New job offer, tough decision... 5

[JigaWatt]

I'm a young Electrical Engineer, currently working working for a small MEP consulting company. I have little more than a year of experience since graduation, though I had 16 months of internships when I was in school. I never saw myself doing MEP work when I was in school, I always figured I would do some type of product development, circuit design, etc., or maybe something with aerospace. The company I am working for is an excellent company, their ethics are top notch and generally people are pretty happy being at this small company. My boss is genuinly friendly, very honest in all of his dealings, and truly concerned about employees. I don't mind going to work, and I don't mind staying a couple of hours late a couple of days a week, or even more when necessary because the environment is enjoyable. Pay is fair to good, I have already recieved a significant raise in less than a year. Basically, I don't mind my job, and enjoy it more days than not. I am out of the office visiting sites somewhat often, which helps keep boredom to a minimum. The problem is, I never saw myself doing this type of work, it is really not at all what I studied in school. My biggest fear is that I am slowly losing all the information I learned in school, and in a few years it will be gone to the point that it is useless, meaning I will be doing MEP/power distribution work my entire life.

My dilema is that I was recently offered another job, in a field that I think would challenge me more, doing analog & digital circuit design & reverse engineering. This is more what I saw myself doing when I was in school. The company is again a small company, the pay is 20% more than what I am making AFTER my recent raise, and the cost of living in the area of the new company is extremely low, benefits are slightly better. So far my impression of the company is positive, they have been around for ten years and aparently are turning down work. It seems to be a pretty profitable industry (Military). It would likely be pretty challenging work, as I do not have significant experience in circuit design. I expressed my concerns over this to the two engineer owners, and they said it would definately be challenging, but I would be able to train somewhat under someone else. I have to admit that the challenging work both excites and scares me. My grades were not steallar in school, though I do feel like I can figure nearly anything out in reasonable time.

So, you can see my dilemma. Do I leave a good, stable company doing work I'm not sure I want to do forever for a job making significantly better money, maybe better work, but under unknown working conditions?

Thanks for any input, and for reading my long post! It is greatly appreciated.

 

[brupp]

By now I'm guessing that JigaWatt has made his decision and acted on it. But here's another piece of advice which might be more of a cliche. My dad used to tell me that a good way to make a decision after weighing all of the factors and still being undecided was to flip a coin. When you catch the coin, don't look at it. Think of how you hoped it would turn out. You've already made your decision in your mind.

 

[EngineerDave]

Honestly, I am at the point in my career where I base more of my decisions on geography. I had a job that was absolutely great, except the town that it was in offered very little in the way of excitement for a young single guy.

Even now while I've been dating a girl for two years, I'm not exactly settled down.

Is it in a town I'd be happy in?

I may have a decision like this coming up soon where I could make significantly more. But I worry about leaving my parents who are getting older behind.

I hope I find something similar closer to home. Time will tell.

What is really most important to you? I know professional accomplishments are very important. But to me anymore my life outside of work is so much more important.

 

[bubb375]

EngineerDave-

What a good point. If you can't spend your money in the place that you live, its time to get a job closer to someplace that interests you. In my case, I want to move someplace warmer where I can enjoy my time off rather than sit through snowstorms for 6 months out of the year. Although I find my job challenging and rewarding, I can't enjoy myself when there is snow on the ground and its 30 degrees outside!

Brian

 

[IRstuff]

Because you're inside and not skiing ?

I do know quite a few people who, like me, ditched transfers because of family ties.

TTFN