Ask HN: Job I love but with poor career progression vs. new job with higher pay?

Unless you're hyper sensitive about work environment, go for the money. It's nice to enjoy your work, but don't screw yourself out of career advancement.

Compare pay + benefits - cost-of-living.

If your manager doesn't care about you then he doesn't deserve for you. From the other side, I think that you just got used to this job and probably afraid of going out of your comfort zone. I was in the similar state of the mind, once. After all, it appears that the best way to progress is to MOVE YOUR ASS :D before you'll be forced to do so.

Be brave.

Good luck bro!

I would say change jobs. If your manager don't trust you, this current situation of loving your day-to-day activities will change with no regard to what you would say on the matter. You actually mention it is just a very recent situation. So I believe it is safe to assume it wont last.

I value a lot a healthy, enjoyable work environment, but I don't trade good longterm prospects for a short time only, temporary benefit.

Not only for the money, but a carreer progression is very satisfying for itself. And if you have good references for this new company, this is something.

And, if you don't enjoy the next work environment, you can change again.

Do it. Your future self will thank you

Let me depart from the hive mind here. You have another alternative I haven't yet seen in the comments here.

Stay at this job for a time, and use it as an opportunity to explore side work, and other ways to make money. Multiple streams of income is always a good idea.

It was a similar situation for me that led to one of my side gigs turning into full-time freelancing and leaving my job of 9 years.

The new work is challenging, I'm making great money, and things are growing.

Being in a situation like yours could be made to work to your advantage, and it could be a blessing in disguise!

Good luck.

You can either change your job, or you can change job.

There are no perfect jobs, so you have to find one where you'll be able to live with the downsides. Is having no career progression a downside you can live with or not? How about having to do lot's of overtime? Or being underpaid? They are all questions only you can answer.

When I went through this I tried to weigh how much money I was leaving on the table vs how much I valued: already knowing the culture where I work, mostly enjoying the job, loving the people I work with. In my case I got promoted right as I was about to start the job hunt, so it worked itself out.

In your case, it sounds like you're comfortable yet unhappy. Sure you're excited about your current work, but you probably wouldn't be posting on here if you were really happy at that job. It sounds like you have a new opportunity. I would jump on it, but that's just me. Maybe you can learn more about the company you mentioned by talking to your contact there?

Either way I wish you luck!

It has taken me a while, but I finally figured out what really matters to me with regards to job satisfaction:

1. Do I like the people I’m working for and with?

2. Do I like the work?

3. Am I making enough money?

You need to figure out what your most important factors are. I don’t need to be making the maximum amount of money I can, but you might not feel the same way.

For me, if I were in your position, the satisfaction from the work itself would most likely not overcome the fact that my boss wouldn’t seem to trust me. Your situation would violate my #1 item above. So, in that case I would be more inclined to move.

But you are not me, and I am not you. You need to figure out what is most important for you, and then move forward from that position.

So what are the things at your current job you can't live without? For example, leave early to beat rush hour, quiet cube or office, window seat, being the go to person on projects or processes?

If you get a manger that expects you butt in seat till 5 when you're used to leaving early, or going to a noisy open floor plan surrounded by extroverts when you are used to a library like office can truly suck and make no amount of money worth it.

If you can figure these things out and talk to your potential new manager before accepting the offer, could really help with your decision.

> I feel stuck in terms of career progression.

Professional growth is a pain point you have complete control over. It's not your managers responsibility. That job offer is market validation, your expertise is in demand.

Suggest getting some clarity about what you want to accomplish/achieve > https://hbr.org/2016/12/think-strategically-about-your-caree...

I hear that the scariest place to be in life is comfortable. Getting out of your comfort zone is the only way to grow.

You must decide for yourself. Remember that the only constant in life is change.

Have you even asked for a raise at your current job? Having been made offers from other companies that puts you in a very strong position to ask for a raise.

It's also possible that you began feeling better about your job precisely because you were looking.

change jobs

your current environment might change tomorrow and you'll regret not making the choice

whenever you have a choice which would leave in regret, you need to make it in favor of what wouldn't.