Hi everyone—
I am a new poster who needs advice with picking next job. I currently have a 1 year old and would like to have baby #2 this year (for personal reasons, delaying baby #2 is not an option).
I currently work at a fairly well paid but very time consuming job (make approx. 250k, work approx 50 to 60 hours per week, not flexible and many emergencies). I have been interviewing for past month for government jobs. Here are the options:
Job #1: best work-life benefits but not particularly challenging or intellectually interesting. Work is 40 hours per week with any additional hours worked paid in comp vacation time (max 3 days earned per 2 weeks can accrue for future use--in other words, if done correctly, every three weeks I could take one week off. I could also work longer days and take off one day per week). Flex schedule (could work 6:00 to 2:30 schedule); and telework 3 days per week. 20/year vacation days (but can manage comp time to be present for all school vacation times etc.) Make approx 120k (Potential to make up to 140k). No real careers path after this job.
Job #2: most lucrative with fair work-life balance; job relatively interesting. Work is approx 40 hours/week but no comp time for any extra hours worked. Can work 10 hour days and take one day off per week and can Telework one day per week. Can work 6:00 to 2:30 schedule. Pay is approx 150k (with potential to go up to 220k). 20 vacation days/year. Many career options if want to leave.
Job#3: most interesting with the most standard work-life benefits. Work is approx 40 hours per week. Standard 9 to 5 schedule (although flexible with working from home for snow days, dr. Appointments etc.) and standard vacation days (20/year). No comp time, telecommute, or flex schedule. Many career options (although probably not in private sector). Pay is approx. 100k going up to 180k.
All three jobs have pensions. Job #3 pension is better.
I am very torn as to this decision. Am trying to balance my interests with best schedule for family. Job #1 is best schedule for family and would really help ease burden on my partner (who has been picking up my slack) but very worried that I will feel very bored. Job #2 could be somewhat of a compromise between interesting and family-friendly but I am still not super enthused about it. Job #3 is interesting to me but seems less good in terms of both pay and family-friendly perks. The only other benefit of job #3 is that if we are able to FIRE early, the pension is much more advantageous than other options (which reward staying in job until 60). We are still in the thick of it, but expect that any of these options will keep us on track to FIRE in 12 years if we so desire.
Any thoughts? In the past I would have just taken the most interesting job but am struggling with how to prioritize my desire to spend time with family, which is currently very strong. Wondering if this desire in spending time with kids will sustain a less desirable/interesting job. My partner is very supportive of whatever I choose.
Thank you so much for any insight!