Is it worth two in the bush?
Is it worth taking a job that comes with a pay cut and/or less responsibility? How about one that is essentially the same as the job you had at the beginning of your career – sixteen years ago?
What if it comes with the ability to work from home with someone you like and respect and know you can work with? Even if, occasionally, there is a 150-minute (each way) commute?
Not too long ago, I received an email from an ex-boss. After he was laid off – nearly two years ago – he landed a top job at a small company here in the state. It's a perfect position for him. He went from being a little fish in a big pond to the biggest fish in a puddle. He runs the show.
He wondered whether I was interested in a position his company had open. In his email, he said, "I know it's probably not what you're looking for, and there's no way we can pay what you were getting at X-Company, but we really need someone who can kick these people into gear – so I thought of you."
I let him know that I'd be happy to discuss the opening with him. And then I waited. And waited. It was two weeks before I got a phone call. Forty minutes later of conversation later, I created this list of pros and cons.
Pros:
- The saying "it's easier to get a job when you have a job" is true.
- I could continue to receive my severance pay – essentially earning my old salary + the new salary for 10 months.
- I know this guy – and although he wouldn't be my boss, he can help me make the position something closer to what I want to do. Eventually.
- Since this company is so much smaller than my old company, it's not considered a "competitor", which means I can keep some long-term benefits I would lose if I went to work for a competitor.
- I can work from home. And I'm already set up for that.
- I can resuscitate some skills I've let atrophy. That never hurts.
Cons:
- The office is 2.5 hours away from where I live, so when I have to go in – it's a heck of a commute.
- The position doesn't actually report to my ex-boss, but to a peer of his.
- It's a small company, with less employees in the entire company than the department of the company I worked for previously.
- Said compensation is commensurate with size.
- I am loyal. And lazy. Once I take a position, I'm afraid I'll stop looking for "the dream job" unless someone kicks me in the butt.
- A small company like this – in this economy – is ripe for ANOTHER merger. I've been through 11 takeovers. I don't want to make it 12.
- I would have to, y'know, work – giving up my life of blogging, reading, and knitting for 12 hours every day.
So, there you have it.
All in all, though, I do believe that it's something I would enjoy doing. My son is a Senior in High School. I was lucky enough, long ago, to put enough money away for him to go to a state university should he so wish. He'll be moving out soon enough – and my husband and I will be empty nesters. We've never been about luxury. We live well within our means and have been frugal – never carrying any debt other than home and car.
And so – I applied. Now I wait to hear when I'll be interviewed (another thing I haven't done in 16 years!).
I only hope I passed the pre-employment "personality test".
Ree’s personal blog is My Life as a Hotfessional – if you’d like to hear about the rest of the craziness in her life, please stop by for a visit.
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Good luck Ree! It's interesting what we decide to accept along the way of our career path once we have children. It sounds like you've weighed all the pros and cons. As they say, "take it one day at a time!"