Huge Job Decision to make - need help?

paulmurray33

Hi all

I hope i'm posting this in the right section. I have a decision to make re: moving to a new employer and need some advice on what the best path is for my future.

Basically i am currently working for £37k, 28 days hol, no car, no bonus, but with all of the usual benefits (private medical, pension etc).

I have been offered a new job on £45k, 25 days hol, a car allowance of £5.2k, 10% bonus and the same additional benefits as above, with an extra that i can work from home as and when im not travelling.

Firstly, I am unsure as to whether i should take the car or the car allowance. I have my own car which i like (Toyota Celica), but i bought it for £9k 4.5 years ago and its now worth approx £3.5k. So i could take the allowance and run my car into the ground with the mileage, or take a company car (im not sure what type of car i could get for this allowance) and get rid of mine at a loss. To add to my uncertainty i do not know enough about how taxes work to make an informed decision - i have been told i will be taxed heavily if i take the car? And finally on this point i am wondering if there are any other questions i should be asking at this stage to help me make a decision (e.g. i dont know if i take the allowance will i then be able to claim the x pence per mile for petrol etc....) - so - are there other things i need to know to be able to decide?

Finally - as if all of the above wasnt enough - the place i work now has made me an offer of £55k to stay, same everything else as mentioned about my current employer earlier, 28 days hol, no car, no bonus, usual benefits. Now i really dont know what to do!

One of the reasons i was leaving my current role is that i dont see there being much for me in terms of career progression prospects - but my employer are suggesting otherwise if istayed for approx 10 years - although i know i couldnt get that in writing. The other place that have offered me a job have a set path in my line of work, where over the coming years i could progress a number of levels to become a more accomplished project manager / programme manager (not sure how long that would take but id guess minimum 5 years - and with each new level comes a salary increment, additional allownace for a car etc.). And with the other employer i will be required to travel and be away from home quite a lot, here i have only had to travel for approx 20 days of the year and a half ive been here - although im single and font have a mortgage - its just a case of living out of a hotel 3-4 days a week, week in week out, so its a real conundrum.

Just looking for some advice if anyone can spare any time to help please?

getmore4less

Some Idle thoughts

Assume the holidays have the 8 BH on top

I think I would take the allowance and keep the car you like for now,
If you take the car and the job does not work........no car.

Lots of travel reduces personal costs a lot.
International travel can be very tiring but gives more tourist options on the cheap with flights paid.

Working from home also reduces travel costs, but needs space, it's a good idea to have seperate areas for work/home if you can.

Check the policy on time off for travel at weekends, I used to do a deal where I would travel flexably often weekends(more time on the ground working and cheaper flights) but stayed at the foriegn locations for extra personal time.

The down side to work from home and then traveling is you may find it harder to build up a feel for the company and the people, allthough modern comms mitigate this. Do you like the office?

Will the work away be to the same place a lot every week? over time you may find B&B or even a temp house share/lodger place might be a better option than a hotel.

With the increased offer to £55k the renumerations are not much different so it's down to job.

What are the redundancy terms for each place this is always a back issue to consider.

I think I would go back to the new job and clarify T&C and expence policies,

As for the current place new offer, have you tried for increase before and been turned down? that would be a negative for me. I would want the rise backed up with a progression program(training or near future projects).

One advantage of moving is you broaden experience just because you work with different peope and processes.

Wyndham

I forget what the research was, but someone did it at some point about people who are going to leave, but stay because they are offerred more money. Something like 80% of them have moved on within a year. Often it isn't just one thing, it's lots of things. If you're ready to move on, you'll know and should take the other job if it seems good.

Huge salary levels for both though compared to the national average. You may not get many replies here because of that - you are sort of complaining that your gold shoes are too tight

tuftyclub

what sort of pension do you have? - if you are final salary you could take the offer from your old employer - and if not happy leave in a year. (enhanced pension) It would also put you into a new income bracket for any other job.

Sambucus_Nigra

I'd be asking myself why my current employer didn't think I was worth 55k a few weeks back but suddenly does now!

Why did you apply for the job? To get the job or to bargain with your current employer for a wage increase?

jackieblack

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

I'd be asking myself why my current employer didn't think I was worth 55k a few weeks back but suddenly does now!

This was my first thought too. If you're worth 50% more to your current employer than they've been paying you then they've been taking advantage.

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Why did you apply for the job? To get the job or to bargain with your current employer for a wage increase?

I agree. Either you're happy in your current job, or you're not. If you're not then more money won't make you happier in the long term.

feeling

Go with what your gut tells you mate. It's your decision, not ours. I hope you make the right choice

titannia101

Here is a link to the HMRC company car advice: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/employee-guidance.htm

Were you actively looking for a new post or did someone contact you with the offer? Personally if I'd been looking elsewhere I'd go for the new job, if not I'd stay for now and give myself 1 or 2 years to see what developed.

As "feeling" says go with your instinct - imagine yourself in 12 months if you stay or if you go - which do you see yourself happier in? To be honest even if you make the "wrong" decision then it sounds as though you are salable enough to be able to find something else fairly easily. Best of luck.

WPN

£55k? negotiate it to £60k - £63k... if you lose (i.e. the £55k offer is withdrawn then accept the £45k job offer)