Would you leave a job you love for double the income?

Currently in a job I love and a company that has been amazing for 15 years. There is a high demand for my career field right now and the money is ridiculous, over double my current 6 figure job. It comes with full-time travel with a paid trip home every 3 weeks. I no children still at home and a strong marriage of 25 years. Our finances are on track for a great retirement around 60 but with the change we would be looking at retirement around 55 or younger. Has anyone made a similar decision and how did it work out for you?

Jobadvisor:

This is a classic "quality of life vs. financial gain" dilemma, and there's no single right answer. It depends heavily on your individual priorities and personality. Here's a breakdown of considerations and potential outcomes, drawing on common experiences:

Arguments for Taking the Job:

• Accelerated Financial Goals:
  • Retiring 5+ years earlier is a significant advantage. The power of compound interest can dramatically increase your overall wealth.
  • Double the income allows for accelerated debt repayment, increased savings, and the ability to pursue other financial goals (e.g., travel, investments, early inheritance).
• Career Advancement/New Experiences:
  • The high demand in your field suggests potential for further career growth and valuable new experiences.
  • Travel can be enriching, offering exposure to different cultures and perspectives.
• "Window of Opportunity" Mindset:
  • These high-demand periods don't last forever. You might regret not seizing the opportunity when it's available.

Arguments for Staying in Your Current Job:

• Job Satisfaction and Company Culture:
  • 15 years of happiness and a positive work environment are invaluable. Job satisfaction is a significant contributor to overall well-being.
  • Leaving a great company culture can be very hard to replace.
• Relationship Impact:
  • Full-time travel can strain relationships, even strong ones. 3 weeks home sounds good, but the time away is still a factor.
  • Frequent travel can lead to loneliness, stress, and difficulty maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Uncertainty and Risk:
  • A new job, even with higher pay, comes with inherent risks. Company culture, job security, and long-term satisfaction are unknown factors.
  • Travel jobs can be very tiring.
• Quality of Life:
  • Your current quality of life is high. Money isn't everything. Is the extra money worth a lower quality of life?

Factors to Consider:

• Your Spouse's Perspective:
  • Open and honest communication with your spouse is crucial. Their feelings and concerns should be a primary consideration.
  • How will this affect them? Will they enjoy the extra money, or miss you too much?
• Your Personality:
  • Do you thrive on change and adventure, or do you prefer stability and routine?
  • Are you comfortable with frequent travel and potential disruptions to your lifestyle?
• Long-Term Goals:
  • Beyond early retirement, what are your long-term goals? Will this job help you achieve them?
  • Do you have any hobbies that will be hard to maintain while traveling?
• Burnout:
  • Travel jobs can lead to quick burnout.
  • Is the company known for taking care of its employees, or is it known for working them into the ground?

Potential Outcomes (Based on Anecdotal Evidence):

• Success:
  • You adapt well to the travel, achieve your financial goals, and enjoy the new experiences.
  • Your relationship remains strong, and you retire early, feeling fulfilled.
• Regret:
  • The travel becomes overwhelming, and you miss your old job and colleagues.
  • Your relationship suffers, and you question whether the financial gain was worth the sacrifice.
  • Burnout occurs, and you must find a new job.
• A Balanced Approach:
  • If possible, negotiate a trial period or a shorter-term contract to test the waters.
  • Plan frequent check-ins with your spouse and prioritize maintaining your relationship.

In summary:

• Quantify the financial benefits (e.g., calculate your potential retirement savings).
• Qualify the lifestyle changes (e.g., consider the impact on your relationship and well-being).
• Communicate openly with your spouse.
• If possible, try a test run.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Weigh the pros and cons carefully, and choose the path that aligns with your values and long-term happiness.

My wife is about to be a mom. Should she consider a career advancement opportunity right now?

My wife has spent years building her professional and leadership skills, positioning herself for her dream job. That role just opened up internally at her employer—she’s a very strong candidate, has full support from her boss, and it comes with a ~$70k pay bump; however, it requires about 50% travel.

And—we’re expecting our first child in a few months.

She’s incredibly capable, and I’ve told her I’ll support whatever she decides. We’re thrilled about the baby, but the timing has her feeling conflicted. She’ll decide by Monday whether to go for it. I know what she wants, and I think I know what she’ll choose—I just want to support her the best I can.

It feels like a Hollywood cliché—family vs. career—but here we are. I’d love to hear from other families, especially moms, who’ve faced similar decisions.

Jobadvisor:

This is a classic, but very real, dilemma! Here's a breakdown of factors to consider, and some advice geared towards supporting your wife:

Factors to Weigh:

• The Career Opportunity:
  • Long-term potential: Is this a stepping stone to even greater things, or a peak?
  • Flexibility (beyond travel): Can some travel be adjusted? Are there periods of less travel?
  • Company culture: Is the company supportive of working parents?
  • Financial Impact: A $70k pay bump is significant. How does this impact long term financial goals?
• The Family Impact:
  • Support system: Do you have family or friends nearby who can help with childcare?
  • Your role: Are you able to take on a larger share of childcare and household responsibilities?
  • Childcare: What are the childcare options and costs in your area?
  • Postpartum recovery: How will travel impact her physical and emotional recovery?
  • Emotional impact: How will the travel affect her emotional connection with the newborn?
• Your Wife's Well-being:
  • Stress levels: Will the added stress of a new job and travel be manageable?
  • Personal fulfillment: How important is this career advancement to her overall happiness?
  • Postpartum emotions: Postpartum emotions are very unpredictable, and can greatly affect a person's ability to cope with high stress situations.

Advice for Supporting Your Wife:

1. Listen, Don't Judge:
   • Your most important role is to listen actively and empathetically. Let her express her feelings without interruption or judgment.
   • Acknowledge the difficulty of her decision. "I know this is a tough choice, and I'm here for you."
2. Help Her Brainstorm Solutions:
   • Instead of offering your opinion, ask open-ended questions:
     • "What would make this job more manageable with a newborn?"
     • "What are the biggest challenges you foresee?"
     • "Are there ways to mitigate the travel?"
   • Help her create a pros and cons list, but focus on exploring solutions for the cons.
3. Offer Practical Support:
   • Research childcare options, including costs and availability.
   • Offer to take on more household chores and childcare responsibilities.
   • Help her explore ways to streamline her work and home life.
4. Encourage Her to Negotiate:
   • She may be able to negotiate some aspects of the job, such as:
     • A phased-in approach to travel.
     • More flexible work hours.
     • Additional childcare support.
5. Reassure Her:
   • Remind her that there's no "right" answer.
   • Reassure her that you'll support her decision, whatever it may be.
   • Reassure her that her value as a mother, and partner is not tied to her job.
6. Consider a Trial Period:
   • If possible, could she do a trial run of the new position, or the travel requirements, before making a firm commitment?
7. Postpartum Considerations:
   • It is very important to consider the postpartum time period. Postpartum depression, and other postpartum mood disorders are common. Adding a high stress job, and excessive travel to the postpartum period can be very detrimental.   

Addressing the "Hollywood Cliché":

• It's not just a cliché; it's a real struggle many women face.
• Society often places unrealistic expectations on mothers, expecting them to be perfect caregivers and high-achieving professionals.   
• Remind your wife that she doesn't have to choose between being a great mom and having a fulfilling career. Many women successfully balance both.
• Emphasize that you are a team, and that you will work together to make this work.

Ultimately, the decision is hers. Your role is to provide unwavering support and help her navigate this challenging time.

I was given a contingent offer and may have lost it due to a drug test place lying about their hours. What to do?

I was told I HAD to get a drug test done within 48 hours of receiving an email with my contingent offer. I got it at 3:30. The drug testing places all closed at 5pm and I was working anyway. There was one that told me they did testing 9-1 on Saturday. I signed up (once you pick a site you can’t change) and showed up this morning. I was refused and told they no longer do drug tests on the weekends and to come back on Monday. I told them I had to have it done before Monday and obviously this girl didn’t care one bit. I was so excited for this new job just for it to slip through my fingers because I was set up to fail. I’m just going to cry and watch trash tv all day…

Jobadvisor:

I understand how incredibly frustrating and upsetting this situation is. Understandably, you're feeling defeated right now. Take some time to process your emotions, watch your trash TV, and let yourself feel what you're feeling. But don't give up completely. Here's a plan of action you can take:

1. Document Everything:

• Keep all emails and communications: Save the email with the contingent offer, any instructions about the drug test, and any communication you had with the drug testing facility.
• Write down the details: Immediately write down the date, time, and the name of the person you spoke to at the drug testing facility. Note exactly what they told you (that they no longer do weekend testing).
• Gather any other relevant information: If you have any proof of your attempts to schedule the test within the 48-hour window, save that as well.

2. Contact the Hiring Company Immediately:

• Explain the situation clearly and calmly: Contact the HR department or the person who sent you the contingent offer. Explain the situation thoroughly and provide the documentation you collected.
• Emphasize your efforts: Stress that you made every effort to comply with the 48-hour deadline and that the issue was due to misinformation from the testing facility.
• Ask for an extension: Request an extension on the deadline, explaining that you can complete the test on Monday as instructed by the facility.
• Be polite but firm: Maintain a professional and polite tone, but don't hesitate to advocate for yourself. This was not your error.
• Request that they call the testing facility: Request that the hiring company call the testing facility to confirm the misinformation that they provided.

3. Explore Alternative Testing Options (If Possible):

• Look for other testing facilities: Even though you've been assigned one, see if any other facilities in your area offer drug testing on weekends. Explain the urgency of your situation.
• Check for 24-hour urgent care clinics: Some urgent care clinics offer drug testing services and may have extended hours.   
• Mobile Drug Testing Services: Search for mobile drug testing services that may be able to come to you.

4. Follow Up and Be Persistent:

• Follow up with the hiring company: If you don't hear back within a reasonable time, follow up with them to reiterate your request and provide any additional information.
• Keep a record of all communication: Document every phone call, email, and conversation you have with the hiring company.

5. Consider Legal Advice:

• If the company refuses to accommodate you: If the company refuses to grant you an extension or consider your situation, you may want to consult with an employment lawyer. They can advise you on your rights and whether you have grounds for legal action.

Important Considerations:

• Company Policies: Some companies have very strict policies regarding drug testing deadlines.
• State Laws: Some states have laws that protect employees from unfair drug testing practices.   
• Don't give up hope: Even though this is a setback, don't give up on finding a job.

In summary: You've done what you were told to do. The drug testing facility made the error. Document everything, contact the hiring company, and be persistent. You have a very reasonable case.