When Is It Time To Change
I am 42 years old, and currently working at a job that I like and have had for almost 7 years. The field I am in is radio/media. I have more than 20 years experience. The problem is that it doesn't pay very well. I would like to move on to a job that pays better, but I don't want to sacrifice time with my children (ages 4 and 8), in order to achieve some financial goals. Should I wait until my children are older, and then I can focus more on my job/career? Or should I make the change now, and take the necessary chances. I'm at a crossroad, and need some advice.
You are definitely at a crossroad.
The first thing that I notice is you seem to truly enjoy your work, which makes you very fortunate. According to a recent Gallup poll, you are one of only 20% of North Americans who like their jobs. Your main challenge is finding the balance between economics and family. Often, different sectors offer different economic rewards for the same skill set. For example, I have seen sales reps in the pharmaceutical industry make 20% more than a similar sales rep in the media sector. You could focus your efforts on finding a position in your sector that pays you more, either with a new company or by evolving your role within the sector. An increased pay level doesn't necessarily mean longer hours or less time with your family, but it may mean you will need to be willing to go in a new direction to accommodate your financial goals without sacrificing time with your family.
The more likely reality is that a better-paying position will in fact require more time and energy. If this is the case, during your job search you will need to continually weight the pros and cons. Perhaps the increase in pay is significant and the increase in hours or workload is minimal, or perhaps the opposite is true. This is a decision that only you can make when the times comes.
My suggestion would be to see what is out there. Give consideration to what would really make you happy in your career and begin to research what it would take for you to get there. Set some boundaries for yourself for how much you are willing to sacrifice and each time an opportunity arises, you can make a decision on whether or not it is worth pursuing. This way, as you move forward, you can continually keep your career needs, and your family's needs at the forefront of your mind.
You are definitely at a crossroad.
The first thing that I notice is you seem to truly enjoy your work, which makes you very fortunate. According to a recent Gallup poll, you are one of only 20% of North Americans who like their jobs. Your main challenge is finding the balance between economics and family. Often, different sectors offer different economic rewards for the same skill set. For example, I have seen sales reps in the pharmaceutical industry make 20% more than a similar sales rep in the media sector. You could focus your efforts on finding a position in your sector that pays you more, either with a new company or by evolving your role within the sector. An increased pay level doesn't necessarily mean longer hours or less time with your family, but it may mean you will need to be willing to go in a new direction to accommodate your financial goals without sacrificing time with your family.
The more likely reality is that a better-paying position will in fact require more time and energy. If this is the case, during your job search you will need to continually weight the pros and cons. Perhaps the increase in pay is significant and the increase in hours or workload is minimal, or perhaps the opposite is true. This is a decision that only you can make when the times comes.
My suggestion would be to see what is out there. Give consideration to what would really make you happy in your career and begin to research what it would take for you to get there. Set some boundaries for yourself for how much you are willing to sacrifice and each time an opportunity arises, you can make a decision on whether or not it is worth pursuing. This way, as you move forward, you can continually keep your career needs, and your family's needs at the forefront of your mind.
posted by Alan Kearns at 1:39 PM
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