changes in the wind?
I may receive a job offer from Cisco Systems in the next few days.
This would mean a move to RTP, in North Carolina. That part terrifies me, mostly because of the ties that my wife and kids have to the Salt Lake City area.
The pay increase would be significant - about 20 percent more in base salary, plus another 20 percent in potential bonuses, and HUGE bonuses possible for working weekends and holidays. That doesn't even take stock options into consideration.
Now ... all this is complicated by the fact that there's another possibility with a local company. I don't really have a job offer... the line goes something like this: "As soon as this contract we've been working on that we're about 99.5% sure we're getting comes through, you're hired." The starting pay would be slightly more than I make now, but if all goes well with it, a year or so down the road the earning potential could match or exceed what I can make at Cisco.
So ... I have three choices before me.
1) Stay where I am now. I'm three months from my 5-year anniversary, when I become vested. I'm doing just well enough to keep us on top of our obligations, but any sudden major expenses could wipe us out. I'm one of the highest paid people where I work, which makes me something of a target for any cost-cutting measures that may be implemented. They're already laying off most everyone anyway because the jobs went to India, and I've survived that cut.
2) The ephemeral possibility of a really good job in the area, one that let me use public transportation. This is a startup company, which does not yet have strong income. The contract they are pursuing would be a major infusion of capital. I have a lot of confidence in the people and the company's prospects, once they land this contract. I'd be in on the ground floor, so if I played my cards right the payoff has MAJOR potential. Plus I'd get to work with my best friend from high school.
3) Cisco. Over two thousand miles away. A dream job if there ever was one, but at the cost of dragging my family to a foreign place where they have no family or friends to support them. We'd be leaving the house we just built in the hands of renters we may or may not know, and living in a rental ourselves.
Ah, decisions. :) I'm not really looking for advice on this, just posting about it.
This would mean a move to RTP, in North Carolina. That part terrifies me, mostly because of the ties that my wife and kids have to the Salt Lake City area.
The pay increase would be significant - about 20 percent more in base salary, plus another 20 percent in potential bonuses, and HUGE bonuses possible for working weekends and holidays. That doesn't even take stock options into consideration.
Now ... all this is complicated by the fact that there's another possibility with a local company. I don't really have a job offer... the line goes something like this: "As soon as this contract we've been working on that we're about 99.5% sure we're getting comes through, you're hired." The starting pay would be slightly more than I make now, but if all goes well with it, a year or so down the road the earning potential could match or exceed what I can make at Cisco.
So ... I have three choices before me.
1) Stay where I am now. I'm three months from my 5-year anniversary, when I become vested. I'm doing just well enough to keep us on top of our obligations, but any sudden major expenses could wipe us out. I'm one of the highest paid people where I work, which makes me something of a target for any cost-cutting measures that may be implemented. They're already laying off most everyone anyway because the jobs went to India, and I've survived that cut.
2) The ephemeral possibility of a really good job in the area, one that let me use public transportation. This is a startup company, which does not yet have strong income. The contract they are pursuing would be a major infusion of capital. I have a lot of confidence in the people and the company's prospects, once they land this contract. I'd be in on the ground floor, so if I played my cards right the payoff has MAJOR potential. Plus I'd get to work with my best friend from high school.
3) Cisco. Over two thousand miles away. A dream job if there ever was one, but at the cost of dragging my family to a foreign place where they have no family or friends to support them. We'd be leaving the house we just built in the hands of renters we may or may not know, and living in a rental ourselves.
Ah, decisions. :) I'm not really looking for advice on this, just posting about it.