Feel so bad about new job

[Yuja]

Unexpectedly I've just been offered a new role- more money, established organisation, the job role is exactly what I want to be doing, more holiday, better prospects, flexible.

Thing is, I really do like my current job - the people have become my best friends and I'll be so sad not to see them at work anymore. I'm not as well paid as I should be and the job benefits are quite basic, apart from my boss being super flexible which is great. I am not unhappy there at all and my work life balance is really good. I know from a job perspective this is a great move but personally I am gutted at the idea of it.

I'm not sure what I'm asking really other than has anyone left a job where the people are great and it's been okay? I'm tempted to stay where I am but I think I could regret it later from a career viewpoint

I left a job that was 'ok' where I really liked my colleagues. It was the best move I ever made, my career has soared and actually a lot of the colleagues from my old job moved on themselves - if I'd have stayed there I'd have been there on my own while they moved on to bigger and better things! As long as you can keep the flexibility you need I say go for it.

How much more money?

I left a job where I'd made real friends due to having DD and that totally changing my life, including moving counties... but I have stayed friends with them over many many years now.

I stayed in a job where I really liked the people for 10 years... in the end it went pear shaped and I moved jobs, more money. I thought, wow, I should really have moved jobs 5 years ago! And despite them all being lovely colleagues I haven't stayed in touch.

So I would say if they are brill friends you will stay in touch. I think it would need to be a proper significant pay rise though for you to really feel good about the change. Though you say it's the perfect role, how often would it come up again?

Its a tricky one but I'd definitely take it I think, as you may find that a few years down the line your colleagues have moved on anyway. I wouldn't risk losing an opportunity!

I just left a job where the people are lovely and it's going fine so far i.e.new team also seem lovely(early days). It is almost the same role for £10K more and all other benefits much better so it's a bit of a no brainer really.

If you stay the other people start to move on and it changes anyway.

Bitter experience.

I left a job where I really liked the people and worked there for 10yrs- never stay for people, they leave and change. Money talks and I’m glad I walked.

I had this dilemma a few months ago. For a number of reasons, but probably mostly fear of failure and not wanting to leave a job I really liked, I turned down the new job. Tbh, I have really struggled with that decision ever since. They say you mostly regret the things you don’t do, and I think that’s true for me. At the same time, we’ve had a few childcare issues that would have been super stressful to have been dealing with in a new job so perhaps it was for the best after all. But I still struggle.

The difference is 5k so it isn't huge, but my current job has little room for progression and this one has loads. It's quite a unique job I don't know that a similar opportunity would come up again in the next few years.
I think the other thing is that I know my work will struggle without me! Not being big headed but it's an operational role where we have targets - I do a lot more than everyone else each week. My boss - who is also a great friend - will be gutted and I hate the thought of that.
I know what you mean about regretting the things you don't do though - I moved abroad with DH years ago and I was super reluctant at first as I'd never done anything like it but it was the best 3 years of my life so perhaps I need to think the same way here