New Job Dilemma

Elessar

I would appreciate any advice posters here could offer me as I can't decide what to do!

Basically I expect to be offered a new job soon and I'm unsure whether to take it or not. I work in IT support and have a handy enough position: It's 10 mins from home, set hours, no stress and it's stable and secure (semi-state). However the pay is not great, there are no pay reviews and it's unlikely I'll ever earn decent money. On top of that there are a few higher ups in the dept that have taken a dislike to me (for whatever reason, I don't know. It's a very cliquey place).

I recently interviewed for a similar support position in a new company. It's the same pay, but with regular internal promotions, career development and much better benefits. On top of that there is scope to move into software development within a year or so. That's what I want to do (Java dev). They seem keen on promoting internally.

However it's in the city center, so a much longer commute (I hate commuting). I'll have less free time. It will cost me more. I'm in college in the evenings so those days will be more expensive. What if I don't like it? What if I don't like development (I love programming in college, but the real world might be far too different)? So many what ifs.

My current company is safe, and handy. Change is hard. Though career development here is pretty much non existant. I'm not into management, and there is no where else to go. People tend to stay til retirement so there is very little actual career progression anyway.

I suppose I'm posting this to gather my own thoughts aswell. Taking the new position will be a huge risk for me, although it offers a potential way forward into development.

I'm leaning towards taking it. There is a risk I will get too comfortable in this job, and just plod along. I don't mind making the sacrifices to get where I want to but as I said, change is hard. Maybe I'm just making excuses at this stage.

Has anyone else been in a similar position?

L.Jenkins

If you foresee your career progression in your current role as stagnant and it's likely to remain than way, then I would say, take the new role. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that craic. As for Development, you can never know if you'll like it as a role unless you go.

Nody

Lets sum it up; boring to hostile workplace, no promotion opportunities vs. promotion opportunity, salary increase, chance to go into work you want, longer commute. The only reason I'd consider to recommend staying would be to wrap up your college (easier to do) but that's about the only reason; everything else screams go for it. Yes it's a risk, yes it's longer commute but it will give you the opportunity to get your career going in a direction you want it to go; that alone is worth the chance. In general I find that the fact you're applying means you should go simply because you're looking at getting out and that reason is not going to go away...

NotaSheep

Taking a short term view, it is easy to see why the 'do nothing' approach would seem more attractive, But I think in the long run the other position will pay off more, despite the unpleasant commute - and the charm of staying in the same place is bound to wear off completely eventually. You might find yourself in the position of wanting any job anywhere else - this ticks too many boxes to ignore.