Move jobs or hang tough

LegacyUser

I am looking for some objective opinions on my situation. I've foun d myself at a cross roads and really do not know what to do.

I am in a position at the moment, I am not very happy in it and it is not very secure. We are a consulting firm and I spend alot of time on the road, and recently because the flow of work has gotten quiet I find it is becoming more and more of a sales position which I really am not cut out for, and less about the work itself. I have been given notice that I may be put on a three day week or possibly be made redundant. Having said that, they are currently putting me through college and I know that once my course is completed I will have a much better chance of getting into the kind of job that I will like.

So I started keeping an eye out and applying for jobs in case the worse happens. I have now been offered this job and I don't know what to do. I will have to give up my college course as I just couldn't afford it myself. The job is closer to home and will have much less travelling which is just what I want.

I will say career is not priority in life so maybe giving up the course wouldn't be such a big deal. I want to earn enough to be comfortable and secure and would love to start thinking about getting married and settling down in the next few years. Then again if I finish course I would probably be in a position to do this in about 2 years anyway.

Is it mad to be thinking about changing? I'm not happy in my current job, I am extremely stressed and even spend my time off dreading coming back. I had a week off recently and spent the last three days worrying about coming back. It wasn't always that but business has gotten so slow and everyone is worried, it's just a horrible place to be. The money is exactly the same so nothing there to sway me. I just don't know what to do.

Any insights, people who had a similar experience? Any guidance at all would be helpful and appreciated

Lucyx

Hey OP

Theres nothing worse than being unhappy in your job and thinking about it even when you're not there. I've been in that situation many times and it can take over your whole w-end and time off so its very unpleasant.

Are your college fees very high because this is the only problem I would see if I were you. Although having said that, if I were you I'd be delighted with myself. You're unhappy in your job and you have an offer of a new one which is all round handier for you.

Even if the college fees are a bit high, you could get a loan yourself and at least you are still investing in your future (God knows what state the country will be in in a few years time and you may need the extra qualification) and you'll be happy where you're working, doing what you're SUPPOSED to be doing as opposed to the sales work which I would hate too.

Hope I helped and good luck

LegacyUser

Hi OP

I think you should take the new job.

You're miserable in your current job and from experience I know what a horrible thing that is. You spend too much of your week in work to feel that unhappy. Also you've been put on notice of a possible 3 day week or redundancy in your current job. Imagine if you dont take the new job and then you're let go from your current job anyway. Re the college course, you can always go back & do this next year. Maybe your new employers would be willing to pay the fees once you are settled & working out well in the job. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Firetrap

I agree with the others. I'm not seeing any compelling reason for you to stay in your current job - all the signs are pointing towards the company going under. You really have nothing to lose by taking the other job.

As for the college course - have you looked into the possibility of getting a loan in order to finish it? Is it possible to defer for a year while you find your feet and get some money together in order to finish it? It would be an awful shame if you don't complete it - don't let the fact that your current employers are paying for it stop you from leaving. It's a flimsy reason IMHO.

LegacyUser

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies. I have until the end of the week to make my mind up about this and it looks as if my decision has been made for me.

As regards the college course my fees are about 5k a year, there is no way I can afford them.. I am living paycheck to paycheck as it is and just about covering mortgage & bills so there is no way I could take out a loan.

I've since found out that I would have to refund what the company paid for my college fees last year if I leave within 12 months, I can't afford it so it looks like I'm stuck here

Trixielicious

Would it be possible to defer college for a year? That would give you time to get a bit of money together as you won't be spending so much travelling and maybe talk to your current boss about taking voluntary redundancy so that if you are due redundancy money they could keep that in lieu of paying for the first year of college for you.

Also discuss you options regarding your mortgage/loan repayments with your lender. They may agree to reducing your monthly repayments. When I was made redundant I had a loan with the credit union and they were very helpful in this matter.

Firetrap

Unregistered wrote: »

I've since found out that I would have to refund what the company paid for my college fees last year if I leave within 12 months, I can't afford it so it looks like I'm stuck here

I don't know how you'll get out of your current financial bind but i would hate to think that you're turning down a potentially better job for the sake of college fees. Will your job/current employers still be around in 6 or 12 months time?

Rebelheart

Unregistered wrote: »

I have now been offered this job and I don't know what to do. I will have to give up my college course as I just couldn't afford it myself.

You may be able to have your fees paid by your local council/entitled to a Higher Education grant if your income is @ €40,000 - €50,000.

See 'Income Limits for Standard Grant - 2009' here:

http://www.meath.ie/LocalAuthorities/Education/HigherEducationGrants/

Also:

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9392/check-reckonable-income-bands/index.html

Rebelheart

Unregistered wrote: »

As regards the college course my fees are about 5k a year, there is no way I can afford them.. I am living paycheck to paycheck as it is and just about covering mortgage & bills so there is no way I could take out a loan.

I've since found out that I would have to refund what the company paid for my college fees last year if I leave within 12 months, I can't afford it so it looks like I'm stuck here

If you pay the tuition fee, you are entitled to 20% of that €5,000 tuition fee back from the taxman:

http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it1.html#section16