Okay I need everyone's opinion on this tough decission!!

[Jenny]

Now I posted before about my company possibly having a great opportunity for me to apply for (does not mean I would get it ;) ). Well...they reposted it and its there....ready for me to apply for. Now that its there I am chicken sh*t.

Currently I work three days a week, my Dad babysits for me and I pay $40/day for the three kids. He does NOT stimulate them, they fight most of the time etc. I work every single Saturday and work as a branch support/receptionist at the branch level of the credit union. (My husband works at another branch as a branch manager)

We need more income and my photography business isn't there yet to make more money. I still need a more steady income.

Now this opportunity is at head office working as an executive assistant for one VP and one CEO (this CEO is of a sub-company that they started within this company, if that makes sense). It pays starting wage of 40K/yr, Mon-Fri with holidays, etc. It would be a definate learning curve, because there are skills they require that I don't have, such as powerpoint, and speed writing for minute taking at meetings. There is A LOT of responsibilty involved, which would probably be brought home in the beginning while I learn the ropes. I am basically their 'gopher' but at least I get compensated well for it ;)


I spoke with my management in my branch and ofcourse they are dissapointed that I could be leaving the branch. They love me there. My manager and assist manager are going to meet with me tomorrow morning and discuss opportunities within the branch, which don't pay as well. One is a Jr. Lending position that gets all the junk. The pay is starting at 32K/yr, I would work rotating T-S and M-F. There would be room for advancement, but I don't know...its not the direction I want to go really. When I spoke to my manager today, she said she would bring me in at the higher payscale of this position, which I don't see as being more than 34K/yr. (it goes higher, but I don't see them giving it to me)

The bonus of being at this Jr. Lending position, I would still be at the branch 5min from my home, I would know what I was getting into because I know everyone and everything about that branch. I could go from there to an account manager that would have sales bonusses but not too big. Holidays are also included in this position.



ack..I am sooo torn. I may be chewing off more than I can chew with the assistant position, however, I can learn quickly ;) With the other positiion, I would be in my comfort zone.


OKay, I'll stop :blah now....

[Jenny]

OH and I have a daycare centre set up to take my girls and Tanner would be at home on his own (with my parents coming to get him too) The cost of this daycare is about 750/mo until G is in Grade one and then go to about 625/mo. They know a lot of kids there and would be involved with a lot of activities, etc. Its like an after school "school"

[Jejune]

Jenny, I know you have to make the decision you feel comfortable with, but from where I'm standing, I think you should go for the higher paying one. Mostly because, as you've said, you learn quickly, and it's an opportunity to move up. I think it's better to keep climbing usually than to stay in your comfort zone, and I know the extra money wouldn't be amiss. Go for it! The worst thing that happens is that you don't get it, right?

[Beka]

Having known you as long as I have like Kristen i feel the higher paying more challenging role would be a better one for you, yes you do enjoy familiarity but i also know you're extremely adaptable and thrive on a challenge- i really do think the higher post would make you advance and forge a potentially great career for when all the kids are older. The daycare sounds ideal as the girls would be with friends and have stimulation they just don't get with your dad (as much as he may try if he's like my dad he must be slowing down and doesn't have the variety daycare would do for them) Tanner will be in high school soon so i think it's perfectly acceptable for him to get home and be able to organise snack and homework so he's ready for family time when you get home.

I do think having a career than the higher paying one can offer you would also help you reclaim Jenny as a career person rather than being Jenny the mom with a job IYSWIM.

Ultimately you do have to do what you are most comfort with but i think you need to look outside of the present ages all the kids are into the next couple of years and their increasing independance.

[Jenny]

UPDATE: SOoooo


I talked to the boss who would hire me for the higher paying job and its not a right fit for me at this time in life. She felt really bad because she knows me through outside of work functions, but they are such busy executives that they don't have the time to train anyone at this time. They need someone who has been an executive assistant before and knows the ropes. I DON'T know the job role at all and it would be a bit of training to learn them.

After I talked to her, I felt "clear" and needed to focus on the position at the branch level. There are two routes and I have decided to apply for the jr. sales position. The other one is the assistant for all the sales managers in the branch. our branch has a lot of account managers retiring in the next two-five years, which give me an opportunity for big-portfolio memberships. This position (the manager one) includes sales incentives, etc. I am putting my resume in on Monday to see what happens next.

thanks for the input. I would have loved the exec assistant one, but it would be way above of what I know and too much for me at this time. She even mentioned attending board meetings that would last several hours to recored minutes and thats something I am NOT familiar with at all.