Deciding between job opportunities

QTee · January 2015

I've been at my job working at a research center associated with a university for 6 years. I have great coworkers, interesting projects, but have little or no management. Our director has too many people reporting to him, and while he is a brilliant person, is not skilled in management. He also has a bunch of obligations other than managing the staff. The result is we are inefficient, lack direction, and work is of mixed quality. The stress level right now is extremely high. We are also entirely funded by grants so always are trying to juggle too much/too little workload. My boss wants to promote me to manage this mess. Pay raise 10-15%. I'm not sure how well that works for me at the moment because of my obligations at home (two kids). One is school age. I have no management training but I believe I have the skills/personality needed. I am wondering if the workload could be split between two managers possibly so I could still do some projects and not just manage. However my boss is not going to change and I find my relationship with him exhausting. Enter option #2. I applied for another job at the same university and learned I am the top candidate. It's the same pay as current job. I would have a very clear and concise mission. The work is technical. No management. It's more of an applied job, not research, that would have better future connections to jobs outside the university. The coworkers appear solid, there is a better organizational structure. Might take years to get promoted though just because I would need to wait for those jobs to open up. I wonder if I might get a bit bored with the work. But would relish the reduction in stress. I told my current boss I was considering the new job and he just about hit the ground. He leans on my pretty hard and was shocked. He said he is willing to do anything he can to keep me - but is that really good for me? Any insight to help me make this decision appreciated.

AppleJacks81 · February 2015

I recently faced a similar decision. I have felt really burnt out for months now and finally decided to make a change. My choices were to cut my hours and have to work in various areas as a "fill in" or apply for a completely different job. One that would be higher stress in the beginning but eventually would be fine according to other people working there already. Both jobs would be a significant change and I will need to retool my skills. After a lot of soul searching I recently told my manager I want to go the part time route. Both choices have pros and cons - mainly financial vs more time to get our lives a little more under control. I also worry about cutting back for my career , but in the end, I'm making the best decision I can based on my needs right now. That may not help you much, but I think sometimes it's okay to take a little easier route to happiness

minirella · February 2015

Hi. I am a project manager at a research institute that is affiliated with a large university. We are funded on grants. We are usually extremely overworked or have nothing to do. I'm going on my 8th year. I'm also a nurse. When I was hired, my boss had only one senile subordinate so I was tossed into the pm position and grant writing early. We now are a group of 6 plus student workers with me being the only other person in the group that manages and funds salaries. As of yesterday, I went to wages because I needed a flexible schedule (I work in a hospital too). She allowed it because I've proved to be an asset. Your department sounds like a mess. Who writes the grants and has primary contact with grantors? Will your promotion require you to obtain a certain amount of funding? Do you have the contacts to be an effective manager? Those are some things to ask yourself. If you don't know what you are doing, you can get yourself in a world of hurt if you don't communicate with grantors or know how to manage them. I know where I work, you have to work independently and know how to figure things out by yourself. I'm known for getting things done. I know my limits, can manage budgets and I know what I can and can't do. That is key sometimes to meeting task objectives. If you feel that you can't do that effectively or don't know how or don't have a supportive manager, my advice is to go elsewhere.

BabyHope2013 · February 2015

I think you got some good advice already. After reading your post initially I felt like you already are leaning towards taking the new job. The only way I would stay would be if they could offer you a significant more amount of money---but keep I. Mind money isn't everything. It's important to by happy too. If the new job will give you more to further yourself long term---I would be more interested in that than the short term knowing it comes with so much stress. At least if you take the new job you will have the chance to move up over time and probably have better mentorship while doing it.

djm31012 · February 2015

I think work/life balance is the most important factor to consider. Go where you will be happiest. Money only gets you so far...unhappiness brings along issues that no amount of money can solve.

bachchic · February 2015

Is there any way of finding out what its really like to work at the potential new job? You might try to some company review sites. I have been telling every woman I know about https://fairygodboss.com because though its new, the site tries to help working women and often there are comments about what its like to balance work with children.

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