WWYD career conundrum

[Sammiesnake]

I have a specialism in an interesting field and it’s led to a solid, reliable career that I really enjoy. I spent the last four years working 40 miles away for a glamorous company with lots of perks. I was earning 50k ( good salary where we live in the North), lots of perks and interesting job. However, the commute was crap and my husband had to step up a lot at home when I went back after mat leave. We have 2 young DDs age 1 and 3 years. He has a good job which is his passion but it’s poorly paid (30k) — although he helps out a lot with our kids and is my absolute rock. Anyway, last year a job came up similar to mine in a small company round the corner from us. It’s a 5 minute commute, I’m home by 3.15 every day and I still earn 51k (which works out great without the extra petrol bill too!). It’s very comfortable but little chance of any promotions really for the foreseeable as it’s a small place. Husband is happier that I’m home more!

So here’s the conundrum: two weeks ago I was contacted by a recruiter asking if I’d be interested in a new role. It’s very specialist and plays to my skills but I’d need training. It requires a traineeship for two years! If successful, they’d fully fund my training and match my current salary for the two years. However, it’s supposed to be quite stressful and could be placed 10-20 miles from home in training. If I complete the training years, they’d help to place me in a role earning potentially 65-75k with lots of room to progress after that. I sent in a quick application but didn’t put too much into it as suspected I wouldn’t be selected and that would remove the pressure of deciding! They’ve called today to offer me an interview this Wednesday.

My husband isn’t keen on me having a commute again but says he’ll support me whatever I decide. Money is obviously tempting but it isn’t everything in life and I love the low stress at the moment!! Feels silly not to take a potentially good opportunity though and I don’t know what to do. What would you do?

Go for the role and see how you get on. First of all, if you get an interview, you'll get a feel for the company eg who you'd be working with, the culture etc. You may decide that you do or don't like the company. Secondly, you may not even get the role, in which case the decision is not yours to make.

Go for it. If you don’t get offered the role after the interview, the decision is out of your hands however you know you gave it a go, no regrets. If you are successful after interview then decide. But don’t regret an opportunity. Good luck OP.

@purpledagger I’m not sure I’ll get a feel for anything really - the interview is over video call this Weds and is with a training provider, if successful I’d be placed in a company for the two years but I wouldn’t meet them yet. I’d have to tell my current employer tomorrow and I’m not sure if I want to rock the boat!! It’s a very comfortable job! Especially at the moment, it’s a mad time. My husband reckons I would be mad to give up a close job with decent salary for the unknown - I’d technically be jobless for the two years and although I would be supported in being placed into a position, I guess there are no certainties with the job market as it is currently. So confused

Recruiters are sharks. And that does not sound a remotely appealing "job" prospect to me.

I wouldn't pack in a secure, decent job in the current situation to leap into that dodgy sounding scheme on the basis of a recruiter desperately scouting for victims trying to earn commission. Did they stroke your ego?

Sorry, I don't understand how this works.

A training company is going to match your current salary for two years and place you in other company's and at the end, you'll be able to command a £60,000 plus salary.

Is this legit? Have you done sufficient checks?

Although it could be an amazing opportunity, it sounds too good to me true in some ways and I certainly wouldn't be resigning that quickly.

Get it and see what flexibility you can negotiate in the future to make it work for you.

Tbh I would stay in the comfy role because your dc are still so young & a commute makes a big difference to that.

This sounds highly questionable to me. Have you fully investigated the training company and asked for references from the employers it places people with, and followed them up? Are they well known in your industry? Have you asked mentors / contacts about them?

In your current field in 3 yrs time can you get a job else where for more money?

51k vs 65k is about £650 difference a month. How much would a 20 mile commute cost?

Is this a cybersecurity training programme? If so you have to work as an analyst for 2 years after the programme finishes and the maximum you can command is approx 30k. As cyber is a field increasingly dominated by data and maths grads you may find yourself unable to move back up to the ladder after 2 years.

You are better off with the role close by. Take that one, settle in to a work and childcare routine, then try to increase your salary by taking shorter term contracts in your field.

Forgetting for a minute that it sounds totally dodgy as pps have pointed out, I would stay put.

You have the best if both worlds at the moment, decent salary, good hours and no commute. Why would you give that up for a few more £s each month.

Enjoy your career and your kids and then go after a more stressful job and the higher expectations and wages when the kids are older.

No, stay where you are. It's local, pays well, decent hours, stress free and you're happy. The other job could be the opposite of all that and more.

The biggy for me is being happy at work.

And at 65k you'll lose some child benefit. At 51k you're ok as likely your pension payments are keeping you under the threshold.
Maybe its normal in your career, but to be paid a high wage during a 2 year training course with no job at the end sounds bizarre. Do you have training fees. Is it kosher?

I'm also suspicious OP. Have you done your research?

Is it a legitimate opportunity? It should’ve fairly easy to ascertain and you certainly don’t need to be suspicious of all recruiters.

I posted today on the “worst advice you’ve received on MN” thread, regarding advice I sought in relation to a job opportunity. It was pointed out to me that MNers tend to be risk adverse.

I would encourage you to stretch yourself, do what you enjoy, what allows you to flourish and thrive. Be ambitious and whilst money isn’t everything it definitely makes life easier.

Thanks for the advice everyone! It’s definitely legit and it’s actually funded through the government, I won’t say what it is but it’s not paid by the recruiter at all no. I’m sure they’ll be working for a commission though! No they didn’t strike my ego ha! It’s a brilliant opportunity but I think when you retire only £650 a month or so extra you do really wonder if it’s all worth it for the stress! It’s the future prospects that interest me. I could go for it again in a few years time and perhaps that’s the best thing to do.

*realise

@wendyleen yes I’m thinking I agree with you!

@GrumpyHoonMain hhha what a random gues! No nothing to do with cyber security if it’s a different salary and a different role, what made you even guess that?! 😂😂😂

Well, it can't be Police Now with the salary you're quoting, but it sounds about as desirable.

I agree with your husband anyway.

I think the ideal would be to stick with your current job for the next 3 or 4 years (until both dc are in school) and then look for training / opportunities to move up.

Is there potential for this training course to still be available in a few years time?

@parietal I’m not sure if it will or won’t be available in a few years. It’s a government backed scheme to train and recruit much needed specialists into a specific area. It could potent still be running but I wouldn’t bet on it.

10 or 20 miles isn't much of a commute though. I've just gone back to work, and from my home to the Office is17 miles. Pretty standard really?