STORM2K

….a job change if the increase was 20%, but you were going off salary, and back to hourly. Right now I have to work 45 hours before I get any overtime, and then it’s straight time. The new job would be anything after 40 is 1 ½. An added bonus is that I’d be working with 3 friends and former employees of my present employer.

I know its not as simple as dollars and cents, but the bottom line is I’m sick of 3% raises regardless of my job performance or increase in responsibility from year to year. The down side of leaving here is I can come and go as I please, I never have anybody looking over my shoulder. I have a boss that I golf with and is about as laid back as they come.

On the positive side is the new job would be almost entirely design work as opposed to mostly paperwork where I’m at. The company I’d be going to is huge with over 40000 employees world wide, and although the group I’d be joining is a new mechanical design group within the company, the back log is huge and I’ve been promised even if work should dry up, they would pick up work from other offices around the country.

I’m rambling (I know), but back to my main point I initially stated:

Would you leave a salary position for a 20% increase (and most probably raises above an insulting 3% down the road)? In short, is that alone enough to sway you?

I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do.

I would jump to the new job. Would you get an office or be stuck in a cubicle again? Salary is fine as long as it suits your work load. IMO, you should put your skills to work instead of being hammered with all the paperwork.

Lindaloo wrote:I would jump to the new job. Would you get an office or be stuck in a cubicle again? Salary is fine as long as it suits your work load. IMO, you should put your skills to work instead of being hammered with all the paperwork.

still a cube (solo) but with walls (which pleases me) I hate being in the open.

j, I don't know how old you are but that would definitely be a consideration. I find that the older I get the more comforting it is to know that I can come and go as I please and still get paid for it. I don't know how much vacation time you have built up in your present position or the amount of vacation time they are offering you at this new job. That would also be a consideration. Personally I wouldn't want to work for a company that employed that many people and be the new man on the block. To make matter even more difficult, it sounds like you like where you work and the people you work with.

Ok, I was no help. Sorry - I just gave you some food for thought.

Pburgh wrote:j, I don't know how old you are but that would definitely be a consideration. I find that the older I get the more comforting it is to know that I can come and go as I please and still get paid for it. I don't know how much vacation time you have built up in your present position or the amount of vacation time they are offering you at this new job. That would also be a consideration. Personally I wouldn't want to work for a company that employed that many people and be the new man on the block. To make matter even more difficult, it sounds like you like where you work and the people you work with.

Ok, I was no help. Sorry - I just gave you some food for thought.

I’m might near (practicing my Southern) 48, and all the points you hit on are major considerations and making the jump a difficult decision. I know up front at least, it would take me 5 or 6 years at my present job to get to where I’ll start at this place, and by then I’ll be walking with a cane.

About the 40000…they painted that as a positive, in that if the backlog of design work dries up at this office, that they will do work for other offices across the company.

That promise I’m not buying 100%.

The grass always looks greener on the other side, but when I'm out on the 14th on a beautiful summer afternoon and my second shot lands in the middle of the green on a par 5 and I know that I'm still getting paid to be that happy, that's pretty green grass too!!!

I just did some quick calculations. Based on my historically sickening 3% raises, it would be 2012 before I catch up to the new rate. That represents a loss of approx. $54,000 in that time span. That does not take into account any increases at my new job.

Pburgh wrote:The grass always looks greener on the other side, but when I'm out on the 14th on a beautiful summer afternoon and my second shot lands in the middle of the green on a par 5 and I know that I'm still getting paid to be that happy, that's pretty green grass too!!!

Now your hitting me where you know it will hurt

Make a list of pros and cons. Seriously - excel spreadsheet!!!

Sounds like money and a renewal of your creativity are the major selling points.

I think the main thing is to evaluate how happy you are at your current position(not so much counting the money) vs. how happy you would be at the new position. More money always sounds better, but not if it comes at the expense of your happiness. If you truly want the additional creativity, then the money is a bonus, and all you need to do is decide if you want to give up your security for this opportunity. Change is never easy, good luck with this decision!

What about commute time/distance and did you compare benefits?

in a corp. that large it is important to check the longevity of employees as well. Do they have a habit of downsizing a dept. when it begins to age? Many large corp. are guilty of this. Just check everything thoroughly.
Good luck

You did not mention how long you have been with your present employer. You also did not go into detail about any perks with either job. Also you should consider your own financial stability. Don't make drastic changes if your on thin ice. Do you have a safety net (emergency) fund large enough to support you for six months if this change fails? But most of all. If it's the money your chasing.......why are your working for someone else? Good fortune to you.