Brett recently posted a thread similar to this and there was a lot of great advise so I thought I would share my predicament. We have a job posting at work that encompasses everything I have previously done with my career at work. My wife gave me the thumbs up but I would be gone 85% of the time. I know some in here have jobs away from their family so I thought I would get some feedback, posting closes at 5PM on the 25th. The job would be based out of the Call Center I currently reside in which is 15 minutes from home. I would have to travel to LaCrosse WI and spend 85% of my work week up there. I would be working for my company at a Vendor Group's Call Center ensuring all operations run as would at one of our Call Centers. The job pays like an Associate Director's position but is geared toward the roles of a Director. Here are some pros and cons. Pros 1. Opportunity to make 20-30k more depending on the performance of the Vendor. 2. National exposure, if successful would be a leading candidate for a Call Center Director in the future. 3. Close to Buffalo County WI. 4. Opportunity to run things the way I want to, within the parameters of the company and without having to make decisions with a majority vote amongst my peers. Cons 1. Away from the wife and dogs for long periods of time. 2. The Vendor has an agreement with us to work within our guidelines, but I couldn't directly remove employees without needing to work with the Director of the Center. This relationship will make me or break me. 3. If I don't do well I might as well think about a new career at another company. 4. Added stress and responsibility. 5. Much less time to hunt, unless I get lucky and find someone with access to local hunting properties in WI. Some side notes. The current Director of the Call Center and I don't see eye to eye. He is a Laissez-faire management lover with two Masters plus working on an Executive MBA as we speak, he is the smartest man you will ever meet He also thinks hunting is sitting over a pile of corn from 200 yards with a 7mag and often tries to tell me how to bowhunt While he is Director I have no ambition to move up in our Center as it is slowly running in the wrong direction. At this point I am no longer feeling that I want to work in the Call Center environment under the conditions we are dealing with. I currently work over a group with four groups throughout the nation. In our center I have the top results out of 12 managers and we are the #2 ranked Center in the country. I am know for meeting or exceeding the numbers and getting the job done. If I don't take this path then I will be looking outside of the company after hunting season or might get back to the sales channel of our company. I have ten years with the company and would like to stay if possible. What would you do?
Raceway, best of luck. That is a hard sitution in which to be involved. I could not stay away from my family all week, they are the reason I exist on this earth. The type of opportunity you are being offered does not come around that frequently and the potential pay increase is sweet, so would you consider moving your family to get them closer to you? By the way, I did not apply for the job at my work. I submitted an application for the position I wanted elsewhere and I have an interview next month...game on.
Since there are no children involved and your wife is good with it I would give the LaCrosse job a legitimate shot. All the stuff you have written about your careerand what you want to do with it, that I have seen, would make this job opportunity the break you need, IMO. It is a very good chance to show the movers and shakers that you can work well with other director (the vendor) amd if you can make that relationship very good the you likely will be golden. To me, it seems like a real legitimate shot to "move up" in your career. If that is what you want to do then you almost have to take the shot. If you want your career to be level for the next few years or more(going on what you have said) and have more free time then don't take the shot. Decide what you really want to do/where yo want to go with your career and your decision will be made for you.
I loved the army while I was in and was going to make it a career but I was away from my son a minimum of 6 months each year. I wanted to be part of his life and growth so I left the army. If the relationship with your wife is good there are ways to make something like this work but, with children, it would be impossible for me.
V.S. good luck with the interview, hope you get it. GMMAT, that is the hardest part with this. My wife wants me to have the opportunity but I won't know how bad it affects our relationship until I am in the middle of it. I would be a little over 4 hours away from home. The flip side to this is that my wife's father has been talking to us about getting a house with him so that she can help take care of her Grandma who has Alzheimer's. Her dad would basically buy the house and we would move in so that he could have a little more ability to take care of things. With this being said she would keep busy and would be with family to cure the loneliness. Her family migrated here from the Ukraine and they don't believe in nursing homes, so this arrangement would also be beneficial down the road if she ever needs to take care of him.
You are always the wise one Bruce. We will likely never have kids but if we do it would be best to take this chance now. The reasons you stated above are why I am considering it. The time away will also allow me more hours at work without worrying about sacrificing family time.
For me, with young kids...would have to pass. Only advice I can offer is if you go for it - set some parameter's now. How long do you want to give this new position? (you said you were going to look outside soon anyway)...why not give this a shot for 1 or maybe 2 years - see if it's the break you need - if not, right back to looking outside (and 40-60K richer...although money isn't everything) What is the ultimate goal? Money? Happiness? Retirement? Time at Home? Hunting Time?...all factors... Good Luck - just having this option is a good thing!
The time away from home would bother me. Nothing else on that list would make me hesitate though. Only way I'd do it is if I REALLY needed the $$$. I travel approximately 20% of my time at work now, and it's too much. I couldn't imagine being gone more than I am now. I hate being away from my wife and dogs, and also all the things you normally do during the week you now have to spend weekends doing, so the time you do happen to be home is actually spent "catching up".
Is it your house all that is tying you to your current area or does your wife have a good job that she can't leave? Tough choice. In the end, given the info that you have, I'd have to pass and wait for the next op that is a better fit for family.
My house here is not a factor. I want to stay in the general area and work would have a place for me to stay up there. She doesn't want to leave the area because she helps her Dad with her Grandma and Great Aunt.
Tough decision and I would have a hard time being away from my family that much. Though, LaCrosse is a very nice area and wouldn't be a bad place to move the family to. But, that doesn't sound like its a possibility. I wish you luck in your decision.
Me personally, no.. You are theoretically working the entire time you are not "home", so compensation would have to be for 24hrs not the standard 8-10hrs/day.
I hope the best for you jason in what you decide, thats a very tough decision that I hope I would never have to deal with. I would always choose my family over any tough obstacle dealing with my job unless I had no choice. Too bad the moving your family part is a no go, that would have been great, but then your wife has to take care of a family member and that takes a special person to do that itself. good luck too you!
If it wasn't for my family... I'd be living in Montana.. so you can guess my opinion. Unless I were gonna make the move up north with a willing wife.. my answer would be no thanks. But its a great opportunity it seems.. tough choice. (postscript.. i will retire in Montana however).
For me, it would be an easy no. I hate being away from home, and even more so away from my wife. Heck, I get tired of living out of hotels when I'm on vacation Again, it's your decision, though.
I'd take any excuse to get out the hell hole of Chicagoland. Then again, back when I had a husband, I didn't like him very much so I was always trying to stay away from home. If I went some place..... I tried to take my dog with me. :D ...also, I can work from any location that has an internet connection and I still only made it as far as central Illinois... sooooo.. I guess, you shouldn't listen to me at all. (but at least I made it south of I-80)
man thats a toughie, follow your heart is all I can tell ya!! and best of luck when you make that decision
