I need some career advice, lend me an ear.

[WHiiP]

You don't seem to know enough about the "other"opportunity to make an informed decision now. Talk to your former associate and see what he has to say. Do your due diligence on the company and find out if you know any other employees there. Talk to them about the things you are looking for including job security and the cultural environment there. Once you have all the information you need, drag out a pencil and paper (or create an Excel spreadsheet) and list your Pros and Cons.

I would not use the other opportunity as "hammer" but I would find a way to mention it professionally to the right person when you are discussing your future with your current company. Let them know that you are more interested in staying, but need some career path opportunities to consider. Ask for their assistance and you will usually get it. However, take the verbal promises with a grain of salt.

Once armed with your information, contemplate and decide. You are correct in not wanting to burn bridges . . . either bridge in this case. You may decide later to join that new company.

[cbelt3]

How old and tied down are you ?
What are your career goals, or do you just want to have a 'job' ?

That said, those who never take a risk never profit.

[spearmint]

Job security is a blessing nowadays. Here in the Silicon Valley I quit counting when the layoffs went over 100,000 in a relatively short time. Lots of heartaches out there. Lots of good people wondering what hit them.

[mikebw]

Believe me, I am glad to have a job. I have some friends that don't and it isn't pretty.

I'm 25, I have moderate career goals, but at the moment I just need a tolerable job that pays well enough to support me and my wife (and the house we just bought) until she finishes grad school. So I need job security for the next couple of years and good pay. An increase in earnings would be attractive right now.

I will definitely find out more about the other job first, then talk to people at my work- see what kind of opportunities are coming up. I feel like they are already doing me a favor with this whole paid training thing, it's really quite a good opportunity so I don't want to make it seem like I am unappreciative by going out and looking for another job. I mean I never said that if they did that I would stay, but it seems like it might come across like a slap in the face.

The reason I am even interested at all is because I am not totally happy with the work I am doing on a day to day basis right now. I could see myself moving up within my own company relatively soon, but this is a pretty big company and change happens s l o w l y.

[mjgkramer]

I worked for 36 years for a "small" oil company (Shell) and retired in late 1998 at the age of 59. They had a good benefit plan and I had interesting assignments through the years (25 of them in computer automation of oil and gas fields) culminating in 7 years overseas in Oman and the Netherlands. I ended up with a generous pension which is now supplemented by Social Security, health and prescription insurance, and a substantial IRA that earns more than my pension and Social Security combined. We likely would not have been so fortunate if I had "job hopped".

[incognegro]

I have read that if you want a raise of more than 5%, you need to find a new job.

Of course, there are exceptions, especially if you are an officer with a large firm - then the bonuses and raises flow in like the tide, even when the company is firing the ones who do the most work.

[mattkime]

>>We likely would not have been so fortunate if I had "job hopped".

Ah yes, advice from the previous generation. Careers like yours are extremely rare nowadays. Corporate america feels little need to provide career advancement, therefore you have to switch companies to move up.

Consider the new job carefully. You seem to know what you need. Don't be afraid to say what you need. Don't offhandedly pass up a good opportunity because you're satisfied with where you are.

[deckeda]

[quote mikebw] ... getting paid extra to train in another area department which is where I really want to be. What I do now is more editorial work, but what I want to do is more creative/design work.

... The new job would be more creative/design related than my present job, but also more technical at the same time. I don't know if I would be able to get back on track to where I am headed right now.
It sounds as if the new job already starts out more in the creative/design are, so how is that not on track since that's the direction you're headed presently?

FYI the new job, if offered, WILL be for more money. Ain't no way they can take you away from what you're doing now without an increase. It's expected from both parties. After the offer, THEN you can think about the rest. Just tell them you need a few days to mull it over.

#1 is to keep your career/salary foremost --- NOT the company, and how much you like them, and how much they like you etc. Our place is in the middle of a reorg. Early retirement for some, mandatory interviewing for others that have been here for years. Think sticking with the same co. for years and years means anything today?

[mikebw]

Good points deckeda. I know for a fact that my company is trying to break up our union, and they have presented many older employees with special early retirement deals to avoid having to pay them their pensions.

I think that the typical salary for the new position is slightly higher than mine, but I work a certain fixed amount of overtime and get various bonuses that actually result in about a 50% increase over my base salary, so I am actually making much more than someone in my position should. If I could carry over that pay and reduce the overtime that could be a worthwhile move.

I have read a few not-so great things about working for this other company, and when I compare that to my current situation it doesn't encourage me to apply. But I need the facts first, still waiting for this guy's contact info.

Thanks for the tips.

[Mike V]

I'd find out all the details of the other job.

It never hurts your current situation to appear in demand by your competitors.

If the other job is offering more money, maybe you could ask foir a raise at your current job?