# Need job advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 5, 2000, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-job-advice/44133 "2000-12-05T14:25:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jkayla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5fc32e/32.png) [@Jkayla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jkayla)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-job-advice/44133/1 "2000-12-05T14:25:58Z")
I may have an opportunity for a new job…but… I am a contractor (I work for a company that works for a company). I can move to another department in the primary company,working for another division of my current company. My current job is perfect but I will never see another dime of money. My job is administrative and computer technical, as well as Mon-Fri and no holidays. I am in the managment mix. The new job is a wierd 12 hour schedule (days) and holidays. One week, you work 2 days 12 hrs then off 2days 12 hours then on 3 days 12 hours/next week you’re off 2 days 12 hrs then on 2days 12 hours then off 3 days 12 hours. My husband is M-F and no holidays.I am capable of the job and would grow in a different direction. It is high pressure. I plan on looking for a job the minute we sign a mortgage and we are shopping for a house now. This new opportunity kind of fell in my lap. It offers abut 6k more a year and can go permanent with the primary company in 1.5-2 yrs. So, my question: Do I take the job with the freaky hours that I am not too fond of (mildly understated) or do I stay put until I buy a house and then look around to see what is available? (BTW, since the new job would be with the same company, it won’t affect the house purchase.) I appreciate any thoughts offered. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-job-advice/44133/2 "2000-12-05T15:16:19Z")
Somebody famous once said “If you work at a job you enjoy, you add 5 days to every week.” In my experience (and I have a LOT of experience with this), you can only force yourself to do something you don’t enjoy for a short time, and you will end up hating it and quitting anyway. I actually sort of envy you, because you are currently in the situation that I am desperately looking for - a job that I don’t hate going to every day. ---
**Author:** ![Jkayla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5fc32e/32.png) [@Jkayla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jkayla)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-job-advice/44133/3 "2000-12-05T15:31:24Z")
I have been dealing with some office politics that are driving me a bit mad, but overall, the job itself is good for me. It is a part technical and part writer. My major two likes. That is not easy to find. I want to change Where and for Who(company) I work. The other division is better, so I hear. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2000, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-job-advice/44133/4 "2000-12-05T23:04:38Z")
Look at what you said. You love the job you have now. > [@](#): > > My current job is perfect…administrative and computer technical, as well as Mon-Fri and no holidays. > My husband is M-F and no holidays… > …overall, the job itself is good for me. It is a part technical and part writer. My major two likes. That is not easy to find. You love the work, it’s right up your alley, and you can see your husband on weekends. You could wish that it paid better, but hey, everybody’s underpaid nowadays. However, you tell us that things have not been going well at work… > [@](#): > > …I have been dealing with some office politics that are driving me a bit mad… …so you are thinking about changing jobs. > [@](#): > > …I want to change Where and for Who(company) I work. This other job is available, but it has some aspects that give you pause: > [@](#): > > The new job is a wierd 12 hour schedule (days) and holidays. You realize you would hardly ever see your husband. Also, it’s not an easy job: > [@](#): > > It is high pressure. You have some doubts about this. You rationalize: > [@](#): > > I am capable of the job and would grow in a different direction… …and you indulge in a bit of wishful thinking: > [@](#): > > …can go permanent with the primary company in 1.5-2 yrs. And you observe that the grass appears greener on the other side of the fence: > [@](#): > > The other division is better, so I hear. And you clinch it by rationalizing: > [@](#): > > It offers abut 6k more a year… And maybe you could buy a house. My opinion? No contest. Stick with the job you love and find some other way to buy a house. ---
**Author:** ![stifferd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@stifferd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stifferd)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2000, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-job-advice/44133/5 "2000-12-06T06:28:32Z")
I’ve worked the shift your talking about. We call it ‘Continental Shift’ (don’t ask me) It’s not too bad–every other week you’ve got a 3 day weekend, no? Every two weeks we would switch our shifts from days to midnights–if you don’t have to switch shifts (i.e. your on straight days) I would say it’s not a bad shift and you should try it. Switching shifts is hard.