Job dilemma - bird in the hand or two in the bush?

Alternative Girlfriend

I like my job. A lot, actually. The people there think I'm magic, I can doodle around on the internet without huge problems, there's a fair amount of variety. I leave at 5 with a relatively clear desk and I can count on one hand the number of times I've taken work home. Pay is decent (though not amazing). Not a particularly clear path for promotion (other than presumably taking over for my boss someday), but the job security is rock solid. No need to job hunt for me for basically forever, hooray!

Cue a couple of days ago.

Head honcho pulls me aside with my boss and tells me that they've gone through a round of interviews for another position inside the company, nobody stood out, my name came up in the ensuing discussion, and essentially the job is mine if I want it (and I can even try it out for a couple of months to see if I want it because they basically need somebody in the position yesterday). It's closer to what I did in school, but I have zero experience in the real world (I would have zero chance at this job if I was not currently already working there). It'd be a lot harder (much less time to doodle around on the internet). I'd be learning a lot, but I'll probably also spend a lot of time feeling dumb (at least initially) and I doubt anyone will think I'm magic. It pays a lot more -- I'd be leapfrogging up the ladder at least 3-4 years -- but it's a bonus at this point, not a lifestyle-changer. It's a permanent position, but its continued existence is really tied to how well the project it's related to is doing.

My boss is not happy at all about the idea of me leaving. There were some crossed wires between him and Head Honcho, and he was under the impression I would be on temporary loan while they continued to try to bring in someone else. He's said he wants to try to get me more money, but I don't know what he could get.

As you can probably tell by the fact that I'm having this dilemma, I don't always jump at a challenge. I'm not interested in climbing the corporate ladder (and I'll probably be off of it entirely for a bit sometime in the next few years for baby-time). I've never seen anything wrong with taking home a decent paycheck from a job that's just a job. And where I am now, I could keep taking home my paycheck for years.

But. I really haven't been stretching myself lately. And I kind of feel like I ought to. But I don't know if "ought to" is a compelling enough reason to jump.

Help/advice?

adytum

It really depends on you. Are you happy doing the same thing forever, with little chance at promotion and a stagnating skill set?

What I'm saying is, the longer you sit on your degree doing unrelated, unchallenging work, the more difficult you make it to move forward later.

Korlash

It kind of depends on if you have people to support. If that's the case, then "safe" might be better in this economy.

Either way, you seem content with your situation. Is there any way you can satisfy your desire to do more in a way that doesn't involve your job?

How likely is it that the project will fail, and if so, how easy would it be for you to find a new job if you were let go for some reason? Personally, I think there's nothing wrong with prudence. If you don't really want to take that risk and you're content with your situation, then the move might not be worth it.

I think the key here is what you mean by "ought to". Do you actually want to do more, or do you feel like you should be doing more? The rat race isn't worth it unless you enjoy that sort of thing, so definitively make sure that if you take that offer, it's not because it's what would be "expected" of you but it's really what you want to do.

There's some companies that don't really like having people that are not interested in moving up, so that was my initial worry while reading your post, but it seems like there's some people that would be very happy if you refused the offer, so that's not a problem.

The bottom line is if you're not really feeling it, why take an unnecessary risk? Only do this if you're convinced that this opportunity is really what you need.

ATIRage

Challenge yourself. Go for the different job. If it isn't for you, the worst that happens is you go back and do your old job. Also, think of it as an opportunity to show you are committed to the company. The next time you might be up for a big promotion you say "Remember when that position opened up and I ran head first into it. At the time I felt under qualified but I was willing to give it a shot because I like challenges, that situation is my proof that I can take on difficult tasks" That kind of stuff is extremely valuable, not just in your current company but in future employment situations.

Usagi

So let me impart a lesson I learned from my father:

Never ever ever ever say "No" to additional duties, overtime or promotions because you will most likely never get asked again if you do.

CygnusZ

When opportunity knocks, answer the motherfucking door.

NotYou

Challenges bring about a certain satisfaction. Staying where you are might lead to boredom and depression. It will look good on your resume. It is a new experience. It is more money.

The only reason I would not take the job, would be if I thought that I wasn't capable of doing the work.

edit: or if I thought the increased hours would make me depressed.

Dversed

CygnusZ wrote: »

When opportunity knocks, answer the motherfucking door.

Dude... its seems you have a good relationship with your co-workers. The Growing pains of a new position seems negligible.

bwanie

agree on the trial period. discuss a level of competence/some set goals to achieve in that period.

i'm all for encouraging people to rise to the occasion. but when you have to struggle everyday to reach a "barely adequate" level of performance it can be very stressful and even downright depressing.

schuss

Echoing what others said: Go for it.

Will your boss be pissed? Definitely, he's potentially losing his dependable guy and has to replace him.

Will he be pissed at you? He shouldn't be, you're taking a good opportunity.

Go for it and try to make your old bosses life as easy as possible during the transition, he'll appreciate and remember it. Feeling dumb is good, as it means you're learning stuff.

ceres

I think if you're excited about it, you should go for it, but I'm also with you that a job that's a job and pays the bills is fine if you're happy with it, which you seem to be. Especially if you don't have ladder-climbing ambitions.

I wouldn't go for it because going for it is just what you're supposed to do, unless it's what you really want. If it IS something you can get excited about, or you think you might be in the future, it sounds like an awesome opportunity and you should take it.

Bowen

Your boss and supervisor are basically begging you, help them out. Seems like they're good folks, and when you help good folks out, they help you right back.

RadicalTurnip

I jump on the "go for it" bandwagon: but that being said, this is really your decision. I know plenty of people who go to work *to get money* that's not who they are or what they do, they just work there. It's funny when you meet these people, because you get to know them (and they're usually pretty cool) and then you realize you have no idea what they do for a living.

If you are truly happy (and think you will be truly happy) where you are, and want to pursue other activities in life (like volunteering somewhere, or starting a club or something) then I say keep the old job. If you (like most people, including me) expect work to mostly fulfill your needs for social engagement and for challenging yet fulfilling work (at least to an extent, obviously) then I say go for it.

Did that make any sense at all? I feel like it was a bit ramble-tastic.