Should I apply for this new job?

In My Humble Opinion
1

About a year ago, I transferred from one division of my VLC (Very Large Company) to another. I was unhappy at the other job, but challenged. At the time I came to work for the 2nd division, I was promised more money. It was a lateral move, but division 2 is known to pay significantly better than division 1. When I made the move, the money disappeared. I was told that since it was a lateral move, VLC’s corporate HR said I couldn’t get a raise.I sucked it up because I wouldn’t have to deal with the stressors at division 1. The job in the last year for division 2 has proven to have a much more congenial management situation, but I’m bored silly. I do maybe 10-15 hours of real work per week. That doesn’t make me happy and makes my day drag. I’ve told my boss I could do more, but he’s thrilled with what I’m already doing. There’s some interpersonal stuff going on with two feuding co-workers that I’m on the periphery of, but not involved in.

Today I was approached by someone in a different department within my current division. Their senior management wants me to move over to their area. Different title, and promising a decent raise (“Tell me what you want within reason”), probably at least 10%. The work doesn’t sound much more challenging than what I’m currently doing. I don’t really know the management, but the woman who approached me has worked with me both in both divisions of this company and at a previous company. She says the boss is good. There doesn’t seem to be much of a chance for movement in my current job, and my raises will be steady but unspectacular. I’m not unhappy where I am, but boredom makes me antsy.

So for pros:
[ul]
[li]Pay Raise (will require offer in writing before agreement)[/li][li]Potential for an interesting job[/li][li]Out of feuding co-workers (but they lurker everywhere)[/li][/ul]

Cons:
[ul]
[li]Moving jobs a 3rd time in a two years[/li][li]Out of the frying pan and into ?[/li][li]Job will go from salary to hourly (currently a Sr. Analyst)[/li][li]Possibly ticking off current boss for leaving after he threw me a lifeline[/li][/ul]

The money would be nice and allow me to up my retirement savings to 30% pre-tax, or pay off my house in 3 years, but I’m not struggling right now. Can anyone think of anything else I should consider?

Should I jump ship?

StG

2

I would move to the new job. In my last position there wasn’t a ton of work but I didn’t even notice because I was able to read articles, post on the dope, etc. during that down time. Then they decided no more internet access outside of lunch breaks. I spent one day cleaning and organizing my desk and clearing out my email inbox. From that day forward I worked 2 out of every 8 hours and had nothing to do otherwise. I went begging work from other departments but there was nothing to do. Shortly thereafter I went on maternity leave and came back after 8 weeks and caught up with everything I missed in one day. I decided on day 2 that I was not going to miss out on time with my daughter to sit and stare at my cubicle walls for 6 hours a day and that same day my child care provider quit. I took it as a sign and decided to stay home instead of going back to that and I haven’t regretted it since. Take the new job.

3

pbbth - Boredom is bad. I end up web surfing, but I’m still bored. I like being pleasantly busy at work, it makes the day go by faster. But I also don’t like mindless make-work. I’m an analyst because I like puzzles and solving problems. I wouldn’t be good in a job like LaVergne and Shirley’s - staring at bottle caps all day.

I think I’ll talk to the hiring manager and see what they can give me as far as an idea of what the job would entail besides the one small portion I know about. Should I talk to my current manager and see if he wants to beat their offer? Of course, it’s about more than just money to me.

StG

4

I met with my proposed new supervisor today. He told me to make sure I didn’t stress that I was just looking for something more interesting and go for money, too. I told him I’d talk to his boss and hear their proposal and also talk to my current boss. He said he would expect me to talk to my boss, but asked that I hear their offer first. He also said that I was in the prime position because they were coming to me, not the other way around. He basically said to milk it for all it’s worth.

StG

5

Mmmm, milk!

Be upfront with your boss and give him a chance to do right by you. Beyond that I agree with the potential supervisor - you are in a great position.