Opinions - what would the masses do?

ben_m_g

Option 3 came and went, exactly the same job with the same money as i'm doing now but even further away, not good with a young family.

Option 4 was a nice little job 5 miles from home, a trainee position that wanted some experience in my field, (I though that was perfect, after all I have been in a more senior position for 10 years)
Nope - not experienced enough???

So next month I go option 2 and talk with their boss, option 1 are pushing still for me to commit.

Two steps forward....

ben_m_g

Firstly, a thank you to all still following this thread, a massive thank you to all those who have commented. It's not a straight forward question and I appreciate all those that have taken the time to reply.

An update of sorts:

Option 1: (stick it out) doesn't look like a possibility, stresses are increasing and my job is turning into a series of tasks that I am not trained or suitable for. I am less and less happy here. Moving closer would make it more tolerable but it is a job to hate. I am starting to wonder if this is the reality, many people hate their job and I am being paid far more then I would anywhere else (40% more!). Leaving could spell disaster, I would certainly have to loose £10,000 a year (at least) if option 2 didn't work out.

Option 2 is getting closer (I find out on Thursday) it really could be a job offer of a lifetime, but I am definitely feeling the pressure, I am the breadwinner and the decision really is mine alone. If it works out I could double my pay in the next 10-20 years. But the risk is a massive unknown and without much family around me advice is hard to come by.

If on Thursday they do offer me a position and it is feasible, I don't think I have much option other to take it, there are other jobs and I am getting interviews but it is always a long distance away (something I hate as I don't get much family time as is) and there are no garentees in life.
Option 2 will also be a career change somthing I havnt decided if that's a good thing or not.

All will be clearer (I hope) at the end of next week..

gallygirl

Is there not an Option 5 - get something done about your bully of a boss :eek:. Sounds awful.

My concern over no. 2 would be the tax position and I would want clear answers on that. Having said that - I think you should go for it (as you seem to have decided anyway). A change of direction = another string to your bow. Just how secure is your current job - virtually no job is nowadays. And it would certainly be less secure if you buckled under the pressure and couldn't do it anymore - sounds like you're heading that way to be honest.

Does your current place have exit interviews? Presumably not if a load of people have already left and nothing has changed.

Good luck.

Murphybear

You say you are married so what does your wife say? Surely it is far more important to discuss it with her as well as a forum full of strangers. If I were your wife I would much rather you were happy in your work even if it meant financial sacrifices.

Good luck with the final outcome

FBaby

Take a risk, offered a new job essentially self employed but with one employer, massive step up the career ladder I will not get this chance again.
But the role is not clear and there would be stress to perform and earn commission, this would mean better pay & company car.

How much research have you done about this company? My advice would be to make sure that option 2 is not full of promises that might never materialise. Are you considering this as your favourite option because your first consideration is to get out of your current role? Be careful that this wish doesn't blind your judgement about this option. If indeed you have done your research, that you are confident that commission will be coming regularly, that you won't need to fight to get paid, that they really do offer a company car to everyone and that they are unlikely to fold and get rid of you first because you are self-employed, then go for it.

Also, I think how you feel about your current job might be clouding your judgement. One day you felt that job wasn't so bad after all, the following morning you can't wait to get you. You can't make a decision on your career, especially when you are the main breadwinner on how you feel at a particular time. Even if you've been stressed for a few months, it doesn't mean that you will always be so with this company.

I've been there and have escaped to find that the grass is not always greener elsewhere and that my frustration with my current job clouded my judgement about other opportunities, making them seem more appealing then they really were.

So just make sure you base your decision on facts rather than how you current feel. Good luck

andydiysaver

ben_m_g wrote: »

Option 2. Take a risk, offered a new job essentially self employed but with one employer, massive step up the career ladder I will not get this chance again.
But the role is not clear and there would be stress to perform and earn commission, this would mean better pay & company car.

how is your discipline in working for self?


can you define the role and gain clarity before making the jump and make that part of your T&C, can you draft up any other T&C to build security into role #2 with this one employer? what is the percentile commission to basic, and the structure of the targets, are you sure if you can achive this/sell x amount a month , that percentage payout will be worth the risk? I've worked with company "agent" type roles in the past and they can pull 20k comm easy in 3 months and then a few hundred the next. The better ones bank the big profits and save them for the bad times, is the business stable and regular and can you make enough consistently?


the one employer worries me - I have a very stressful job and is effectively your option 1. I also freelance in the world of IT and I've got one very strong client and a handful of as and when, I want out of role 1 and a chance to work for me , I think about doing it every day, but due to mortgage, I need more than that, I've said at least 20 regular clients, then if 10 go 10 prop me up while I'm looking for more Seems to me that although #2 very attractive the whole thing stands or falls by that one employer, if I were you I'd go after option 3, which is like option 2, but covered/insured by more clients.

mgdavid

your sanity and self-respect is paramount so I don't see option 1 as much of an option; it could all end in tears within a year or two so may as well leave in a planned way while you can.
How many months' basic living expenses (i.e. emergency cash) do you have stashed away? I would only consider option 2 if I had a bare minimum of 4 months' cash behind me.
Did you say what your wife thinks? It should be your decision but you have to carry her with you.
Having said the above, my instinct would be option 2 - but you must do the due diligence thoroughly.

getmore4less

Seems to me the crux of your problem is where you live nothing else available locally in this or any other industry.

You need to work out where to live that gives more opportunities and a stable base for the family.

Don't relocate with option 1 UNLESS it is to an area with a lot more work opportunities

How much do you have saved as a buffer should things go wrong?
(if well paid then you should have saved)

I think you should really try to start managing your situation in job 1 pushing back prioritizing things get left undone and resetting your bosses expectations like your weekends are yours not theirs.
Are you sharing transport?

Research job two in great detail if same sector use your network to get inside info.

ben_m_g

Hi all,

Answers to questions, those that I don't have answers for will be brought up at my final interview,

"option 5" is not possible, thanks to a lack of skills in the industry they have tried and failed to find a replacement.

wife -I have of course spoken to my wife at long length over this, she supports me in my decisions and knows that I will support the family no matter what. But neither of us have good support networks (loss of family and mainly unskilled friends) so another point of view has been helpful.

Research - I know a far amount already about this company, having worked with them for over a year now. the person I would be taking over for would become my new boss and is a kind patience person. the company itself is doing well and expanding.

Commission - will be paid as an average of what I should be earning i.e. if the job should make £5.000 OTE, they will pay my that on top of my salary for the first year.

discipline - I would say that I am highly organised with great self discipline, I have done a similar job before.

savings - 5 months savings as a cash isa, i'm keeping this should it go down the pan.

relocation - relocating would force me into this position for another two years, I do car share but that is a major issue (try being stuck in a car being told all of your weaknesses in front of your peers for an hour.)

pushing back and expectation setting is not working, i'm on call, which means that I have no choice but to work on a weekend, pushing back stirs up aggravation.


Option 1 is less and less of an option.

ben_m_g

The "unskilled friends" comment seems cryptic or derogatory on second look, we have lots of good friends, intelligent and good at what they do, when we talk about jobs and careers they supports us fantastically.

But few have career or specific knowledge of the industry i'm trying to break into, it does help to speak to those in the know or more familiar with climbing the ladder.