Changing jobs

[Monkey stache]

I was just contacted by the CEO of an ad agency that I've shown interest in working for in the past. The only problem is that I just started a new job in July which I love. My current job is working part time (20 hours a week) for a non-profit for $16/hr doing their digital marketing. I know it doesn't pay much but it's my first professional job since going back to college to get my Bachelor's Degree. It has the potential to go full time but no room for growth. The other position is for a very focused segment of digital marketing. Part of why I love my current job is that I get variety in my work. The job at the ad agency pays $35,000-$45,000 starting out with room to grow. It's also not uncommon to make 6 figures in this highly focused area after 5 years (I'm not banking on this but it's something to keep in mind). I've heard great things about the culture at this ad agency too but I'd be leaving a job that I love for this. I also enjoy working part time right now and having more free time to do things I enjoy and this new position would be full time. I would be able to retire much earlier by taking this higher paying job with more potential.

[cthulhu]

my first thought would be - what is your long term plan for the job you have now?

given its somewhat low pay and part-time nature do you currently need a full-time job or what do you do with the rest of the time?  Are you a semi-retired mustachian who can live high on a part time job and is half-way to FI?  or is this job a stepping stone for an eventual full time position, building on the multiple areas that you're getting exposed to currently?

If you happy working part time and that's your long term plan - i would be very hesitant to move jobs to achieve full FI sooner.  If your current job is a stepping stone to getting a full time position, i'd jump now if its being offered as there is no point delaying the move if its going to happen eventually.

and congrats on the offer - it sounds like a great choice to have :)

Al

[jp]

I don't think there is any question that you should take the full time job with room to grow (which incidentally also pays more per hour) over the part time dead end job that you love-- assuming your goal is to retire early. 

Unless you would just hate the other job, I don't think there is any debate here unless you have some other goal that you neglected to mention.

[tooqk4u22]

+1 - take the job if FIRE is your goal.


This may not be true though - I am sure ad jobs work more than 40 hours.

.......(which incidentally also pays more per hour)

[JohnGalt]

How long will you love the current job? If you end up not loving it after a few years - you'll really regret not taking the opportunity to grow now.  First because it's there and you may have trouble finding something later if you wait.  Second, because of the additional pay, raises, and promotions that you missed out on along the way. 

[kkbmustang]

Can you do both? (Not sure if there are conflict issues.) Can you work the full time job during normal business hours and the part-time one on evenings and weekends? Not sure if you want to work that much, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

[okits]

Can you do both? (Not sure if there are conflict issues.) Can you work the full time job during normal business hours and the part-time one on evenings and weekends? Not sure if you want to work that much, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

I second this.  Since it sounds like you can attend college and work full time, can you do both jobs?  It's a fair amount of work, but an opportunity to kick-start your career is something you'd want to think long and hard about passing up, and if you really like the part-time gig maybe you could keep that up on the side.

Two jobs will also give you a great head start towards FI.

[Jack]

Can you do both? (Not sure if there are conflict issues.) Can you work the full time job during normal business hours and the part-time one on evenings and weekends? Not sure if you want to work that much, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

I second this.

<AOL>Me too!</AOL>

[Monkey stache]

You guys give awesome advice and really gave me a lot to think about! I think I'm afraid of permanent change which isn't very mustachian. I feel like all the mustachian changes I've made so far are easily reversible which is why I haven't hesitated to make those changes.

I did work 40 hours a week while going to school more than full time (usually 16+ credit hours) so I'm capable of balancing a lot. I'd have to see how flexible both jobs would be with this because I need some level of work life balance. Tooq did make a valid point about ad agencies usually requiring very long work weeks. This one prides itself on work life balance which means you typically work no more than 50 hours a week. At $40,000 a year that works out to $16.66 an hour though but there's room for advancement and bigger pay raises down the line.

I went ahead and emailed her back this morning letting her know I was interested in the position. *deep breath*