I have not written about this because I have kept it pretty much very closely held. Still, not many people read my blog ... so I should not worry, but still you know how rumors are.
I officially declined an offer for employment from a different organization today. I was not/am not seeking a new job. Many get sick of hearing how much I love my boss, how good my benefits are, etc. However, an opportunity presented itself and I was curious.
Having not interviewed or even sent a resume or EVEN updated my resume in over 6 years, I felt it was worth some exploration. So I inquired about the position. Received the description and decided, Nah. So, they followed up with me, having heard from a mutual colleague how great I am :) asking me to please consider applying. So, I updated the old resume and sent it off. It is a more pure marketing position and I really didn't think I'd meet their requirements. Well, they call. Interview? Yes. 2nd interview with executive director? Yes. AHHHHHHH..... So I am in self-inflicted torture. I feel guilty for looking as if I am cheating on my boss, guilty for leading them on because I know it would take a LOT for me to leave my current position.
But really is it so bad to check out alternatives. Then comes the kicker. THEY OFFER ME THE JOB. AHHHHHHHH. A significant chunk of change more than I am making and better pension benefits. When all is said and done, we are talking over 20k+ a year difference. Sure part of that is in pension and I won't see it for years and years but still. And I expected benefits to be my deciding factor. They are not making this easy!
So why did I say no?
1 - I love, truly love, my boss.
2 - I trust him to have my back 100% of the time. (Those of you who know me know this is a huge factor)
3 - I'd lose 12-16 days of leave depending on how you figure it. The leave is a big deal w/ baby on the way. I rarely, if ever, take sick days for me. . . its always for maternity leave or for days when the girl is sick.
4 - Commute. I just don't want to go from 35 minutes each way to 1 hour + each way via train or car. VRE card is $160/month. Parking is $130/month. No thanks.
5 - 2 days of telecommuting! I don't know if I'll ever be able to give that up!
6 - THE KICKER...my pregnancy. I know they can't discriminate and blah blah blah but in my heart I don't feel its right to walk into a position which will require a huge commitment from me knowing 8 months in I'll be taking a 6-8 week hiatus.
Ultimately my relationship with my boss and general stability and happiness in the near term is more important to me than the big bucks. Long story short ... it came down to purely $$ vs. overall lifestyle & happiness. And honestly I can't even say how much money it would take for me to give up what I have here. SO, all in all, it was a good test! If I were really under compensated or unhappy things would be very different. I mean its is not an offer to just dismiss out of hand. I did impress myself though - 1 resume, 2 interviews, & an offer. I mean that says everything I need to know. Sure it could have been a total fluke, but I don't think so.
2 comments:
That does show how happy you are, and it's good to be in that position. At least you know you do have options if you ever do want to leave, but I totally get why you don't want to right now.
I'd leave for $10k and a shorter commute, but I'm feeling rather lazy right now and don't want to get to know new people. not right now.
Yeah sometimes the evil you know is safer than the evil you don't! We are getting a new ED in the next year & I am holding out hope that they'll select someone competent! Fingers crossed!
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