Comfort or Risk?

[Britishshooting]

I've been at my current workplace (Architects Practice) since I was 16, so literally just clocked up my 14th year.

After a stint of work experience back when I was 15, they offered me an apprenticeship for when I finished school. This came at a good time, as my only interest at the time was golf and turning professional (I wouldn't have been good enough and i'd have eaten all the mars bars if left in the shop)

They put me through college and university and covered all my fees so I've always felt a great deal of loyalty towards them, however the Director that pulled all of these strings has since retired.

So fast forward to now. I'm comfortable in my job, run several projects and know the Clients well but i'm that, comfortable. Everyday feels the same and no new challenges seem to arise and I feel myself increasingly in a rut.

I've been offered other jobs before within the same sector but remained loyal as it didn't really bring with it much additional job satisfaction or extras that made the hassle worthwhile.

I've been poached by another company, that cover the same sector as us but also health care which brings with it new challenges and project variables. They are a multi discipline company that really look after their employees with flexitime, happy for you to work from home and run numerous social event. The Director of the Architectural side of the company is a an ex colleague that I used to work with and who I get on with very well.

It will certainly pull me out of my current comfort zone and brings with it additional benefits which will improve my quality of life outside of work. More projects will be international however I don't currently have children just a wife and visits would be 1-2 days plus travel time not long periods (she would be supportive of this.)

My Wife is pulling her hair out, telling me to go for it but I've known nothing else my entire working life. It feels like a huge leap of faith which I don't think she can see but I understand it's a great opportunity. Just rather scary when you are the one that pays the mortgage and bills etc.

It's not really risky they are a well established business that are busy and due to multi disciplines have their fingers in many pies. It's just fear on my part, what if I hate the dynamic of the office or how it's run? I'd end up running back to my current employer with my tail between my legs. I specialise in industrial projects so alternatives within my local area are not in abundance so its practically one or the other.

The job on paper is better in every way better pension, opportunities, progression, pay, bonuses etc. it just scares the hell out of me jumping from my current ship, its looked after me well all these years.

Has anyone made any career changes or job changes that made them feel this way or is it a bad sign it makes me feel this way?

 

[Robster59]

I worked for ICI for 27 years (for those who remember them) and left when I moved to Scotland. That was a big thing for me as, when I first joined them, ICI was a job for life. I was very nervous about moving on as you just don't know how you will cope in another environment. And ICI was renowned for looking after its employees with a decent salary, good holidays, pension scheme, etc.
Anyway, I joined a company in Scotland as a Business Development Manager (BDM aka Sales Rep) and in my third year won BDM of the year.
I then moved to a gas supply company as their Scottish BDM and within six months was their UK Product Manager for Life Science.
The reality is that I didn't realise the wealth of transferable experience that I had built up and that experience is valuable to people.
In ICI I was in a rut whereas moving on gave me the opportunity to meet new challenges and stretch myself. So yes, I was very wary about the move but looking back, if I hadn't done I wouldn't have achieved anything more or stretched myself.

 

[Britishshooting]

That's great to hear Robster, glad it all panned out for you. I think in my heart I know it's the right thing to do and I do prefer to be challenged, I hate just ambling along which I feel I have reached that stage now.

Just my mind in overdrive worrying about what if's etc. which could impact me in my current position just as easily as a new post in a different company.

 

[Britishshooting]

EDIT:

Ops please move to out of bounds, I posted in the wrong section.

 

[IanM]

Go, You will not regret it.

All your concerns are normal and logical. Getting out of a warm bath is tough. Ignore the "what if ?" voices in your head. If you are bored now, that will only get worse. Too some of the older folk, it will always be hard to shake off the "he's the apprentice" label!

I was in Nationwide for 20 years, did a wide range of jobs, loved most of it. Was offered redundancy when my dept closed. Managing cultural change was part of my job, but when it was me, I found it really scary. That passes!

In the 10 years since, I've largely freelanced and done stuff that I couldn't have imagined previously. I have more than doubled my earnings and worked overseas, It hasn't all been a bed of roses, but even the tough bits are better than being increasingly in a rut.

You already know the answer. Shout for specifics if you need it

 

[Nickrachel]

Do it, you wont regret it and I'm sure it will help you improve as a person even more it did for me. I moved from the motor industry to the railway industry. Dealing with overhead lines and although I didn't have any understanding of how it worked, I enjoyed the challenge of learning something new and I'm still learning and loving it. Has also improved my home life aswell. If your wife is supportive then go for it. Aslong as you have support that is key.
Although you feel loyal to the current company and I understand that but to them you are just a number and your probably not thought of anymore than the next person.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'd just be positive and enthusiastic about where you think you are good and can really add - but don't be afraid to be open and honest about where your lack of experience in the sector or in respect of leading a team might need you seeking some support. If they think lack of experience is a potential issue they'd rather not have to deal with, then you won't have the offer sitting in front of you. And you've been up front with them and that should help ameliorate your fears.

Life is full if What-Ifs...don't let it be full of If-Onlys

 

[Deleted member 1147]

EDIT:

Ops please move to out of bounds, I posted in the wrong section.

I thought you were really hoping we'd all suggest you try to turn pro, so the lounge was the right place for this thread afterall

 

[Imurg]

I did 20 years of warehousing, stock control, inventory planning, purchasing etc etc.....got fed up.
16 years ago I started training as a driving instructor and I wouldn't change a thing.
Some people like "comfortable"
If you've started to feel that "comfortable" is getting dull then it maybe time to move on and stretch yourself.

 

[IanM]

PS. If the wife says do it. You do it!

 

[jim8flog]

I found that job hopping was the only way to get significant improvements in my job and was something I did regularly. I never regretted it once. One company did ask me to come back because they realised how much I was worth to the company but I turned them down.

 

[hairball_89]

As above. Jump.

I did the same 2 years ago. Had only been in the previous job 5 years but was comfortable as sin, could easily have stayed for a long time. Moved to the venue I’m in now and couldn’t be happier. Best thing I’ve done professionally.

Definitely go for it.

 

[IanG]

Don't focus on the downsides of moving, think of all the downsides of staying.

- Continuing the the rut - imagine being in the same place 10 years older...
- passing up what might be a once in a lifetime 'best' opportunity (as described the new job sounds ideal for you)
- missing out on all the new friends you'll make. etc etc.

Change is 'scary' but leads to growth and stimulation.

Listen to your Mrs.


Good luck

 

[Deleted member 21258]

After qualifying I moved to a London accountants job, then got offered by someone I used to work with a move back to a local firm for a partnership opportunity, they were a great firm to work for and loved every minute of the year I worked for them.

Became a partner a yearish later and stayed a partner for 2-3 years(felt longer, realised I had made an error within about 6 months of becoming partner!), so sadly it didn't work out for me, for a number of reasons. Was a very bad time for that period to be completely honest...

Not every move works out how you hope or for the best. Sorry for the negative story, but but but

However the positive out of this, is that I bought myself out of the partnership in 99 and went working for myself. And never looked back. So without that change I would not have made the subsequent change and kind of be were I am today.

Therefore every cloud has a silver lining and you can make changes again at a later date, if the new job doesn't work out, you are not signing up for life to a new job.

Best of luck, in whatever you decide to do. Hope it works out for you.

 

[drdel]

The tone of your original post has the answer.

Do it otherwise you will regret it. Your loyalty was to the managers at the time.

 

[chrisd]

You've paid the current employer back by your .loyalty but it shouldn't bind you forever. I am now retired and grew up in an era where loyalty to an employer was paramount but now you have to move on to be considered ambitious

Do it!

 

[Norrin Radd]

Life is not a rehearsal you only get one go at it .you have been offered a very good job with lots of benefits so take it.
I know you speak of loyalty but what do you owe them .they probably owe you as you have given them as much if not more than they probably never dreamed of.
Take the job ,grab it with both hands and enjoy the ride.
Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[Coffey]

I find employer loyalty a strange one.

Yes you need to be loyal when you are there and a good employee etc but when the sh1t hits the fan and they need to reduce headcount there is no loyalty on their side.

Just go for it, if you dont like it then move somewhere else. Times are changing and people are moving. I am in my 3rd job in 5 years as I took a risk which didn't pay off.

I was sold some lemons in the interview process which never materialised. After 1.5 years I said sod it and moved. I was worried that employers would look down at such a short stint but it was easy enough to explain the situation and where I wanted to go next. Surprisingly enough, 2 weeks after I left they shut the doors in Belfast making 20 people redundant.

Now I am much much happier in my new place and can see myself here for a few more years.

 

[clubchamp98]

This happened to me but I went the other way and stayed put.
I regretted that decision .
Don’t get me wrong my firm were great to me .
But there were times I thought what if.

 

[Hobbit]

I did 14 years with BT, then took redundancy when the engineering side changed quite dramatically. Great move to the NHS, Medical Physics dept looking after medical equipment but working for a cash strapped, mgt heavy organisation with decisions taking weeks was frustrating. Moved to a manufacturer of medical equipment, doing field service. Loved it.

Then came the Service Manager's job, which I thoroughly enjoyed for 16 years. On the brink of retirement, 4 years back, I was offered the GM's position for the oil and gas division up in Aberdeen. It was intense. The business had been failing, basically tracking the falling oil price. Restructured, getting rid of dead wood. Kept the same number of staff in the first year, and just missed a tough target. Target was raised for the second year, and smashed it. Increased the staff numbers and the scope of work covered.

On the one hand, I wished I was 10 years younger and could have done a few more years there but, equally, having helped turn things around it needed someone with greater vision and experience of the industry. It was very hard work, chasing big numbers every month whilst juggling a cross functional organisation.

Sometimes you need the change to stretch you and make you realise just how good you could be. What you don't need is to be viewed as someone who's been there since forever and has a pair of slippers under their desk.

Go for it.