Possible job change?

Firemanswife11 · August 2014

This is sort of not baby-related, but it is. My husband has applied for a possible life-changing job in a new town. The fact that it's 30 minutes away is not that big of a deal, because we're used to long-ish commutes. I need some help in assessing the pros and cons. My mother is totally against it, but I could be swayed either way, I think. And my mom doesn't have a say, really, but she is much wiser than I am. ;-)

My concerns are:

A) Changing jobs in the middle/possibly END of my last trimester.

Losing out on SIX WEEKS of paid time off at his current job (I don't even get that much)! <<< this is the biggest con, by far!

C) Losing his insurance - which we were going to put the baby on, and then having a lapse in coverage for a couple of months. My insurance is $176 extra per month.

D) He would be learning a new job at the WORST POSSIBLE TIME, EVER!

E) We'd have to find day care for at least 3 days a week, but if he stays where he's at now, we won't need daycare. Daycare around here will be about $800+ a month, roughly the cost of having an apartment on top of our already-high mortgage payment, two car payments, etc.

The pros:

A) The new job would allow him to make about $15k more than he currently makes and possibly allow him to quit his second job, or allow him to only work 2 or so days there a month.

He'd be working 8-5 ..... instead of 48 hours on/96 off, plus working his second job three of his four days off. (I never see him at his current job(s).)

C) He'd have weekends off and some Fridays.

D) The guy in charge of hiring is a family friend and he knows we're about to have a baby. He also has two kids of his own.

E) He would be home EVERY night.

F) His current job has no room for growth, and this one has a ton of room for growth. Tons. The guy who is hiring started out in this position and will be the fire marshal in a couple of years. The pay goes up exponentially with each certification DH would earn.

G) He wouldn't be fighting fire anymore and wouldn't be working accidents on the freeway, but still working with the fire department.

The job has NOT been offered to him yet, but he's on a "very short list" of candidates and they are looking to hire someone young who can grow in the department. We're going to dinner with the guy in charge of hiring tomorrow night. I really don't want to seem terrified at the meeting. Any input you can provide would be most helpful!

Jennifer18131 · August 2014

IMO, your list of pros is longer and more impressive than the cons. Although the cons involve financial issues, the pros involve QT as a family - and help for YOU by having H home.

AmandaJean12 · August 2014

Don't rule out the paid time off. If the job is offered, he can negotiate for some/all of it. I do negotiations like this a lot and that's a super common perk to ask for when being hired.

golfingdarwinfish · August 2014

Jennifer18131 said:

IMO, your list of pros is longer and more impressive than the cons. Although the cons involve financial issues, the pros involve QT as a family - and help for YOU by having H home.

Agree, and I would add...

C) Losing his insurance - which we were going to put the baby on, and then having a lapse in coverage for a couple of months. My insurance is $176 extra per month.

You shouldn't have to experience a lapse in coverage; if there is one from your employers you can explore ACA plans because you would be covered as a job change is considered a life changing event. For this reason you should also be able to enroll in your employer's plan immediately.

Losing out on SIX WEEKS of paid time off at his current job (I don't even get that much)! <<< this is the biggest con, by far!

Every time I left an employer I was paid PTO that I was due; unless you're referring to paternity leave? This may be a large con, but it's something that is frustrating in the short term vs. long term, and many of the cons you have outlined are all long term issues that are best mitigated earlier vs. later.

D) He would be learning a new job at the WORST POSSIBLE TIME, EVER!

I'm not convinced this is the worst possible time ever, especially since his new employer sounds like the would be relatively understanding of the major life changes occurring in your family.

E) We'd have to find day care for at least 3 days a week, but if he stays where he's at now, we won't need daycare. Daycare around here will be about $800+ a month, roughly the cost of having an apartment on top of our already-high mortgage payment, two car payments, etc.

This and the increased healthcare costs may be offset by the increase in salary. Even if it becomes a net gain of 0, since this position has the opportunity for greater future earnings potential, the gain to you is still a positive.

saraheh007 · August 2014

It seems most of your cons are short term and pros are long term. It may be rough for a couple of months, but it looks like the new job would be best in the long run.

Good luck! I hope he gets the job offer so that you have options!

MrsSinner402 · August 2014

Pros > Cons.

MsMacual · August 2014

I agree that your list of pros outwighs the cons. For us, it always is about career growth and opportunity coupled with schedule. It sounds like the new opportunity would give him those things, which are missing in his current job. At the end of the day, he could go for it and then make a decision if/when he's offered.

I'm embroiled in a job search of my own right now (horrible timing- I know!) and there are so many unknowns in the process so I've learned that until the offer is made, I can't really do much more than focus on getting the offer. I figure that everything will fall into place for the right position and organization.