New job or not - that is the question!

aries_163

I guess I need to use this more as a sounding board to get this off my chest, as I do know that no one else can make this decision except myself.
I’ve been at my current employers for 4.5 years, starting in a junior role and earning a promotion 18 months ago.
I’ve learned a lot in the role, but the company has gone through a take over, redundancy, etc, so it has changed a lot over the time I’ve been there. Over the last 6 months I just feel like I have been treading water. There is nothing outstandingly bad that is making me uphappy, but i feel that I’m not really learning anything new or challenging myself. I find myself procrastinating at times. I’ve also grown bored of the products I’m working with.
In addition the salary compared to the rest of the industry and even similar jobs within the same group is low, with no bonus or other incentives.
The positives are that it is 9-5 weekdays, and 15mins from home. I get on really well with my boss and most of the other people I work closely with in the office.

I’ve recently been offered a new job that excites me, but also scares me.
It’s still in the same field just working with a different product type but the role is significantly different. It’s home and field based, visiting and working with manufacturing sites across the UK and Western Europe. Hours are still Monday to Friday, but there are times when I would need to be away at sites for a few days a week potentially. I’ve never done a role like this before.
I guess I’m just nervous about being away from home more and the impact on my life. I know it will be a big change, and that is what I think I want, but at the same time it still feels really scary to take a leap into the unknown.
The positives are that it’s a £9k gross salary increase, with added car allowance. This is definitely a draw! The types of products I’d be working with also excited me - it’s something really new to me so lots to learn and get my teeth into.
I have no dependents, just my OH at home, so it feels like now is the right time to go for a role like this before kids potentially come along in a few years. But like I say it’s scary to make the leap into a different way of working.

Anyone have any words of wisdom for me to ponder on regarding deciding to take the new job or not?
Anyone who works in a home and field based role who has any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

aries_163

Dear lord, I just realised how long this is! Thank you to anyone who makes it to the end of my post!

TELLIT01

How does the 'other half' feel about the idea of you possibly being away from home for several days at a time? If it's something she's not keen on it could cause strain on the relationship over time.
Money isn't everything, but if all the other aspects of the job appeal I would go for it. Stash as much of the additional pay away in the first few months in case it doesn't work out so you have something to fall back on and you don't feel trapped.
All too often in my working life I allowed inertia to take command and didn't move on when I really should have. I don't have any huge regrets but did potentially miss out on opportunities.

[Deleted User]

It's always the things you don't do that you regret. (Says she who cancelled an interview due to being sick and at the doctors only a couple of hours before) so that only leaves me to consider a telesales job at less but that's on the doorstep that I know having done a personality matching to career survey isn't really me. I'm fortunate in that it allows for some sit and see's.

Leave absolutely on good terms and if things don't work out, perhaps, you can go back or back to similar. That's just how I've started to think about things. You can always come back if not currently in the right position.

aries_163

OH (he, I’m she) thinks I should go for it. He knows how unhappy and bored I have become at my current work and wants me to find something new that I enjoy.
We have discussed already that if the job starts to affect our relationship too much then I would review and potentially look for something else. I don’t want to be a serial job hopper but OH is most important thing to me. Hopefully this won’t happen and we can make it work. In fact I think he might enjoy having the house to himself more often as he currently works longer hours than me so doesn’t really get any alone time which he does occasionally struggle with.
I agree with your idea to stash away as much extra money as possible in case I wanted to leave.

Les79

aries_163 wrote: »

OH (he, I’m she)

I actually had a post written out regarding that! But I didn't post it in the end (being wrong on here, especially when linked to gender, sometimes leads to complaints and/or bans)... I was a bit thrown by TELLIT's assumption that you were male! Threw me because you seemed to be a woman, slightly emotional, and the username is a bit of a giveaway too if you are an Aries (typical Aries! HAH)...

thinks I should go for it. He knows how unhappy and bored I have become at my current work and wants me to find something new that I enjoy.

That sounds good from your partner. Really supportive from him!


You should follow your heart and not unduly worry about other things. Your OH will support you through anything if he is worth anything. In my opinion it is merely down to what YOU want here, you have briefly mentioned the possibility of children and I think you have to be honest about that element on its own. There's nothing stopping you from having kids and this sort of job (I have a family member who regularly spends time in UAE or Ukraine or Russia and they have raised children for 15+ years) but you probably need to scope it out with your partner if you are viewing this as a long term relationship. See how he feels.

Final point, have a good think about how Brexit may impact on this job... If you have to travel outside of the UK regularly then there may be some unanticipated hassle which you'll have to deal with.


Really not trying to put you off, as the job sounds cool to me(!), but it is more about being smart about therse things. Figure out what is going on and how it might pan out.

I agree with your idea to stash away as much extra money as possible in case I wanted to leave.

Sound idea.

jonnygee2

The positives are that it’s a £9k gross salary increase

Honestly that's quite a lot, given you are one promotion over a junior role. Go for it.

A 'field based role' can mean a lot of driving, hotels etc but also meeting a lot of people. Just get some good audio books for your car and be careful of the effect of too many hotel buffet breakfasts!