What do you do when you are locked in the "golden" handcuffs i.e. high paying job

[Inteljustice2]

SO I work in a fairly well paying job for my area and make decent money. The company has a poor organizational structure, the business decisions made often are head scratchers which over the years has resulted in resentment, bitterness, anger.

I get great benefits and I'm 2 years away from 5 weeks of vacation time, I get 4 weeks a year right now, which I consider above the norm.

Does anyone have any experience leaving a job with the golden handcuffs and successfully transitioning with a new company in a new position that you have passion for?

I have a job offer out of state for a completely different career field that I've always been interested in but it has its cons:

1. High Stress
2. Lower Pay about a 20k a year paycut
3. Mandatory OT and crazy hours like 4 days of 12-16 hr days.
4. High Degree of Burnout within the Field

Pros:
Challenging, Non Routine, Each day will bring a different challenge.
Going from Midwest to Southwest would be completely awesome since I could partake in hiking activities around the mountains.

I'm really struggling having to decide on which direction to go in. I do have to make up my mind soon as the academy starts in August.

My question is would you take a risk at an older age vs. the younger you, even if you have no earthly idea if it will even work out when in your current position you are in a gravy job that is super easy and low stress.

[bjcheung77]

SO I work in a fairly well paying job for my area and make decent money. The company has a poor organizational structure, the business decisions made often are head scratchers which over the years has resulted in resentment, bitterness, anger.

I get great benefits and I'm 2 years away from 5 weeks of vacation time, I get 4 weeks a year right now, which I consider above the norm.

Does anyone have any experience leaving a job with the golden handcuffs and successfully transitioning with a new company in a new position that you have passion for?

I have a job offer out of state for a completely different career field that I've always been interested in but it has its cons:

1. High Stress
2. Lower Pay about a 20k a year paycut
3. Mandatory OT and crazy hours like 4 days of 12-16 hr days.
4. High Degree of Burnout within the Field

Pros:
Challenging, Non Routine, Each day will bring a different challenge.
Going from Midwest to Southwest would be completely awesome since I could partake in hiking activities around the mountains.

I'm really struggling having to decide on which direction to go in. I do have to make up my mind soon as the academy starts in August.

My question is would you take a risk at an older age vs. the younger you, even if you have no earthly idea if it will even work out when in your current position you are in a gravy job that is super easy and low stress.

That's exactly how many people on the board feel... My suggestion is to reevaluate everything again about the pro/cons, I would usually recommend staying at a position instead of leaving... I am in the same shoes... Kinda

[Life Long Learning]

The grass may look greener over the fence, but rarely is in the long run!

[ajs1976]

The grass may look greener over the fence, but rarely is in the long run!

So glad I have ignored that advise the last few years.

[KayV]

I would be looking really hard at retirement and health benefits, as well as cost of housing and cost of living at the new job.

I would also be looking at the high rate of burnout in the field and mandatory OT that you mentioned.

[Life Long Learning]

I have meet hundreds of Veterans who have told me they should have NOT left the military as the grass looked greener elsewhere. Now that they are middle aged they have little to show.banghead

I have never meet a retiree who regrets it!

.

So glad I have ignored that advise the last few years.

[sanantone]

Everyone's situation is different. The grass may be greener or it may not. I had a job as a corrections officer with the county. I had excellent benefits and excellent job security. However, I only took the job for the chance to go through the police academy. The academy for this year was cancelled, and I found out that most of the people who go through the academy end up stuck in the jail for another year or two. I took a significant pay cut to work on my internship hours with a non-profit organization. My work is more fulfilling and more enjoyable than corrections. When I get enough experience, I will almost certainly move on to a higher paying job, but most likely in the same field. Previously, I had no casework or counseling experience, and I wouldn't have gotten that if I kept my job as a corrections officer. That means I would have never had the opportunity to move on to a good paying job in the mental health/social services field. I will never return to working 12-hour shifts as a corrections officer unless I have no better option. For me, the grass was certainly greener on the other side. I've already started landing interviews I wouldn't have gotten without the counseling experience and with government agencies with even better benefits and more advancement opportunities than the one I used to work for.

[Prloko]

I have meet hundreds of Veterans who have told me they should have NOT left the military as the grass looked greener elsewhere. Now that they are middle aged they have little to show.banghead

I have never meet a retiree who regrets it!

.

I have met several veterans who came to regret it, especially ones in who got sick or where in certain fields where the ROI of the pension to the earning potential are not as great as it seems. I did 10 years and was warned by all my superiors on how "stupid" I would be if I left the service. I didn't regret it one bit. I'm already out earning my military pay (even against the tax advantage), have a 401k match, and also have a pension. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret my service, best decision I ever made, I just don't regret giving 20 years.

The military has a huge "golden handcuff" problem where people are so afraid to lose their pension that they are willing to suffer the great hardships that civilians rarely understand. Unless you are a commissioned officer, the pension is just not as lucrative as most people think, especially if you can gain most of it back in certain careers.

Rhetorically, put it this way, if someone asked you how much they would need to pay you lump sum present value for you to give up your constitutional rights, restrict your privileges, be put in situations where you may lose your life, lose years of quality time with your family and be told where you must live and for 20 years, what would you accept?

[Life Long Learning]

I agree as I have a friend who just retired as a civilian cop at $8600/month.cheersmate

Unless you are a commissioned officer, the pension is just not as lucrative as most people think, especially if you can gain most of it back in certain careers.
?

[Life Long Learning]

Each is different, but these are just job requirements. I had no issues with them. Heck, I joined not to stay safe and bored in life.

Rhetorically, put it this way, if someone asked you how much they would need to pay you lump sum present value for you to give up your constitutional rights, restrict your privileges, be put in situations where you may lose your life, lose years of quality time with your family and be told where you must live and for 20 years, what would you accept?