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

[Prloko]

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.

This is a tough one. I understand the situation. Unless the work you are doing now is just tortuous, I wouldn't see the benefit of switching to a high stress job for less pay. Then again, I know of a guy who was an attorney and senior staff for a Federal agency who just decided to quit and become a private school teacher.

[dfrecore]

I hate the golden handcuffs! I feel like so many government workers (in particular) get so bored, and hate their jobs, but feel like they can't quit - and then they stay and make others miserable along with themselves. I'm not saying this happens to everyone, but it certainly happens enough. My parents both worked at Pacific Bell/SW Bell/AT&T for 30 years, and I'd listen to them at the dinner table discussing their jobs, and I thought "there is NO WAY I would ever stay at a company and put up with that crap for 30 years, I'd rather put my own eye out with a spork!"

Sometimes, I feel like you have to take a step or two back to make some giant leaps forward, and it may be worth it for many people. But with what you're describing, it sounds like you have to take about 50 steps back to take 5 forward, and it does not sound like a good tradeoff to me.

My advice would be to keep looking for better opportunities. You've just kind of restricted yourself to 2 options, and I don't think that's all there are out there. There are probably dozens of other opportunities available right now, and you've overlooking all of them. Especially if you're willing to move to a new area of the country.

Good luck!

[bluebooger]

...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.
..

a 20k pay cut with lower stress ?
definitely

a 20k pay cut with HIGHER stress ?
no freaking way

hiking activities around the mountains --- awesome

Mandatory OT and crazy hours like 4 days of 12-16 hr days --- oh, well, there goes the free time for hiking

at least for anyway

if I'm working 12 hours a day 4 days a week and not getting enough sleep due to high stress then I know I'm not going hiking on my free time
as much as I love hiking, I know I just wouldn't be up for it

[KayV]

That's why I suggested looking at cost of living relative to new salary. Going from a higher cost of living to a lower one might partially offset the $20K decrease in salary, but going from a lower to higher one while losing $20K/ year could be unmanageable.

However, if health insurance plan cost much less and/or provide better benefits than the current job, that would be a mitigating factor. But if the benefits are worse, or they were paid for by the first job but not by the second, that might be untenable. Same goes for retirement benefits.

Also, have you looked at the housing market at both the old and new jobs? Is it likely you would be able to sell your old home? Can you buy or rent at an affordable price in the new area?

[bjcheung77]

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

a 20k pay cut with lower stress ?
definitely

a 20k pay cut with HIGHER stress ?
no freaking way

hiking activities around the mountains --- awesome

Mandatory OT and crazy hours like 4 days of 12-16 hr days --- oh, well, there goes the free time for hiking

at least for anyway

if I'm working 12 hours a day 4 days a week and not getting enough sleep due to high stress then I know I'm not going hiking on my free time
as much as I love hiking, I know I just wouldn't be up for it

:iagree: As I mentioned earlier, I would recommend staying put until you know more about that new offering and if pros would outweigh the cons. I am in similar shoes, our IT departments are constantly changing, found out that there will no longer be team lead and supervisor roles, they've been moved back to tech analyst roles. Only management for our divisions are managers and senior managers.

For myself, I like the work and feeling of a busy bee, I work hard and smart, I would say I am more committed than many if not all my coworkers, but we all get paid the same 75k, TL gets +$2/HR, Sups +$4/HR, Managers are close to a bit over 100k. I have thought about leaving, but the cons outweigh he pros, I just love doing some OT - I get 75/HR.

I love my unionized government job, and frankly love working 4 days a week for 10 hour days. I get 3 days with wife and kids, but now I've added several SL courses, so I'll be more busy. I won't change that for a $20k decrease and more stressful hours, :coolgleam:.

Update: Regarding change, I think I would rather do something more useful for a few hours a week such as, creating a business... Get paid for doing what you like, ie; start your own consulting business and rake in cash on the side. That's what I will do, something online... I created a thread on here and other forums, so many ideas!

[bjcheung77]

That's why I suggested looking at cost of living relative to new salary. Going from a higher cost of living to a lower one might partially offset the $20K decrease in salary, but going from a lower to higher one while losing $20K/ year could be unmanageable.

However, if health insurance plan cost much less and/or provide better benefits than the current job, that would be a mitigating factor. But if the benefits are worse, or they were paid for by the first job but not by the second, that might be untenable. Same goes for retirement benefits.

Also, have you looked at the housing market at both the old and new jobs? Is it likely you would be able to sell your old home? Can you buy or rent at an affordable price in the new area?

:iagree: +1, There are so many factors as well, but for someone who telecommutes for work like myself, I don't think there would be much difference but the job requirements and less pay/more stress.

[Leedeedee]

I love changing jobs, I get very bored staying in the same place. That's why I've gone into IT contracting, changing my contract every year is awesome. However I just can't see the appeal of taking a lower paid job for more stress. The only exception would be if it were a career position, when after a couple of years experience your salary would rocket, or you could go self employed/contracting. As for 16 hour days, yeah I don't do that, ever!

[passit1]

I have a higher paying higher stress job with crazier hours than my previous gig. And it's taken me away from my family far too much.
Think carefully about what's really important to you and your quality of life. Then make your decision.

[Prloko]

To add another thought, what many people equate as Golden Handcuffs, is actually a Lead Boulder of Debt. Its not only the superior pay, but the fact that some people have fixed costs that do not support a career change into a lower paying-happier position.

I don't know the OP and I'm not saying that the OP is in this position, but your budget is probably the first place to look. If you live within a budget for a person who makes $40K p/yr, then its not so difficult to leave an $80K job.

[Inteljustice2]

A lot great responses. Awesome.

I've decided to stick it out at my current company. Although it has operational deficiencies and at times makes bone headed decisions. My pay scale is better than most in my industry. We just got a new contract and it has really good raises for the next 3 years included in it and I'm literally 2 years away from 5 weeks vacation. So to put in perspective, yes I do my job mostly for the paycheck, not because I have debt, I'm debt free as of right now, but because this job gives me the most freedom to live the quality of life that I desire with the least amount of stress. I'm super grateful for the job I have. Good Luck to everyone else who is looking for a job, I've just realized that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.