luck!
 
Make sure you're not idealizing what the daily grind will be like at the new company. Every job has its boring aspects. Maybe take a day off and go sit in the new company for a day. You might find a bunch of people spending the entire day staring at computer screens and not talking to one another at all.
 
At this point in your life, in your position, go for it. You do not want to be sitting somewhere ten years from now after passing up this opportunity, wondering " what if" or where would you be if you had taken your shot. The question is, "what's teh worst thing that can happen if this goes completely in the toilet?" If you can handle the risk, gofor it. One last thing - figure out what you want out of this exercise, set a check point some period of time in the future and ask yourself honestly if you're there yet when that time is up. You'll know what to do. Good luck, amigo. M2
 
Son, remember that everything is negotiable. I work contracts, but when a company offered me a permanent position (we are talking nearly identical dollars as in your situation without the upside potential) I negotiated 5 weeks of vacation, 10 holidays, and a relocation package that included packing, moving, buying my old house, and short term financing of a new one. I turned it down because I am single and it wasn't what I wanted to do. I like the challenge of change with a new job every 6-18 months. I do not want the same job everyday for the next 5, 10, or 20 years. You are young, you are single, you can do what you want. If you go with the new job you will be out little in the short term for tremendous upside potential. If it doesn't work out you have lost little and can swap up in two years with little invested and little lost. If you are ever going to take chances and maybe make a mistake, now is the time to do it, while you are young and single.
 
I would be hard-pressed to make this decision were I in your shoes. It seems to me that you aren't going to really come out badly either way you go.

I agree totally with the advice to write out the pros and cons to each, and then make your decision based on that. I have tried to do that with all the major decisions in my life over the last several years (I'm 31), and have REALLY tried to do that since I have been married and had kids. That's a non-factor for you, which is a HUGE plus in your favor. I have five people besides myself to think about, while you just have you.

All that said, I feel quite certain that I would make the move. When you are talking about the type of money you are making, then a few thousand a month isn't really worth it, in my opinion. That's what my current salary is ( :D), so I sort of feel silly saying that. But I know this: you get one crack at this life, and you ought to do what makes you happy.
 
While I may not be in the position to give you advice on your salary choices, I do feel I can give advice on the software industry. I have been working as a QA tester(an engineers greatest nemisis, or best friend, depending on who you ask) for the better part of 4 years. First I have to say that the working hours you posted are probably not even close. I guarantee you I do not post the hours the engineers do. Because I can brake it and go home, while they have to stay and fix it. In my past I have turned 100 hours weeks(Yes I did sleep in my office on the floor.) Start ups are the worst for hours. I can say this because I have been there. The "no weekends, and some late hours" became every night till midnight back at work by 8, and every weekend for several months just before a project rolled out the door. This is not to deter you, or scare you, but you should know where you are going. It has also been the most challenging job I have ever had. Not the most rewarding always, but interesting. You stay on the cutting edge of technology, and need to use all the things you know to keep up. Even knowing where the international dateline is turned out to be valuable. But for engineers they work twice as hard and twice as long. Just somethings to chew on.
 
While I may not be in the position to give you advice on your salary choices, I do feel I can give advice on the software industry. I have been working as a QA tester(an engineers greatest nemisis, or best friend, depending on who you ask) for the better part of 4 years. First I have to say that the working hours you posted are probably not even close. I guarantee you I do not post the hours the engineers do. Because I can brake it and go home, while they have to stay and fix it. In my past I have turned 100 hours weeks(Yes I did sleep in my office on the floor.) Start ups are the worst for hours. I can say this because I have been there. The "no weekends, and some late hours" became every night till midnight back at work by 8, and every weekend for several months just before a project rolled out the door. This is not to deter you, or scare you, but you should know where you are going. It has also been the most challenging job I have ever had. Not the most rewarding always, but interesting. You stay on the cutting edge of technology, and need to use all the things you know to keep up. Even knowing where the international dateline is turned out to be valuable. But for engineers they work twice as hard and twice as long. Just somethings to chew on.
 
ArmySon,
I don't have any advice.
I just want to wish you all the best...whatever you may decide.
God bless, my friend. :)

------------------
"Lead, follow or get the HELL out of the way."
 
You mentioned the new job would mean 60-80 hours per week. And you say your family is important to you. My first job out of college was 6-7 days a week, etc. Which is more important, living to work or working to live??? Money ain't everything and you can't take it with you. God and family (I'm married)come first, the job . . . Well way, way, WAY later.
 
I had to face a similar decision myself:

1 - Work for a "nondescript" pharmaceutical company as a sales operation manager - an excellently-retributed position, with 3-4 weeks off, literally a 10-min drive from a house I owned.... or

2 - Working in the growing product-marketing department of a leading firearm manufacturer; not as well-paid, out of state and not as much time off, with some weeks pulling 60+hrs.

I opted for the second, and so far I am extremely glad I did. When you wake up in the morning looking forward to your day, your heart is contented and you love the ultimate fruit of your labors, everything else takes the back-seat.

Look at it this way: time off or no, you wind up spending at least 70% of your "awake" time on your job, and, want it or not, the job becomes part of who you are.

It is therefore better to surround yourself with the right environment, with colleagues you relate to, performing soul-fulfilling duties and feeling a sense of "usefulness" toward the greater scheme of things; rather than getting paid to tolerate something. And the time off? If you don't like your job, a vacation (albeit a long one) will feel like borrowed time before the "inevitable" return to the "routine". With a nice job, instead, it will be a refreshing change of pace in an otherwise happy course.

Follow your heart, and best of luck either way!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top