Help me decide whether to accept this job offer

[AgentCooperdreamsofTibet]

I’ve been offered a new job and have taken the weekend to think about it. I’m utterly torn and feel that both staying and leaving my current job could be a huge mistake. Please help. I’ve listed the pros and cons of current job and new job below.

Current job
Senior position in a field that I have worked in and trained for (additional specialist qualifications) for 12 years.
Love the job, have problems with the company
The pressure/workload has previously made me ill with stress on several occassions but is currently (just) manageable
Current staffing problems in my team unlikely to be resolved quickly
About to get a new Director who looks set to make lots of positive changes – am feeling excited for future
My line manager is lovely but a bit ineffective
Good pay
Good pension scheme
Culture of presenteeism
Easy commute
Brexit could negatively affect this field of work
A planned overhaul of the way our company works over a 5 year period (entire group, not just where I work) could result in jobs changing, relocating or, worst case scenario, redundancy. This is unlikely to affect my side of the business for at least 2 years.
If I were to be made redundant, I would likely receive a very generous package.

New job
Lower pay (approx. £10k difference)
New area of work – sounds exciting but would mean leaving behind all I have worked for and “starting again” (am I ready for this at age 40???)
Company has an excellent reputation as employers
No culture of presenteeism. Excellent work-life balance
Commute would be difficult unless by car. OH already works in a remote location only accessible by driving so we’d probably have to buy a second vehicle. Not easy on lower income and there is no parking at home for a second vehicle.
Flexi-time
Good pension (arguably better than current but not much between them)
There would be a huge amount to learn and a massive task to undertake very quickly within the first year – all while learning the job.

Just a general good/exciting feeling about the job and people.

When I look at it objectively, I feel it would be madness to take the new job – the financial sacrifice could be difficult and the idea of working in a new area is really daunting. But I had such a good feeling about the company, people and culture. I've been miserable for a while in my current job but things are looking up...

How much scope is there to improve your pay at the new company?

The new job for sure. No amount of pay is worth the stress you've described with no guarantee of it improving. In fact, the minute I read about the job making you ill with stress, that was enough to make me say take the new one.

Also, a new direction at your age is exciting - I did it in my 40s and I've never looked back.

40 is not too old.
I've never had a job I loved that also made me ill with stress. I can't conclude what that combo means.

What can they do about the salary? 10k is a huge cut. Can you afford that and the cost of car?

New job. Your last sentence about being misery presently is the reason.

Can you negotiate pay? Sounds as if company might be open to this perhaps as they seem a bit more progressive?

It's a good age to make a change. What's the alternative, misery until retirement?? Good luck.

I'd look at what that £10,000 means in terms of net pay per month so if you're on +50k then that's £500 less a month. Is that affordable?

However, reading your scenarios, I'd stick with your current position.

Thank you. I'm leaning towards the new job right now but that all might change tomorrow! I have asked about negotiating a higher salary so hope I can get away with a minimum £5k loss. I also should have mentioned that my current job has a very generous annual leave allowance compared to the new job. I rarely manage to take it all in a year due to workload and job pressures but the time I do take is still more than the full entitlement in the new job iyswim. My head is telling me to stay, my heart is telling me to take the new opportunity.

Wrt loving the job but being miserable, I hope I can clarify by saying that I love my career choice and the fundamental aspects of what I do. I've put in a lot if training and would be sad to throw it all away. Right now there are sectir-wide pressures on this kind of job and my current company culture, added to these pressures has created the problems I have been experiencing.

Something prompted you to go for the interview. You didn't do it on a whim. What were your reasons? Don't forget them.

From the lists, I'm tempted to say new job, have you discussed it at length with your oh, how manageable would the pay drop and possible new car be?

I'd say stay where you are but keep looking for something else. The new job doesn't seem to have enough going for it; the company is attractive and getting out of your current job is important but the role itself and pay don't seem right.