Dilemma (work related)

brandotheninjamaster

Alright, So a buddy of mine that I used to work with just went to another company and so far is really happy at his new job. He just offered me something that would be a lot more than what I am making now (I make 36,000 this job would be 50-55,000). Heres the problem, that job is contract related and that contract goes up for reelection every december. So if the customer says we don't wanna do this no more I'm out of a job. If I was a single man I would do this with no second thought, but I'm married with 1 child and another on the way and I'm barley making ends meet now. If I were to go to this new job I could easily get out of debt and have a financially comfortable life with my family. I'm really torn.

It just seems like if I risk big I can make big, if I risk nothing then I gain nothing. If I were to lose my prospective job I really wouldn't be qualified for much else and have a really hard time making it back in the corporate world since I have no degree and relatively no experience. So my question is this PA lurkers: What would you do given the same situation?

noir_blood

brandotheninjamaster wrote: »

Alright, So a buddy of mine that I used to work with just went to another company and so far is really happy at his new job. He just offered me something that would be a lot more than what I am making now (I make 36,000 this job would be 50-55,000). Heres the problem, that job is contract related and that contract goes up for reelection every december. So if the customer says we don't wanna do this no more I'm out of a job. If I was a single man I would do this with no second thought, but I'm married with 1 child and another on the way and I'm barley making ends meet now. If I were to go to this new job I could easily get out of debt and have a financially comfortable life with my family. I'm really torn.

It just seems like if I risk big I can make big, if I risk nothing then I gain nothing. If I were to lose my prospective job I really wouldn't be qualified for much else and have a really hard time making it back in the corporate world since I have no degree and relatively no experience. So my question is this PA lurkers: What would you do given the same situation?

Man..that's tough. You said it's every December..so would that really mean there's a chance you would go there, and in two/three months not have a job? Because if not, you do have at least a year of job security. Like you said, if you were single, I would tell you to go for it, because sometimes it's worth taking chances. But married, with a kid on the way? You should probably stay. Or talk to people at that job and try to gauge how good the security really is.

brandotheninjamaster

Yea, if I go now I run the prospect of getting shit canned this December...

Cruix

noir_blood wrote: »

brandotheninjamaster wrote: »

Alright, So a buddy of mine that I used to work with just went to another company and so far is really happy at his new job. He just offered me something that would be a lot more than what I am making now (I make 36,000 this job would be 50-55,000). Heres the problem, that job is contract related and that contract goes up for reelection every december. So if the customer says we don't wanna do this no more I'm out of a job. If I was a single man I would do this with no second thought, but I'm married with 1 child and another on the way and I'm barley making ends meet now. If I were to go to this new job I could easily get out of debt and have a financially comfortable life with my family. I'm really torn.

It just seems like if I risk big I can make big, if I risk nothing then I gain nothing. If I were to lose my prospective job I really wouldn't be qualified for much else and have a really hard time making it back in the corporate world since I have no degree and relatively no experience. So my question is this PA lurkers: What would you do given the same situation?

Man..that's tough. You said it's every December..so would that really mean there's a chance you would go there, and in two/three months not have a job? Because if not, you do have at least a year of job security. Like you said, if you were single, I would tell you to go for it, because sometimes it's worth taking chances. But married, with a kid on the way? You should probably stay. Or talk to people at that job and try to gauge how good the security really is.

I agree with this. Is there any way you could go check it out? Maybe talk to whoever has been there the longest and see what they think of the current situation? Like "It's looking better than ever." Or "I think we're about finished here."

redpanda

Very iffy... Money is money. If you can pay off most of your debt, it would make sense to take the new job. However if the new job is a contract-based job, you could be unemployed in a year. Nothing is a sure thing. You could get laid off from your current job any time. Talk to your wife. Calculate the risks and take a step.

Question? What kind of work are you doing now? What kind of job is your friend offering you?

brandotheninjamaster

It would be in IT. I would be help desk. Right now, I kinda do the same thing just not over the phone.

redpanda

Is your friend offering you a job through a private company or a "big name" co.? Volt? Excell? Siemens?

brandotheninjamaster

big name. but still I wouldn't have seniority so if shit hit the fan my prospects would be slim of settling somewhere else in the company.

redpanda

Dang. I'd recommend reviewing your options. If all else fails, go freelance.

flatlinegraphics

brandotheninjamaster wrote: »

It would be in IT. I would be help desk. Right now, I kinda do the same thing just not over the phone.

run away. high pay + phone support + contract job = high burn out and turn over.

been there, done that.

Ruckus

See if your buddy can do without until the contract is renewed, then get in.

brandotheninjamaster

Update: This was a quick thread.

(This is the abridged version) So I went to my boss and basically said I want a promotion. He then replied "well we are gonna put out the rec. for a higher position and your more than welcome to apply." Which I initially looked at with skepticism, but the hiring manager turns out to be someone I know very well and have a great working relationship with. So I may have a strong chance at this new position. Literally right after that was done my boss handed me a piece of paper. I read it and it was an outstanding achievement award for my entire department, which totally rocked.

So I think that I'm gonna stick it out here with my current company in hopes for a promotion. Thanks for advice guys, it really helped a lot plus, it gave me the gumption to ask for a promotion. If I get it or not still good to know that I have the testicle fortitude to demand my place in the world.

ElJeffe

Good for you, and I hope you get the promotion.

Generally speaking regarding contract jobs:

- If you would basically be an independent contractor, that $55k winds up a lot less rosy. You have to pay a lot more in taxes than you would if you were a regular employee - about an extra 10-12% or so in payroll taxes. Keep that in mind.

- Whether or not contract jobs are worth it depends largely on how easy it is to find a job in your industry. If you think you could find a job inside 2-3 months, then $55k/yr would be a great deal. Just make sure that you sock away enough to get by for, say, 4 months. When you're suddenly making twenty grand a year more, this isn't hard to do. A lot of people get by working a year on a contract, then being unemployed a few months, working another year on a different contract, and so on. it's just a different lifestyle.

If it's hard to find work, though, then I'd always side with stability over phat cash, especially with a family to support.

JaysonFour

I don't know, but if I had to take the choice between $35K definately and $55K that might vanish any year, I'd stick with the $35K. Better a small paycheck than the chance of no paycheck at all, especially with a family.