My old boss was recently made redundant (from my previous employer whom I left a year ago), then immediately found a job with another rival firm heading up a team doing much the same thing for far more money with paid milage and a promise of an extra £5k when he gets chartered...

...and he's just offered me a job.

I need to call him back to get the full details but I expect a big hike in pay BUT also a big hike in commute distance. The job's an hour away and my current one is just a 7 or 8 minute bike ride.

Bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger.

This is going to be a ****ing huge decision in light of our recent arrival.

That's a tough decision, especially since you just had a baby. On one hand I'm sure the extra money would be helpful but on the other hand I'm sure you'd like to be there more for your child. Good luck w/ that one!

In your situation, my first thought is how good the change in job will be for your career? If it only offers an increase in pay, I'd probably choose to be more present to help mom with the child. On the other hand, if this promises new opportunities and advancement in your career, at the cost of only 2 hours a day, I'd say that while the haul is going to be tougher, you'll still need your career for decades to come, and advancement is important. 2 hours isn't that huge in the great scheme of things and everyone will likely benefit in the long run.

By that I don't mean "be a workaholic". Family is definately important, and you are right that this is a really tough decision.

We all know you'll make the right decision, though. And you'll rock the house either which way.

I'm guessing you own your home and like where you live. Moving closer to new job isnt an option?

I'm not sure where you live. I'm used to an hour away meaning 60+ miles. If that's not the case where you live, maybe theres public transit you can use, a bus or train. It'd save some money you're worried about losing on the commute.

Ultimately you only have to consider two things. Is the pay hike enough to pay for the time spent driving, as well as the expenses of driving, and still earn you extra money? Also, is the loss of two hours a day going to effect your home life? You'll be going to bed earlier, leaving sooner, and getting home later.

Aside from that, sounds great.

I have some insight because I live a more extreme example. I work 2hrs away in Seattle. That's 2 hours, each way. 1 hour of which is on a ferry, so it's not too bad (I have wifi and such). It's too long to stay away from my family. I would likely take a 20% pay cut to work closer to where I live. If I had your choice, the job would have to pay a LOT more. I've taken jobs before for more money and been less happy -- which place would you rather work if they paid the same amount?

My situation is a little better now because I can work from home twice a week most weeks.

IMO an hour commute isn't even worth a 50% raise, and Brian's right; enjoying your job counts for a _lot_. You don't know the exact conditions of this new job. If you like your current one I'd keep it.

I've agreed to go and have a face to face one week today. And yes it'd have to be a very big pay hike to get me to go, and also I'd insist on some very robust job security terms (construction is very much suffering in the recession here still).

I used to commute a very similar amount time to get to the job I shared with Burnsy (the chap in question) so it's not unfamiliar territory there. The other bonus is i can hook up the hands free and chat to Izzy on the way home (and probably way there) as she's now not working.

The other thing to consider is that we've gone from two incomes down to 1.8 (maternity pay), which will soon dwindle to just my income AND we've got a baby to support. If the money is good it'll be hard to turn down.

YIPES.

Mr Burnsy...

It might become a matter of short term versus long term.

In the short term, obviously you want to be there as much as possible. But like a previous poster said, if this offers you a better career path, you'll be able to help out a lot more by providing a stable financial base.

It will offer a better career path, undoubtedly. It takes the best parts of my old job and sheds most of the worst bits.

It'll realistically boil down to the £ signs the more I think about it. If I get a company car, fuel card and decent pay rise such that my after-tax pay is significantly raised it'll be a tough one to turn down. As well, Burnsy is simply the best boss I've ever worked for. He's a friend, but he knows how to separate business from chumminess. He's savvy, and won't screw people over.

Haha, an hour commute isn't even that bad. Try living in California.

An hour commute isn't so bad. Plus, you don't have to deal with hobos on the subway!

I don't think Martyn rides his bike through the subway.

Negotiate. See if you can work four 10-hour days, or if you can work 1 day a week from home. Offer a compromise on your salary in exchange (if they seem hesitant).

Once you have something locked in, go to your current boss and see if they can give you a better deal to keep you. Be careful, though. Make sure to tell them that you weren't looking. Don't tell them where the offer came from (it's none of their business).

Keep in mind that you already have a relationship with your old boss. If it's better than the one you have with your current boss, it may be advantageous to switch. Your old boss will likely protect you from the little mistakes, which your current boss may use as an excuse to fire you and hire in someone from the company he used to work for.

This is how the game is played, my friend. Business is business. This is why it's better to find better jobs when you have a job. You're in a win-win situation if you can secure an offer from one of the companies.

I'll "ride my bike" through your "subway", SMARTAZZT

Conventional wisdom is that this is a terrible idea. Once your new company knows you are not serious about staying there, they will start looking for a replacement. If anything, ask for a raise but do not mention you have another offer, that's an invitation for disaster.

Yeah, we had someone who had the nerve to pull this move at the end of his first week working for us... Needless to say, he only lasted that first week.

What the hell was he thinking?

I can see this sort of strategy if you've been a loyal member of the company for several years and have always had good rendition. If you have so much as a negative mark in your dossier, or aren't particularly liked, you can pretty much kiss your job good bye.

Another big thing of course is job security and career path.
I'd have a look at the stability of both those companies.

Both companies have been hiring recently, which is against the regular flow of human traffic these days. Job security where I am is excellent, but promotion prospects are slim (but a steady wage increase slightly above inflation is the norm every year). It's a small firm run by OLD GUYS who aren't quite old enough to be shuffling off the mortal coil which is what I expect will be required for me to step into their shoes...

If I get a good enough offer, I don't think I'd go back to my current employer looking for more money to stay - I've only been there a year and it will come off pretty poorly I think. The thing is i want to take the new job - I know the work and it's work I prefer doing to the things I currently do - it's whether it's the right thing to do considering the new circumstances...

I can't believe the timing of his offer

Find out if the offer will still be there in a month or so, once you know that the situation at home is manageable, you'll be in a better position to make a decision. However, an hour commute isn't that bad.

That's why I said to wait until you already have something locked in with the new company. If you want to stay in your current job, then yeah, just ask for a raise. Otherwise, let them know that other companies are interested in you. It's assumed that Martyn is a model employee with a good performance history. Otherwise, why would his old boss want to hire him away from the company he's already with. I'd say Martyn has plenty of leverage right now, which is not something that comes along very often in ones career. As long as he's professional about it and makes sure he already has something locked in with the other company, he's in a win-win situation with nothing to lose.

Alternately, you can simply give your two week notice and see if your current employer offers you anything to stay.

Conventional wisdom is to play it safe. However, you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Take the risks when you're still young.

I'm sure this probably depends a lot on where you live and what your fuel costs are.

This kind of choice is one of the many reasons I have no interest in ever having children. I want to have the freedom to do what's best for me individually at all times.

I think it's beyond obvious that Martyn's a much less selfish person than I am. Given that, I think Jep's advice covers things really well. Advancement is important, a pay raise in a dead-end position is less so.

Freelancer's advice on the other hand... wow. Two hours a day sitting in your car singing at the top of your lungs to the music of your choice isn't worth half again as much as you currently make? I know you don't have a family to support, so I've got to conclude you're out of your mind.

Maybe free just lives somewhere where the roads are full of idiots and the scenery i...
Oh it's ****ing Finland, home to natural beauty and nice people.

freelancer doesnt live in finland

Goddamnit that was fastgamerr.
I'm terribly sorry.

Alco, my view on risk taking has changed considerably since 10:38 on monday :p

Thanks for helping me sound the problem out chaps; that's always useful. As for the hour commute: it's not a question of expense and method (I'm sort of assuming new company car and fuel paid or at least heavily subsidised) it's a question of giving up 2 hours a day that I could currently spend with Freddie.

As it stands I leave home at 8am and get back at about 5:30

New job will work out such that I leave at 7:30 and get back no earlier than 6:00

Now I think about it, I'll need to find out what the overtime situation is. Currently I can take overtime as cash or time and my old (similar) job didn't pay any. That'll be a big pat of the decision too...

I wouldn't do a 2 hour commute, not for a measly 50% extra salary. After deductions that wouldn't be a significant improvement on what I take home. It's simply not worth it for having to get up an hour and a half earlier.

It also depends on the "value" of your time. Because I've got a newborn my time is VERY expensive, putting real money to one side.

I got four straight hours sleep between 4 and 8 this morning and I feel giddy!

Well well well.

Looks like I'll be doing that commute after all!

£30,000 + company car + fuel card.

Congrats (again!)

My dad commuted maybe 35 or 40 minutes each way when my sister and I were growing up, and we didn't turn out too bad.

Whatever, virgin

I assure you you're not normal.

Congratulations on that too, fellow. Life's really turning up lately huh? Glad everything is going so well

Congrats. Obviously the money had to be a seller (mouths to feed and all!), but I'm chuffed for you that it sounds like you'll be much happier in the new job. The people we have to work with have such a huge bearing on whether working is actually fun, no matter what the job itself entails.

An hour commute isn't bad if it's really an hour's drive. An hour commute when it takes normally 30 mins, sucks balls. Which is what us Californians deal with on a regular basis.