To give up my 100% WFH job?

[Benji92]

Hi there,

I joined my company just over a year and half ago and always had the ambition to become a Manager from day 1, letting my own line manager know.

My company is going through a redesign within my department. There have been talks for over a year now and no one knows what will come out of that. My manager says that he can't promise me if/when there'll be a Manager position will open up.

Recently a position opened up in another department, which would practically mean a promotion if I got the job.

Current job:
-Senior Associate
-100% WFH
-£33k
-Easy job

New job:
-Manager
-2 days in the office (I'll need to relocate but I wouldn't mind, in fact might be better for me as I'm considering moving there regardless)
-£40k
-Boring and demanding job

Of course there's a chance I might not get the job but the hiring manager thinks very highly of me and I'd be a very strong candidate. I just want to make my mind up fully before applying not to mess them about.

My friends think I'm being unreasonable for wanting to leave my 100% remote job for not much gain. Would you apply for the new position?

This! I got the chance to move jobs about 6 years ago. Meant moving from one end of the country to another. I am now on 3x as much as I was 6 years ago. Yes it has taken a lot of work and sacrifices moving away but absolutely worth it

It has actually taken me full circle as now moving back to where I started but on a salary I could only have dreamt about when I was living there previously

Sometimes risks are worth taking, even if they seem scary at the time

I would go for it. If your goal is to be in management its a step in the right direction. I'm guessing that will just be starting salary so could increase to more and you will have the experience to move onto other management posts if you don't like it.

I am 100% with you! WFH is fundamentally boring. Boring should be avoided as much as possible.

Is neither an option?

I’d be looking for an interesting job.

The 7K (20%) pay rise is only about 4K a month (with student loans). That's about £300 a month. With the cost of commute and childcare it could actually reduce OP/s disposable income.
The increased promotion opportunities might be worth it though.

OP, from your job title I'm guessing that you work in consulting/advisory. In which case being a Manager makes it easier to move into industry, depending on your service line. If you're something like a 'technical specialist' in tech consultancy however this would hinder your chances as you are likely to spend more time managing and lose your technical skill. Whether you can be, say an engineering lead at an external company really depends on how much engineering guidance you lend as opposed to just battling paperwork which really varies depending on your projects,

The cost of a move and possibly travelling to work/parking could easily 'eat' the 7k. Is that a starting pay in the role? Is it negotiable? You may be able to negotiate another 3-5k. Is there more annual leave you could negotiate?

No I wouldn't. The increase in salary would probably negate the commute costs. So then your looking then on an even field

I wouldn’t think about the small financial gain OP but whether the new job moves you career wise in the direction you want. Is there scope for further career progress? Will you get any training / support to continue to progress? On balance is the relocation to an area you’d prefer over where you are now? Is ‘more demanding’ also ‘more interesting’ or ‘more stimulating’ or ‘an opportunity to challenge myself and progress’ or just ‘more demanding’. If it’s only demanding and stressful don’t do it. If it moves you forward do! Good luck either way!

I've just done this. Wfh was driving me mental!

If you want a management position, then it's going to be significantly more work and responsibility. It would be unlikely for a management position to be 100% WFH. It's all about progress, so yes I would go for it.

That small pay rise will go on the commute/coffees and lunches. I wouldn’t do it as not enough money for the increase in workload

For 7k that’s not worth it at all; especially to give up wfh and relocate, for a job that will be more boring and more demanding!!
..you’re just doing it for the title.
If you feel the future career opportunities it brings are worth relocating for and doing office days then ok but WFH was a hard won prize that many companies are trying to claw back from, so I’d need a lot more to give any aspect of that up, so maybe go for it but try to negotiate more money or less office time to make this seem a bit more worthwhile?

Agree with this. It sounds like you're ready for a change, @Benji92, and relocating will shake up your life in different ways (for one thing, you might make some friends who aren't afraid of ambition!!)

In a year's time you could look around for another job if you do find you don't like this new one - and you'll looking from a management position. There's every chance you'll relish the challenge, though. Go for it!

With your update I'd say you're ready for the change - new job, more money and a relocation that you'd like to do. You'll also be able to buy a house for about half the price you would be able to if you stay where you are. 2 days in the office is nothing. Maybe you will be able to make the new job more interesting when your feet are under the table.

Personally I agree with your mates.
Not much more for a boring job.
Youl likely eventually get so bored and fed up.

I guess my thoughts are it totally depends on your current life situation. If I was single/no kids in my 20’s I would absolutely go for the job, and wouldn’t want to work remotely all the time as it would be very isolating. Back when I was in my 20’s I had so much fun working in an office every day with nice colleagues and face to face meetings. If however you are balancing family and other commitments then working remotely is brilliant. My husband only goes to the office once a week now and it’s been life changing for us as a family as we can have dinner together all but one evening, and he is around more during the week to see the kids. If you fancy the challenge of a relocation and a more senior job then go for it!!

I’d apply in a heartbeat. I don’t believe in playing safe.

You won't be earning more money though would you, with tax, insurance and commute costs you'll probably be on the same wage with a more boring job

It depends on your circumstances and your priorities.
If you're single and living in a shared house and can move easily and cheaply without much upheaval then I'd consider it, especially if it's moving to a place you want to live or could afford to have a much better quality of life.
If you have a house to sell or kids in school or you'd have to move somewhere more expensive or have a big commute then I probably wouldn't.
Also what would come next after this promotion? IMO you always need to think a couple of steps ahead when you're thinking about career progression. While the extra money is nice, by travelling to the office you'll likely spend some of that on bus/train fare or even just nipping to the shops or buying the occasional coffee.
You say the promotion would bring about some hard yet boring work. That doesn't sound attractive but if it gives you the experience to to then, in a year, to progress to much better work then it's worth considering.
Finally, if you relocated would you be moving to a location with a better job market/scope for promotion compared to where you are now?

Yeah if I wanted the change, I would go for the role but negotiate atleast 45k

I would always stay in a less paid job that I actually enjoy rather than a job for more money which I may end up hating. Other opportunities will come up.
Although, moving to a more challenging role can make life more motivating. Staying too comfortable for too long isn’t motivating and can lead to poor performance.
You need to weigh up these two things.

I would do it if I needed the money and was focussing on career progression (i.e. thinking of it as a stepping stone to something more senior/ better paid).

If I didn't care about either of those things I'd stay put.

It depends how important wfh is for you. Only you can know that. If you don't mind relocating and going in to the office, then take the manager job.

Depends whether you want a career or a job