Hi all - I am a former active member of this community who dropped off for a while. Back now with a new username and a dilemma and would be interested to hear the thoughts of the MMM community...
To try and make a long story very short I have a job opportunity. I's a little odd because they've basically told me I have the job if I want it (my former boss works there and recommended me highly, and I've spoken with the person who would be my direct manager over the phone). There hasn't been a formal salary offer but I did decide to tell them up front what my expectations would be to get me to change jobs and they have indicated it won't be a problem to meet my number.
Current Job:
Work out of the office, zero options to work remote. We're capable of it but management doesn't allow us to.
Hours are 8:30-4pm, I'm not closely supervised at all and basically left alone to do my work
Commute is 40 min each way on a good day, 60+ minutes on a bad day (i.e. MN winters).
I take the bus each way and my pass is subsidized by my employer.
I like my job, I like my coworkers, and I have good work-life balance. I'm not expected to work OT or weekends.
I'm paid fairly for what I do - base is $88k per year with 10% target bonus - last year actual payout was around $13k
Not much opportunity for advancement in current position, either with respect to title or salary. I would expect to get 3-5% raises per year and maybe a promotion in 7-8 years.
Job opportunity:
100% remote - I would work from home
Hours would be fairly flexible - I could start and end between 6am and 6pm, but they would want me to settle on some core hours - I would just get to choose what they were.
Pay will be at least 7% increase to base salary over what I make now, with same target bonus.
The kicker is... I'm nervous about the type of work I'd be going back to. I was in this line of work before and I got out for a reason - for about 5 months out of the year the hours are punishing (evenings and weekends would be required), but the other months when it's quiet I would expect to work quite a bit less (maybe along the lines of 20-25 hours a week during the slow season). This particular job is also very technical and is 100% driven by insane external deadlines that I have no ability to change or influence. It's stressful and tiring.
However, when I was previously in this line of work, I didn't get the option to work remote and I was making a hell of a lot less money and had less seniority than I'd have with this position. I do hate my commute, it takes a lot of time away from my kid who I get to see about 2 hours a day during the week. I also like the idea that if I was remote, our family would technically be able to move anywhere and work anywhere and keep our high paying jobs (partner is remote about 80% of the time and his work would let him go 100% remote if he asked. We just happen to live across the street from his office).
I don't know. I'm really on the fence. I like the idea of the flexibility, reclaiming some of my time during the day, making more money, etc but this line of work seriously scarred me the last time I was in it. I keep reminding myself that I got out for a reason. At the same time, I know that my employer ran an insanely lean ship when it came to staffing and I'm not sure that it would be a repeat of the same experience.
Would appreciate hearing some outsider opinions...