New job decision - WWYD?

[OccamsLadyshave]

Sorry - big long ramble to get my thoughts straight. Any comments appreciated!

I have been in my current job for 17 years. It was my first job out of university and I've worked my way up from office junior to second in command. I have been half-heartedly thinking I'd like to leave for at least 17 10 years. It's a small organisation and I feel a bit like I'm stagnating.

I have been looking out for something else, and a job has just been advertised that I've been waiting to come up for ages, but there are drawbacks.

Here are the pros and cons:

Current job:
Secure - permanent contract, large pay out if made redundant due to financial difficulties (not currently on the cards but it's a small voluntary sector organisation so can't rule it out)
Familiar - I can do it in my sleep (and often do!) and I consider my colleagues family.
Prospects - my boss has been talking for a while about dropping 2 days a week and giving me a deputy type job title with pay rise.

On the other hand:
I'm bored to tears with it, have only had one job in my adult life and feel like I don't want to be here for another 20 yrs until I retire.
The commute is bloody awful - I used to be home based and moved out of the city when DD was little, but I now do a 1hr 15 commute each way 4 days a week, so 10 hrs a week sat in traffic plus £40 a week petrol.

New job that has just been advertised:
2 minute walk from my front door!
New challenge and interesting.
I have previously done some volunteering for them and I like the cause (charity sector) and I think the team seem very friendly
Pay - very slightly lower than I'm on now FTE, but I currently work 30 hrs and commute for 10, and this would be 37 hrs but no commute so actually I'd have more money coming in for fewer hrs IYSWIM.

Cons:
It's a 12 month contract which will only be renewed if the post is funded.
They are very reliant on statutory grants which don't always come through so I know people have had to leave before.

So I'd be giving up my current security of a permanent job and could find myself jobless in 12 months. I'm a LP with no other income so this would be a major problem.

On the one hand I think I'd be mad to take the risk, but on the other hand I feel like I'm looking for excuses to stay in my comfort zone.

I know I haven't been offered the job yet and maybe I should just apply and see what happens, but I know them well and wouldn't want to mess them around and also the CEO emailed me the job ad today so I'm pretty sure I'm in with a good shot!

How is your current post funded? Is your current job as secure as you think in the long term?

Our salaries and overheads are all funded by investments and a percentage of all income. I know I'm not completely safe, but I manage the accounts so I am pretty confident things are ok at the moment. But you're right. It could all be different in a year.

You only come this way once

Go for it. I've been in post nearly 8 years and I'm desperately unhappy but it's so scary to think about doing something new.

You've only got to take the first step of applying. See what happens after that. I bet just applying will give you a bit of a boost that you're actually doing something positive.

Please do go for it, I bet you'll get it as well

Apply and see.

And never work for a charity!

I would imagine if you leave things well with your current company there's a chance you could return if you were stuck for work at the end of the 12 months? The commute alone would be enough to make me think about it (not LP but sole breadwinner in my house).

What would you do if your boss reacts by offering you the deputy position in order to keep you? Personally I think variety is the spice of life, it would do you no end of good to be somewhere different. I worked in a place where a lot of people were hanging on for redundancy and it is soul-sapping. I'm not suggesting your place is like that but it's not good for you to be spinning your wheels endlessly. Get out there and see what the future holds!

If after 12 months, your contract in the new place is not renewed, are you likely to be able to find a similar job with your skills and experience? I don't like the insecurity of a 12 months contract when I have dependents and bills to pay unless I am sure I can find something else easily.

Go for it! You only have a decision to make if you get it. Mad commute too

Thanks everyone. Pretty unanimous. I'm going to go for it.

Great advice not to work for a charity but I think it's a bit late for that!

The thought of a new job is terrifying, but I know it's the best thing to do. No guarantees I'll get it of course but I'll give it my best shot.

I think I would go for it based on the fact it is close to home. Commuting is horrendous! Like you say, you earn more where you are but spend 10 hours in the car each week! Deduct the travelling costs/car maintenance and you will probably end up with the same salary x

Apart from a couple of small differences, I could have written your post. I was umming and ahhing about applying for a new job. I feel like my brain is not getting used anymore. Anyway I got an interview and come on here to look for interview tips. It has been over 10 years since I had an interview and I am bricking it.

Good luck with your application!!!

Update: I got it!

I spent all of Thursday night and Friday deliberating and decided that while I might regret taking it come next April I would regret not taking it every day!

Now I've verbally accepted, I'm spending this weekend stressing about whether I've done the right thing. I am feeling sick at the thought of handing my notice in on Tuesday. It will be a complete bombshell for my boss, who leans on me a lot.

Also the new boss seemed almost surprised I accepted. I didn't know until during the conversation when I accepted that the second candidate was internal and could start immediately. I have to give 3 months' notice. I'm worried they felt they had to give it to me because of equal opps but would have preferred not to.

Oops posted too soon.

Anyway I have overcome the two main worries about the job. I'm fairly confident i can raise the money to fund the post, and I have looked at my finances and I can get six months' living costs in the bank by next March so that takes the pressure off a bit.

I'm now just experiencing major wobbles about taking a leap from the known to the unknown. Can anyone give me some reassurance or good experiences?

Is it always this hard to leave a job? I think I'm more anxious than when I split up from my partner of 8 yrs!

Can you wait until after the election to decide whether to accept the offer? If the Tories get back in there will be further funding cuts, which will make any grant funded positions even more precarious.

On the other hand, it seems you have skills that are in significant demand and you probably are underestimating (hence being sent the advert and the apparent surprise that you accepted the offer) so you should not find it difficult to find another job if funding for this one is pulled.

Congrats on getting the job! Tbh I'm in a similar situation, done 14 years in a role that is convenient but am bored to tears. I just couldn't take a 12 month contract though; I'd spend the whole time worrying about the future too much.

They gave you the job because you're the best candidate!!!!

Congratulations on getting it. Good lick with resigning - don't chicken out. Enjoy your new challenge.

I predict once you've left your current job and got stuck into the new job, you'll realise quite how much you were stagnating at your current role, and what a breath of fresh air it us to be doing something new

Although you know you are bored, I reckon it won't be until you actually experience the boredom lifting that you realise quite how much it was affecting you.

For me it was stress. I knew full well my job was stressful (the politics of that workplace, not the actual job). The stress was the reason I wanted to leave. But it wasn't till I actually left and the stress lifted that I realised the extent to which it had been affecting me.

Go for it I reckon!

Thanks all. Just what I needed to hear. I'm dreading the next three months. I just don't know how my current boss will react. She's really not going to like it.

It's the thought of using my brain again that is the biggest attraction.

The nerves are just fear of the unknown. I have a great bunch of colleagues atm. Getting to know a new lot is daunting. Plus the internal candidate might hate me!

Aargh! I'm 40! I feel like an 11yo starting a new school! I know I'm good at what I do. Moving will make me better because up to now I've only done it for one organisation. If I hate it I'll have to get another job. I've got two major cities within an hour's commute and I'll have six months to find a job.

Still feel sick though!