Career advice needed.

[Smoked]

I'll try to keep it short. I have two jobs. One I work remotely and one I go in to the office. The guy that I work for remotely just moved his business to Snohomish, WA. I live in California now. He wants me to move out there ASAP. He is willing to pay me double what I make locally and help me get into a home. It's a pretty substantial amount. He will pay to get me out of my lease and pay for the move. The problem is that I really like the job that I have locally and they have been really good to me. They have no issues trading my bad habits for my abilities. Plus, my medical benefits are some of the best available and paid for 100%. The new job probably won't have medical and I have two kids. The new job is with a smaller company and only has a few employees. I am an IT guy and I pretty much do or fix whatever is needed. This is really a tough one for me and there are some very wise guerrillas here. Any advice is very appreciated.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Smoked

I'll try to keep it short. I have two jobs. One I work remotely and one I go in to the office. The guy that I work for remotely just moved his business to Snohomish, WA. He wants me to move out there ASAP. He is willing to pay me double what I make locally and help me get into a home. It's a pretty substantial amount. He will pay to get me out of my lease and pay for the move. The problem is that I really like the job that I have locally and they have been really good to me. They have no issues trading my bad habbits for my abilities. Plus, my medical benifits are some of the best available and paid for 100%. The new job probably won't have medical and I have two kids. The new job is with a smaller company and only has a few empoyees. I am an IT guy and I pretty much do or fix whatever is needed. This is really a tough one for me and there are some very wise guerillas here. Any advice is very appriciated.

A career move is always a tough choice.

As I read your post, I am thinking what a great opportunity in WA. But, and this is a really big "but", you say you really like your current job and your medical benfits are 100% company paid. To me, this makes the choice a no-brainer. Keep the current job/benefits.


A big factor to consider in any job move is that you would be trading a "known" for an "unknown". The flip side is that your income would double and you could get into a home. As I said, a tough choice.

[icehog3]

More money in the short term versus paying for your own insurance, moving your family, potentially giving up long-term stability.....

I will say that only you can know what is best for you and your family....but just remember, money is far from the most important thing.

[volfan]

With 2 kids, I would opt for better benefits for now and work towards adding new skills to make myself be in the best shape in case I needed to look for work later on. Small company working is great but they do not have the buying power of larger organizations so benefits are not always as good. You can always farm out and do more work on the side for cash.

Of course this is just my opinion.

scottie

[Old Sailor]

Originally Posted by pnoon

A career move is always a tough choice.

As I read your post, I am thinking what a great opportunity in WA. But, and this is a really big "but", you say you really like your current job and your medical benfits are 100% company paid. To me, this makes the choice a no-brainer. Keep the current job/benefits.


A big factor to consider in any job move is that you would be trading a "known" for an "unknown". The flip side is that your income would double and you could get into a home. As I said, a tough choice.

To me that would be most important.

[Smoked]

Thanks for the advice guys. This is a pretty huge decision for me? I also forgot to mention that if I don't take the offer I could end up being replaced. That would be 30,000.00 per year gone.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Smoked

Thanks for the advice guys. This is a pretty huge decision for me? I also forgot to mention that if I don't take the offer I could end up being replaced. That would be 30,000.00 per year gone.

That certainly adds a twist to the story. How likely is that to happen?

[ghostrider]

Seems to me this decision isn't just about you. You have a family to take care of, and that should figure considerably into your decision. As for doubling your income...you need to look at what your new expenses would be. That taken into consideration may or may not "double" your income.

I switched jobs a few years ago. My new job paid grossed LESS than what I had paid in taxes at the old job. Bottom line for me was looking at the good of my family, and long term planning.

[Smoked]

Originally Posted by icehog3

That certainly adds a twist to the story. How likely is that to happen?

I would say it's pretty likely. He needs someone on site. I used to have someone at the office that could do some technical stuff when needed but fired that guy before the move. I am actually the only guy left after the move and I am the only one that he is asking to move.

[-MG-]

A few years ago things were going well for my fiance and I. We were (are?) young, not the most frugal with our money, made a few rash purchases, and spent money on expensive toys in addition to a house and a few material investments. She was attending school, with plans to be in the workforce within a year so we'd be able to pay off various debt we had accrued.

Then in February 2006 we were rear-ended at freeway speeds. Life changed in the blink of an eye. Since then she was forced to drop out of school, she's not working, we've got over 10k in debt related to medical bills (and growing), she's largely stuck at home due to chronic pain, and the existing debt still exists.

</sob story>

I guess my point is two fold. First, enjoy life, you never know what may happen. Second, medical insurance (as much as I hate it) is a necessity no matter what. If the raise of the new job offer allows you to afford your own, then the decision is a little more difficult, if not, I would stay where I was insured.

[Smoked]

Originally Posted by ghostrider

Seems to me this decision isn't just about you. You have a family to take care of, and that should figure considerably into your decision. As for doubling your income...you need to look at what your new expenses would be. That taken into consideration may or may not "double" your income.

I switched jobs a few years ago. My new job paid grossed LESS than what I had paid in taxes at the old job. Bottom line for me was looking at the good of my family, and long term planning.

That's another thing. The cost of living would be way lower as well.

[icehog3]

Price the insurance out, see what type of guarantees the new company could offer (contract, maybe?), and weigh out what you think is best. It would seem a no-brainer to stay if not for the fact that you feel your job may be elimnated anyway.

[Jonesee]

You are getting some very sound advice here. If you move you will make additional income less the cost of insurance,(about $830 per month or $10,000 per year for typical BC/BS coverage) less the income from the job you hold now that you will have to give up. You do the math, it's your business not ours.

Now you stay, you potentially lose $30,000 annually for the other job you are working.

Compare A to B, throw in the intangibles like quality of life at each location, job security and the like and you will likely have your answer.

I worked in corporate America for 25 years and transferred 8 times. My employees were often faced with the same decisions and I will tell you what I told them. I hope you do what is right for you.

[Smoked]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Price the insurance out, see what type of guarantees the new company could offer (contract, maybe?), and weigh out what you think is best. It would seem a no-brainer to stay if not for the fact that you feel your job may be elimnated anyway.

I'll find out about the insurance first thing tomorrow. I would have to have something in writing before moving down there. It's a tough one guys and I appreciate all of the great advice. I'll see what I can get him to do about the insurance too. You never know.. he might budge for me on that. Its interesting how things can change so quickly in one day. I wonder how many cigars I could have with this big of a pay increase. I could totally afford those Cohibas that I have always wanted. OK it's time for a cigar and some bourbon now.

[bobarian]

Something else that might fit your situation is to work for him on a consulting basis. You could take some time from your current job and get his new business set up and then either work on a retainer basis where you go up to WA a few times a year. But as the others said, I think the family and the known factors are most important. How does your family feel? Is the new company going to be around for the long run? Short money looks good, but if you have to move again in a few years that may weigh against.