Should I stay or should I go?

[Lemonlolly89]

I’ve been unexpectedly offered a job I applied for some time ago. Now weighing up whether to stay or go…

Current job: WFH as standard. Can go to office but no expectation to. Pros and cons to this - good for work/life balance, easy for school run (one child, in primary), lonely life and feel quite cut off from colleagues/wider company. Established in my role, as a result have quite a lot of autonomy and flexibility. No longer challenged by role and have felt quite fed up/bored for some time. Scope for progression but not much that interests me above. Decent salary. Not a higher rate tax payer but above average salary. Bonus scheme (v modest, £500 per quarter so far but could exceed that). 30 days annual leave.

Prospective new job: Two days a week in office, half hour commute. Workable with my husband’s schedule for school run. Flexible hours. Different but connected industry - opportunity to learn and grow. Salary v similar but no bonus. 25 days annual leave but potential to increase with length of service. Meaningful work.

There are a few other complicating life factors adding to my indecision. But taking those out of the equation, based on what I’ve outlined above, WWYD?

I wouldn't take it. Less money overall, plus commuting costs? No thanks

Is ‘meaningful’ just a grass is greener thing? I nearly went back to teaching chasing ‘meaning’. I’ve remembered I prefer wfh and being responsible for filling my own free time and stress is rather crap!

I'd stay while your DC is in primary. A good work/life balance, autonomy, flexibility plus more annual leave sound like good reasons to stay for now though I get you are bored and feel unchallenged. How long has your DC got left at primary could you reconsider a new job once they are in secondary?

I would say I was very interested but needed to match my current package (i.e. be paid for another 5 days + £2k per year) and try to negotiate the new role on that basis.

Can I have your current job? 🤣

Child is in Y1 so a long time to feel stuck. Husband’s job has lots of flexibility and autonomy, I’ve made the career sacrifices so far so he is happy to pick up the slack and let me have my turn. Base salary for new role is actually slightly higher than current job (but still minus bonus - though that’s not guaranteed income). There’s scope for much higher salaries in this particular field compared with my current industry. It’s a sidestep I’ve been looking to take for a while and feel I will eventually, whether it’s this job or another one later down the line. By meaningful - it’s for a charity with a direct and significant lifesaving impact in the place I live. Vs my current corporate role that I don’t feel gives me any sense of purpose.

It sounds great on paper doesn’t it! But it’s very lonely and isolating for me at the moment and has been for some time. I guess WFH suits some people better than others. I’m grateful I am able to do it but it isn’t great for my mental health and motivation.

You kinda sound like you've made your mind up...

(While I could go into the office more,
my team are spread nationally so there is nobody in my local office that I work with or know well)

Maybe you’re right… it has helped to type it all out to be honest. I guess I have some questions to ask of them. But thanks to everyone who’s replied and heard me out. I appreciate it.