Job Opportunity

Hello List-
I'm looking at somewhat of a dilemma. I just reached the 6 month period of my current job. I've made it over the hump. I think!
At times it was rough. Having been with one company for 25 years till 2007 and starting over again was much harder than I could ever have imagined. But I only like 50% of this job. I just don't like one major function of my position. The other 50% allows me to do what I do well and enjoy.
Pros, close to home. Indoors year round. Physically easy but stressful at times.
Cons, pay is fixed, cooped up all day in a small building with the same cranky people and no OT. We are really slow,.. I fear layoffs although my manager says no. But does he really even know what lies ahead?

This is where the dilemma comes in. I am being somewhat aggressively recruited by a another company. They want to hire me on as a factory service rep which means travel. Could be 3 nights a week in a hotel. Work outdoors and indoors in industrial settings. I would have to learn the ropes all over again, learn an entire new line of industrial mechanical products and possibly work 50+ hrs a week.
Pros, company van & tools, credit card, cell phone, set my own schedule 50% of time maybe more after year 1, travel, hotels & restaurants. Work outdoors in beautiful weather & Meet new people all the time. Growing company with new work.
Cons, Travel, hotels, restaurants, outdoor work in cold, hot & wet weather. Driving 600+ miles a week at times, living away from home a few days a week. Some physical work including lifting and working on a ladder.

Money would be about same unless I pump out better than 45hrs per week in job 2 which is very likely.

Do I stay, do I go? Comments welcome.

If I were on a leash, I would prefer the longer one.

If it were me, I'd be heading to the new job. I traveled a lot with the job I held for 20 years. I loved it. Besides you get paid overtime. I had a salaried position once. I worked 60 hrs a week and got paid for 40. I always felt like I was getting ripped off. I was lucky enough to be able to change positions with the same company and get back to a non exempt position. Nothing like time and a half to boost your morale and fatten your bank account.

HEY CAP, I hear where you are coming from.i was in a similer time in life myself 10 yrs ago. i did the change with the hotels rest. away from home thing with wifes consent of course. it has been worth it as for the money,significant increase. not convenient at times but i knew it was time for change and change arrived with new employment opp. talk over with wife and see if you can come to terms with each other and changes you will need to make. GOOD LUCK!!

I think you have to weigh two factors... the job security and the "cons" of both jobs. Weigh them both together and see which job is better. Given your description I don't think that the "pros" and the pay are quite as major factors. Going strictly from what you have written, I would say stay at the same job. The reason is because of the cons. You listed a large group of cons for the new job (most of which I have in my job...and don't like), and I believe those drawbacks will work out to be larger than what you are currently facing. The bad thing about your current job is that you are slow and don't know the future. However, if you take the new job and those cons are as bad as I would think they would be, you will still end up looking for a new job. At first I wanted to say go for it (it would be exciting to get a new job, and an escape from one in which you are not truly happy), but looking at what you describe as cons, I would say that the new job is not the one for you. Don't know if I was any help or not, but I tried.

Have you ever been on the road full time? 8 years here ...it sucks.
Being gone is no picnic for all concerned ie., your family mostly.
If they say up to 3 nights a week plan on 4 nights a week more often than not.
Just because you have a credit card does not mean it has no limits .They will tell you 'suggest' were to stay. How much they will allow for meals and "by the way you went way over the minutes alowed on your cell phone.
Ask yourself this .."If its such a great job..why did the last guy leave?
If you need to sell to stay alive in this economy now is not a good time for "on the job training ,and remember "last guy hired usually first guy fired."
And you say 50 hours possible..Who sets the weeks itinerary? I bet it will be a full 50 plus if the manager does it .
Also i bet the job isnt "straight salary" so you more than likely will owe them your soul before you find it wont pay ..but then you might just have the best damn job offer ever!

WORK is a four letter word
Fun is not

Nobody ever said a job had to be work

I was laid off for close to a year before coming into the organization I work for now. The first position I had was almost like being paid to have a hobby. The organization went through some structural changes and my job became work. I almost walked but glad I didn't. Got a promotion out of it and now I'm in charge of the program and having fun again.

With all the advice and weighing the pro's and cons it still might come down to a coin flip .
There are enough miserable people in the world that we don't need any more. Sometimes leaving what you got for the unknown is the hardest decision to make. In retrospect I'm glad I got laid off because it forced me to re-evaluate what was important.

Keep us posted

Kendrickson wrote:I think you have to weigh two factors... the job security and the "cons" of both jobs. The reason is because of the cons. You listed a large group of cons for the new job (most of which I have in my job...and don't like), and I believe those drawbacks will work out to be larger than what you are currently facing. The bad thing about your current job is that you are slow and don't know the future. However, if you take the new job and those cons are as bad as I would think they would be, you will still end up looking for a new job. At first I wanted to say go for it (it would be exciting to get a new job, and an escape from one in which you are not truly happy), but looking at what you describe as cons, I would say that the new job is not the one for you. Don't know if I was any help or not, but I tried.

I've worked an outdoor service tech's position for 18 yrs. The outdoor work evens out in the end of a year. It does in my opinion. I enjoy being outdoors 9 months out of the year. It's the dog days and the frigid and cold wet days that hurt the most.

Tim V write:

Just because you have a credit card does not mean it has no limits .They will tell you 'suggest' were to stay. How much they will allow for meals and "by the way you went way over the minutes allowed on your cell phone.

The CC card I would expect is mainly for travel expenses, meals & some necessities. I don't see this as a bonus. And the cell is no more than a tool these days for any field tech. Again, not a real bonus. From what I am told from the local sales rep, hotels are your average Holiday Express, Hampton, Best Westerns. Typical chain restaurant meals.

TimV wrote:Have you ever been on the road full time? 8 years here ...it sucks.

Ask yourself this .."If its such a great job..why did the last guy leave?

I asked this question. He has been promoted to office engineering support

If you need to sell to stay alive in this economy now is not a good time for "on the job training ,and remember "last guy hired usually first guy fired."

I'm last guy at my current job now! And I asked bout the training too. They claim I will get it working with others and possibly travel to another region and in home office out of Rochester.

And you say 50 hours possible..Who sets the weeks itinerary? I bet it will be a full 50 plus if the manager does it .
Also i bet the job isnt "straight salary" so you more than likely will owe them your soul before you find it wont pay ..but then you might just have the best damn job offer ever!

I need the hrs. Hrs=$$$. If you are on the road, I want at least 11 hrs pay each day.
It boils down to, can I handle the hustle & bustle of travel, traffic & solving problems on the road. Can my 40+ body handle the work? But I am a believer in, working outdoors with your hands keeps one healthy.

One more thing to consider. You are in a better position to get a job being currently employed. It's always hard when you leave a place like you came, "looking for a job". Good luck with your decision, it will be the right one. Scott

If the family is fed and bills paid with either job then I offer the following: take the job that will provide satisfaction and an environment that is conducive to a happy life, we are on this earth too short a time for spending the majority of it at a place that is killing your spirit.

Cap I have worked for my company the past 26 years so I'm probably not much help in matters such as this, although it has changed names/been bought out 4 times. During that time I have never worried about what the longevity of the job was, I found positions that were challenging and fun and never worked in any position very long that wasn't. Having said that I pretty much have to find a new job within the company every few years either due to being bored or the work running it's course, but that is the environment I prefer. I have changed bosses 5 times in just the past 6 years, but then I am under very little day to day direction to accomplish my work (hell I work from home at least three days a week when not on travel). So having said all that trust your instincts, I'm sure after all this time in the work force you know what makes a good job, and remember the grass ain't always greener.

I just switched jobs 5 months ago. I was at my last job for 6 years (right out of high school). The pay was great, bennys were good, and I was miserable. My new job doesn't pay as good, bennys aren't bad, i am outside year round, and am loving every second of it. You have to do what is good for yourself I guess. Everybody thought I was nuts when I left the old job for the new one but I have the last laugh when I don't feel like quitting everyday!

I would wait until the economy picks up before making a job change unless this new company is willing to sign you to a one year contract.

There are pros and cons to every job.

I traveled every week all week for 5 years working for a major computer company and I loved it.

My suggestion to you is to do what feels right and the only person who can feel it is you.

Good luck with whatever choice you make, I am sure it will be the right one for you and your family.

I would stay currently at the job you are at, do the best you can at it, be proactive and lead from you existing position. If you do more than is expected, be a solution and not part of the problem, and don't socialize too much with fellow workers, your actions and performance on the job will speak loud and clear. I see your currant job as an opportunity to create the job you want. I've seen people come and go. The cream always rises to the top and if you give the other workers enough rope, they usually end up hanging themselves, one way or another. The other job sounds tempting but you have to weigh the pros of how you may make your existing job better. Every job has it's downside. So concentrate on what needs to be done to make the other 50% you don't like part of the percentage you do like. Making your job usually doesn't happen overnight, but it is very possible to have happen. The key is to find out how you can become the part of the organization that makes it run like a Swiss watch. Don't brag it was all me, stay low key and let others tell about your performance for you. If management has any smarts at all upstairs, they'll want to keep a good, reliable, productive, maintenance free employee and keep him well oiled. Just thoughts from my own experiences.