to go after promotion or not?
 

Hypothetical situation:
A friend is very comfortable in his job, really likes it and is very good at it. He figured he'd retire at 55 and this is the last job he'd ever want.

Now with the stock market and financial system crumbling, retiring that early may not be an option.
He has an opportunity that until recently he wasn't interested in: a promotion to be the engineering department manager at a $1.6 billion production facility.

He has it made now and is happy. No stress, 35 hour weeks, decent pay (actually better than decent). He's very good at what he does and has a great rep in the industry, but it's a bit too easy and he's bored. He longs for younger years when he was more challenged.

The promotion brings more politics, more stress, more pressure (one level away from VP), longer hours, less security and a job he will be able to do well but will no longer be "one of the best" at what he does.
Oh, it also brings about $40k more a year plus huge bonuses and lots more stock options etc.

He keeps telling himself he has it made where he's at but he's hungry again for a challenge for the first time in years. His head keeps telling him to pass but he's losing sleep over it as if a carrot is dangling in front of his nose. He doesn't need the money at all but he wouldn't mind having it.

What say the peanut gallery?

I say go for the promotion. Otherwise he'll be on his deathbed wishing he'd got in more overtime, spent less time with love ones and left more money to his heirs.
-Chris

He should find a challenge in another aspect of his life. Could lead to bigger, better self rewards.

Promotion? Hell, NO!

The new job is a huge demotion by any standards. Your man needs a new passion. Maybe he could start swinging hammers for Habitat for Humanity. Lots of great ways to add challenge and passion to your life.

The economy is in the Crap*per, go with the safe, low stress job and hang on tight!

I always went for promotions to challenge myself and knew that once I retired, I'd earn more retirement pay for life. Without in incentive of more retirement pay, it was not worth the extra headaches and stress.......

If he wants challenges; get him around to do your valve clearances. Stay put is my vote and focus on friends and family.

"Peter Principal" ?

40k is not worth the added stress and other crap that goes along with it!

he should go into teaching :D

Based on my own personal experience, I gotta agree w/those that say "stay put". Sure, there might be a void to fill, but trying to meet it outside of work w/o "more politics, more stress, more pressure (one level away from VP), longer hours, less security" can be far more fulfilling and rewarding in the long run.

With the economy going South your, um, friend should aim for the job that is most valuable to the company. If the current position is directly related to bringing in revenue, then he should stay in it, particularly if he's happy. New managment members are often the first guys out the door..

However if the new position brings him closer to the revenue, and brings needed excitement, go for it! Keep in mind that you can't go back, so if the promo sucks, he's got to leave the company to get that job back.

Btdt
 

Hell no! Stay put.

Is this a trick question :)? A "no brainer" from my perspective...

that's what he keeps telling himself but he's been programmed from birth that to be successful means going after that brass ring.
Did I mention that he worked his way up from basically nothing so he has that chip on his shoulder? He probably needs to get over that and stop trying to prove something.

You "know" what to do Sammy, you have nothing to prove. Happiness isn't spelled with two $ signs :).

NO. Don't take the pro. Take the time and hang with the family and take vacations. Unless its a LOT of money. The politics will kill you. Challenges and all the talk is the the young guys. I love a good challenge and believe me I get lot of it on all my custom building jobs with crazy designers. When I turn 55, I think I will just take the easiest job with no thinking and stress so I can just make a few bucks and go home and... then there's the wife, my supereme comender.

Jeff

Best answer here!

What's with the 3rd person?:cool:

Stay put. The added money is more than made up for with dollar cost averaging into the market at this point.

Find a new passion with the extra time. Is there a family in the picture. I would be very happy to spend more time with my family. If not, there are other very rewarding oportunites waiting for him.

If the current job is secure stay put. As companies look for ways to save coin the higher payed people get picked off first. I was just layed off last week. it had nothing to do with me or my job performance, it was just the company needing to save money. I was one of the highest payed guys in the shop, so I was one of the first things trimmed. Stay put, it's getting scary out there.

2 ulcers, no sleep, 2 surgeries, pass..
but then he didn't have the Porsche or Pelican as his Oracle..

Rika