UPDATE with my decision!!!!! Need advice... WWYD?

Hate to hide, but I have to go under my old fake name because I know too many people I work with on here & don't want to let this out just yet.

CHOICE A....... So I have been at my current job for just over 6 years, and I have a love/hate relationship with it. I find it extremely stressful & mentally exhuasting while I'm there, and I have to bring home a lot of work to do at night & on weekends, and lug around a huge heavy bag in to work with all my paperwork & projects every day (which I do not find any enjoyment in, I find it stressful & always end up procrastinating & staying up late at home to finish work). Also, while I have decent seniority at this job, my current workplace might be shut down so although I won't be laid off, I could be relocated to who knows where.

However, despite all this, I have stayed this long because I enjoy wonderful job perks.... tons of vacation days, excellent hours, fabulous benefits, a short commute (for now at least), and good pay.

CHOICE B...... I have a job offer in a slightly different field. The job itself is not as stressful as my current job & I don't have to bring home any work at all & won't be forced to work on projects at home during the nights/weekends. I'll have a full hour work-free lunch break.

However, on the negative side, my hours are longer & I have to stay at the workplace later each day than I do at my current job, I'd have a longer more difficult commute, far fewer days off, lower pay (though not by too much, and still enough to live just fine), and not excellent (although still very good) benefits. And, although I will be on probation for a year, assuming I pass probation, I will have excellent job security.

I like the people at both jobs, and I'm not passionate about the type of work at either one more than the other. Both have their own stresses, although A is more stressful from what I can tell. Both are pretty secure & if I wanted to, I could stay at either indefinitely into the future.

Given the circumstances of each, which would you choose??????? I am SO scared I'll make the wrong choice & end up regretting it every day. Just really need some advice & input here, I keep going around and around in my mind and it's driving me crazy.

My family tells me "follow your heart"... well that's not helpful, because my heart is confused!

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UPDATE.............

Just realized I never updated this & wanted to thank everyone for your thoughts.
I went with Choice B...... it was hard in some ways leaving my old job because I loved my friends there, but I have to say this turned out to be one of the BEST decisions of my life!!!!!!! Wow what a difference in the quality of my life---- I feel like I can breathe again.... I no longer dread going to work, I'm no longer thinking about my job 24/7, I'm no longer working late into the night & stressing over work in my sleep.... I am so happy I did this!!!! I know I gave up a lot & many people thought I was nuts, but I also feel so much more productive at work, like the weight of the world was taken off my shoulders!!!! I was soo scared I'd regret my choice (no matter what I decided).... but incredibly I haven't had any regrets!!! I don't even miss all the vacation time, shorter commute, etc... it doesn't even matter because now I'm content.
Just wanted to share my update!!!!
And let you know that if anyone is considering a career change for a better quality of life.... DO IT!!!!!!

Message edited 10/15/2010 9:13:20 PM.

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

I lean slightly towards choice b - even though the hours are longer, your personal time is yours. I don't mind bringing work home once in a while but if that's the norm, what difference does it make if you have more time off?

How much longer/difficult is the commute at choice b? could you be relocated to a different location at your current job? Will you earn more vacation time if you went with choice b? can you negotiate more vacation time?

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

Honestly, I would try to stick it out for as long as I could at my current job, and only leave if I absolutely had to.

It's too risky IMO to switch jobs in this economy unless you are absolutely certain it's for greener pastures.

I know there are never any guarantees but if I felt this unsure, I would just stay put.

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

It doesn't sound like the other opportunity is better than your current.

If your current job is truly in jeopardy then and only then would I switch. If the writing was on the wall, then yes.

I would put other feelers out for other jobs if you are concerned because job B doesn't sound so wonderfull..not even close.

Don't settle..find the right job and you will know it.

Good luck.

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

Well, the longer hours at job B... will they be less than all of the extra hours at job A?

Do you take full advantage of the perks at your current job?

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

Thank you all! I appreciate your input so much. I'm thinking about everything you said... I have a few weeks to decide for certain.

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

I know what it is like to be confused. I feel like all I ever do is make the wrong decisions!

If those were my two situations, I would stay where I am for now. The second choice really doesn't seem that much better.

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

Re: Need advice... WWYD?

I lean towards b because its job security.

Re: UPDATE with my decision!!!!! Need advice... WWYD?

I just updated in the original post.

Re: UPDATE with my decision!!!!! Need advice... WWYD?

I would have leaned towards B also.

While A is less hours on paper it is as much work as B. You bring work at home. You have no separatin between work and personal.

So B allows you to leave work at work and weekend stress free.