Has anyone climbed down a tree to reach a different branch?

[Dizway]

Update 04/12/2006
Both jobs fell through, sort of. I wasn't offered the lower paying job because their pay scale for the position max out at 50k. So their offer would have been between 40-45k, well below what I'm making now, they didn't bother to lowball me. The other job wasn't as I expected... I was offered the job at $37/hr contract to hire within 6 months for a big financial company but I'd be an onsite tech for their remote office in LA... not the job I was looking for.

New Question:
I've got an interview with Perot Systems at one of their customer's site, I was wondering if anyone has worked when them before? I read some reviews on vault.com and they are slightly negative. What I gathered from the reviews were: cult-like organization, stagnant pay, no bonuses as promised.

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I'm considering making a career move from a "jack of all trades" "one man show" IT job in a small invesment company, 33 miles commute (2.5 hrs round trip), hours are 6am-3pm, pay is ~60k. Growth potential is none, learning potential is minimal, salary potential is good. I hate the commute, I'm sick of doing the desktop support portion and I hate getting up at 5am in the morning... I'm a late person.

TO

A more recognized/larger company in the food industry doing level 1 network administration. 11 mile commute (1 hr round trip), hours are 9am-6pm, pay is ~50k. Growth potential is good, learning potential is good, salary potential is unknown at this time. Good company to work for, growing company and has a well structured IT department.

My question is, has anybody ever taken a pay cut to change career paths they felt was right at the time? Who has succeeded and who has failed?

 

[gigapet]

thats not a huge cut. Just do it.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: gigapet
thats not a huge cut. Just do it.

QFT

 

[FoBoT]

since you are switching companies, i don't see a problem

this type of move is trickier within the same company

 

[Demon-Xanth]

My dad was a manager for Pacific Bell in the LA area and took a cut just to move upto Northern California. It's a decision that he never regreted.

 

[ivol07]

My friend just went thru this same situation. He went from $75k in a go nowhere company to $64k in a better company with a further commute. He does not regret it at all. In fact he's trying to get me a job there. I would also be making less money but the commute would be the same for me. But it would probably be worth a $10k hit in order to get into a better company that has growth potential.

 

[Dizway]

Looking for some late nighers' input.

 

[Vinny N]

Have you made sure you've accounted for any small details?

Do you have a family with children? Does the change in work hours affect time with them (be it recreational or taking them to school, the dentist, shopping, going out with the spouse, etc). Would your spouse expect a change in household responsibilities since your hours would be different?

Would the new job include any on-call responsibilities? If so, where to and how much time per week?

 

[Zee]

i personally need money. i dont have time to chase dreams. a 10K cut would not be worth it.

 

[Ctrackstar126]

Dont forget that you'll meet more people and perhaps see more oppurtunities. If you been at the same job for a while than you milked all the people and oppurtunities you may see from there. I once took a job that was lower pay but It took me to a different aspect of my life. Change is good plus 5am...damnnnnn Fvck that

 

[Dizway]

I'm 29, single, no kids, have a gf of 6 years who's working on her masters. I can manage financially with the pay cut condering I got the raise less than 6 months ago.

Originally posted by: Vinny N
Have you made sure you've accounted for any small details?

Do you have a family with children? Does the change in work hours affect time with them (be it recreational or taking them to school, the dentist, shopping, going out with the spouse, etc). Would your spouse expect a change in household responsibilities since your hours would be different?

Would the new job include any on-call responsibilities? If so, where to and how much time per week?

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: gigapet
thats not a huge cut. Just do it.

Unless he is making 5k a month, and spending 5k a month, then it makes a difference.

 

[Dizway]

I understand this is a personal decision and I'm the only one who can make it by factoring everything. I'm looking for any success stories, word of caution or anything bad. Thanks!

 

[illusion88]

Try to find out what kind of raises you can expect.

 

[DeeKnow]

not a significant enough financial impact to worry about it so much... it's a no-brainer. go for it

 

[Dizway]

Originally posted by: illusion88
Try to find out what kind of raises you can expect.

I have a second interview tomorrow (today), that is my goal. When they called me back for the second interview, they wanted to know what my salary expectations were because their MAX pay is much lower than what I disclosed in my application. I told them that I'd like to consider the position still... just to keep the opportunity open.

 

[Dizway]

Originally posted by: DeeKnow
not a significant enough financial impact to worry about it so much... it's a no-brainer. go for it

Today, I got an official offer to work for a very large financial company as contract-to-hire. The problem is that the commute, role and pay are the same. It's for a remote site in LA. However, the person who's leaving the job is a perm and makes $86k. Salary potential is enormous but role will never change... desktop support ugh. This is my backup option because I want to leave my current job, regardless.

 

[phantom309]

I'm in a very simiilar situation but I have two kids, and a $10k/yr pay cut would really hurt. So I'd say make your move while you're still flexible and free. Dunno where you live but in Kansas a single person can live pretty damn well on 50k/year.

What's important is that you're in a position where you can learn new skills and move up through the ranks.

 

[Liviathan]

If you feel like in a good amount of time you can make the same amount you are making now. If you become bitter because you are making less it would suck.

 

[rxtrom]

I would also say go for it. I am in the same situation as you and I am married.

I am currently trying to sell my house in CT to move near Phila, PA for a new job. It is less money, but it is something I will enjoy and will eventually be back to what I was making in a yr or so. I have been debating the decision for about 3 months, and have finally pulled the trigger. It is a total carrer change from accounting to a systems manager roll in a small company. I am sort of relieved, scared and excited. I am confident everything will work out.

Take the plunge!!

 

[LeadMagnet]

Originally posted by: gigapet
thats not a huge cut. Just do it.

:thumbsup:

 

[Patt]

I'd say do it ... how valuable is your time spent in the car? Not to mention expenses. I have a 50 minutes (25 each way) commute to work, and I can barely stand that. DO IT.

 

[Dizway]

update:bump