Need MAJOR career advice- updated! !!!! :)

Ok so I need some serious help:

Job 1- my current role is entry level I make 33k and have a master's degree. I love the work and want to move up. The senior directory of my agency thinks I am one of the top employees and HIGHLY values me and will provide me with any recommendations to move up when a position opens which is slightly often. Now we are going through lots of changes but my senior director guarantees me a job. A lot of work is bs but I just love my job and don't view it that way and I am a very well recognized employee that can move up. I have amazing benefits full tuition reimbursement 3 weeks Vaca 5 floating holidays 5 personal days 10 sick days. No 401kMy job requires me to drive to my meetings with my car but I get mileage reimbursed. My job is VERY flexible with me.

Job 1- I work 5 day flex and am only required to work 4 days a week so I work Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday 35 hrs

Now they know I have resigned and given my three weeks. Every one is gravely upset and is willing to do what they can to keep me and my senior director is willing to see if she can get me more money until I can get promoted (within the next 6 months) and will not hold the resignation against me. She wants me to stay and would do anything.

Job 2- agency just like mine. Job pays 6500 more has worse hours but good experience. My hours would be tuesday- Saturday 11-7. 40 hours a week. I took it solely for the money. Job 2 has less vacation and benefits. No tuition, more money for ****** insurance, 5 vacation days 5 sick days no other time off. 25% company 401k. No more driving for work- just a few miles each day. I could work and eventually be recognized but I'm not sure. I'm going in blind and may hate it.


What would you do? I can work an additional 5 hours a week to earn more at job 1 and my senior director is willing to try and get me 5 hours doing the same thing that I would be doing a job 2 just to try and help me earn more until I get promoted.

My gut tells me stay at job 1. Just so everyone knows I work in a field that is non profit with the developmentally disabled it's not a field to make millions.

Message edited 8/16/2014 4:44:56 PM.

Need MAJOR career advice

Tough situation. I'm in a low paying field with a masters as well.
I have jumped around quite a bit for salary increases. 6500 for a low paying field is a lot of money. At least it gets you closer to 40 k.
Do you have children? If so then I would probably stay at job #1.
If not, you could take job 2 and use it as a stepping stone to get something else. And then at least you are at almost 40 k so you can negotiate higher at the next job.

Need MAJOR career advice

Job 1, no question

Need MAJOR career advice

I would stay at job 1. Think long term and not just short term regarding the salary increase. It sounds like at Job 1 they really like and respect you and you will have opportunities to grow and increase your salary. Money is important but all the money in the world doesn't help you if you hate your job and are miserable everyday. You said you love your job, they are going to promote you so I would stick with that. Good luck!

Need MAJOR career advice

Job 1. $6500 is not really that much more money and you are getting a lot of other perks at job 1.

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Need MAJOR career advice

Job 1

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Stay at Job 1. We FMed a few weeks ago and this is the same agency I was recently recruited for to do counseling PT.

I don't know if you saw my recent thread, but the Director is now no longer there, and I got an email from HR that they have no openings after I was told the opposite. It was bizarre. The person I know has resurfaced to another colleague but no one knows yet what the real story is.

As an aside, I've been trying to get in touch with this agency over a mutual client's services through them for the past couple of days and no one has responded.

Doesn't look good in my eyes.

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

PS the reduction in benefits is not worth the pay increase IMHO.

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

To me it depends on how much you really NEED the money. I am also in a low paying field with a master's degree (non-profit work). I have thought about leaving time and time again for something better paying, but the pros of my job outweigh the con of low pay. I have flexible hours, tons of vacation time, they value me, it's close to home, and I'm comfortable there. Luckily, I am not the primary financial caregiver in my family and DH's salary allows us to remain comfortable. For $6500 I wouldn't go elsewhere unless the rest of the benefits were the same, which in your case it doesn't seem they are. I would hold out and wait until something opens in your agency. In fact that's exactly what I'm doing in my agency.

Need MAJOR career advice

Definitely job 1

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

I would stay with your current job, but quality of life is more important to me than a pay raise. It seems like you would be making less per hour at the new job, and you have way less time off/flexibility.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Need MAJOR career advice

Job 1 no doubt

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

definitely stay with job 1. Taking all of your benefits, not just cash into consideration, the 6500 wouldn't be worth it to me

Need MAJOR career advice

Definitely stay with job 1. Higher insurance costs and less vacation time will cancel out the 6500. In addition it rare to find a director who will stand behind you like that.

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Does job 2 match 401k contributions?

Need MAJOR career advice

No doubt Job #1. Divide $6,500 out over the extra less flexible hours and deduct all the vacation, sick days etc and it will not add up to what you have now. You start at the bottom again in Job 2 and have to prove yourself.
In Job 1 you are established and have great perks and know you are going to get promoted in 6 months. The bonus is you love your job. For $125 extra a week that you have to work for before tax it really would not be worth it to me.

Need MAJOR career advice

Job 1 too..Goodluck with whatever you decide :)

Need MAJOR career advice

No question...Stay at Job #1.

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

I totally feel your situation, but I have been on both sides of it- Before I made a career change, I used to work in NYC in the finance industry. My starting salary there, at 22, was more than what I make now, and I've been at my current job for over 5 years now. However the longer hours (plus travel and commuting) and stress was not worth it- so, even though in my job now, I have a master's degree and the pay is not great- I do get ample vacation time and my bosses are pretty flexible if I need to leave early to take care of my son or for what ever reason. Now that I have my DS this is very invaluable to me to have this flexibility. So, that being said I would stay with Job #1.

Re: Need MAJOR career advice

Stay with Job 1. I have my doctorate, but I am also in a low paying field, so I feel your pain. I work in a preschool, and make about $20,000 less than I would if I worked in a public school. I recently interviewed for another preschool job, with longer hours and a longer commute. I don't know the exact salary, but it is no more than $5000 more than I'm currently earning, and there's no way I'd switch for that.