I'm totally torn on this one, guys. I got a job offer doing customer support for a local software company. Here's how my situation looks with some pros and cons:

Current job
Campus police department: security officer and relief dispatcher
.:Been here since 2006, have connections and friends
.:Have $2000+ in a 403b but am not yet vested
.:Good benefits
.:Full time, guaranteed 40 hours a week
.:Serious job security. Can't get fired if you try. (one guy didn't show up for a month, no call no show, and still received a letter asking him to return in a week or resign)
.:High stress at times, low stress at other times
.:No room for promotion or raises unless I wanna be a cop (I don't)

Job opportunity
Growing software company: customer support
.:They offer a niche software product with pretty much NO competition
.:Homegrown company, small, close knit
.:Comparable benefits
.:They hire as needed so they don't have extra people to just lay off. Everyone has a function
.:Possible raises depending on situations
.:Bonuses
.:Unknown hours other than a mention of "8-4"

Current salary: $19,798 before taxes (now you know why I can never afford to do **** to my car. After taxes, rent, utilities, etc. I don't make much at all.)

Possible salary: ~$24,000 (represents ~20% increase before taxes)

Pros:
.:More money
.ifferent work atmosphere (******* chill, actually)
.:Room to learn new skills and improve myself, make myself more marketable to others
.:No uniforms! Jeans and a t-shirt
.:I can grow a damn beard and become the well fed hobo I used to be
.:Growth potential within the company as the company continues to grow

Cons:
.:It's a 30 minute commute to get there, then another 30 back. This = more gas use, more miles on the car, more chances of getting in a wreck due to truly awful redneck drivers.
.:I would lose that $2000+ in my 403b because I am not vested
.:Benefits are close, but not the same as the benefits from a state job (my campus is a state entity)
.:I get bumped into the next tax bracket so I lose more cash per check
.:Probably won't get the opportunity to see many of my coworkers again. This includes a cute blonde that does Irish dance, has a great body, and is buckets of fun to just talk to.

Side note:
They need an answer in the next couple of days. Coincidentally, NOT BY DESIGN, I have 3 more days in my work week, then 16 days of scheduled vacation. (10 days/2 weeks vacation plus 3 weekends). Would it be really sh!tty of me to give them 2 weeks notice then never come back?

This is all I have so far but I'm sure that more will come to me as I sit here and ponder.

 

Oh wow, 3000 posts

 

You'd be stupid not to do it.

 

I'm with gene. The money alone is worth it... yeah, you start at ~$24k, but there's room to grow.

And get that blonde's number and chill on the weekends, problem solved.

 

Yeah man i say go for it,
I mean, in your current job you mentioned that there is no promotions? no moving up from where you stand? no raises?!
that IMO is not a very good job..
Just make sure that the job being offered is not gonna end within a year or something...
but you mentioned there is no competition. so i suppose it will hold.

i would go for it.

 

I would take the new job. It seems as if you could always go back to the other place in the future if needed.

 

I agree with everyone above--although "startup company" always gives me the shivers. Worked for a couple in my time, both flopped (but this was in the bad old 90's when everything was flopping). Stagnating in a job with no future sounds like crap. Go for it dude.

 

i lol'd at the 30 min drive... i have to drive 45 mins just to get to a damn walmart or anything. for work i would have to drive 1 1/2 just to get to the city.


Make sure if you do leave and go for the other job to leave on good terms so just incase things dont work out you have something to fall back on.

 

id say do it up, i see many co-workers where i work doing it out of convinence.

i would dislike the commute though. i live about 2 kms from where i work because i loath commuting.

 

I went ahead and put in notice today. Gonna turn in all my gear tomorrow. Then 2 weeks vacation!