Safe promotion or change of career

[Bluebell9]

I'm currently in a job that I love. Unfortunately, my great boss was replaced 14 months ago and I've never been so unhappy at work. I was off work with anxiety for 2 months last year and made the decision that I needed to find a new job.

I applied for a promotion in my department, but a different section (I work for the civil service). The job is completely different to what I currently do but I might find it interesting. Due to circumstances, it took them 3 months to get to the interview stages.

In the mean time, I was approached by a private sector company to apply for a job with them as the qualifications and experience I have in my current job is sought after by employers.

The situation I'm in now is that I was given the promotion and offered the private sector job too and I really don't know what to do.

The promotion
Flexi hours (within limits)
More annual leave, 3 days more that the other job
Job security
Good pension
Tiny pay rise from my current salary


The private sector job
Slightly better pay than the promotion with annual reviews
Annual bonus
OK pension
Health insurance and other benefits
Good company ethos
I really like the boss and the way they work
Using my skills and experience, just not to the same extent as my current job.

I was really set on the new job, but now I don't know.
I think the big problem is that I don't want to leave my current job, I love it and I'm really good at it, but I can't stay due due to the adverse effect on my mental health. My crappy manager is also not in the office so its a nicer place to work at the moment.

Has anyone got any advice of which was to go?

[daisychain01]

I'm going to play devil's advocate, not to be negative but just to highlight the other side of the coin....

Good company ethos. How do you know? They may have put a gloss on it to attract you, but you have no way of knowing their ethos until you've landed in that role and had 2-3 years of "hard labour" (so to speak). The cynic in me says never believe their marketing blurb completely

I really like the boss and the way they work. Again, how do you know how they work, in reality. Don't forget, the reason your current role has gone pear-shaped is because you had a lovely boss, but there's been a change in personnel, and now your current boss is awful. How do you know your new boss in the new role isn't planning to move on, get promoted, leave etc. No guarantees in life

Using my skills and experience, just not to the same extent as my current job. If you're moving to a role where your ability to use your skills is less, then I'd think carefully whether that's a good thing, even if the package is better on the surface.

Personally, just as a starter, I'd be very reluctant to give up a CS Pension and their benefits, plus if you have significant service history/years, you'll be moving your career 'counter' back to zero.

Things to consider

[chickenlegscarla]

I think you would be wise to stay with the Civil Service in the new job.

[Bluebell9]

Thank you for replying.

An ex colleague of mine works for the company and recommended me to them so I have a bit of an insight but you are right, I only know what I've been told.

[chickenlegscarla]

Isn't a Civil Service pension one of the best you can get?

What other benefits do you get?

A lot of private sector companies offer little to no benefits packages so you would need to look at that very carefully. Also, what hours do you work now? Do you have to do much overtime? This can be a real problem in private companies. I'm doing about an additional 10 hours a week just to try and keep on top of things (not saying that is right!).