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Tough career decision

Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:24 pm
Posted by SidewalkTiger
Midwest, USA
Member since Dec 2019
53021 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:24 pm
Currently in sales at a Fortune 500 corporation (in b4 fast food ), have been there a little over 3 years, and now have the opportunity to become the operations manager for a small business (8 full time employees, some contract workers).

I'm 28, married but no kids, only bills are my mortgage, and I have any 8 months of living expenses in an emergency fund so I can take a risk.

The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.

Pros are a ton of opportunity for future growth, the chance to have a lot of effect on the company, and it's a majority work from home position.

Starting pay would be basically the same.

I enjoy what I do now and like the people I work with but the challenge of helping build a business sounds very intriguing to me. I like the owner well and we seem to have similar views and thought processes about the future direction of the company.

Any advice from those who have been in similar circumstances?
Posted by LSUBogeyMan
Member since Oct 2021
1181 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:27 pm to
Does your wife have health benefits, assuming she works.
Posted by jamboybarry
Member since Feb 2011
32665 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to
What’s your new secretary look like?
Posted by MEANGREEN65
Funkytown, TX
Member since Oct 2014
777 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to
You’re young. Trust yourself to grow that company and change the trajectory for your family. Big companies don’t give a shite about employees. Only shareholder return, public or private.
Posted by Ingeniero
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2013
18323 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to
quote:

The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.



We're the same age and in the same financial situation, and this is enough for me to swerve it and stay where I am. But I'm risk averse when it comes to stuff like that. It's up to you to decide if it's worth chancing it. Even if it doesn't work out, you're so young you have time to change paths again.
Posted by Roman Ponamsky
Member since Oct 2021
52 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to
quote:

Starting pay would be basically the same.

quote:

The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.


Nope

quote:

majority work from home position


Your answer should basically come down to how much you value this
Posted by Thundercles
Mars
Member since Sep 2010
5107 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:30 pm to
Stick with your sales career unless you hate it. At 28 in sales your earning potential is massive and will increase sharply. As an operations manager at a small time company your growth is tied to the company's growth, and most don't blast off.

I say this having no clue about the business the small company is in, but in your position the more stable bet makes more sense.
Posted by RIPMachoMan
Member since Jun 2011
5953 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:31 pm to
quote:

The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.


Are they giving you a percentage should they grow/sell?

If not, for same pay… I wouldn’t personally
Posted by Jake88
Member since Apr 2005
68425 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:31 pm to
quote:


The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.

Starting pay would be basically the same
Nope.
Posted by memphis tiger
Memphis, TN
Member since Feb 2006
20720 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:32 pm to
quote:


The cons are no benefits


What exactly do you mean by “no benefits”?

Unless your wife has a job with decent benefits, this might be a deal breaker.
Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15156 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:33 pm to
quote:

The cons are no benefits


quote:

Starting pay would be basically the same.


No health insurance means a pay cut of about $1000 a month or $12,000 a year
Posted by tigereye58
Member since Jan 2007
2669 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:34 pm to
So I’ve done the reverse of what you’re talking about. Small company to Fortune 500.

My initial thoughts…just some questions to ask.

1.) which job offers long term pay increases? Smaller companies might but with this small of a company you probably won’t make more than the owner.
2.) Is smaller company an opportunity for future ownership either of that company or on your own? People that I’ve seen do this we’re more entrepreneurs at heart and this was the step to get there.
3.) You’re young…benefits may not seem like much but missing out on 401k match ops etc early in your life could set you back LOTS of opportunity for compounding interest. Second, once you have kids those health benefits are huge. Make sure they pay you accordingly. Factor in 401k match and cost of benefits to what they pay you. Tactfully negotiate it if you can.
Posted by PillPusher
Gulf Coast
Member since Oct 2009
5713 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:40 pm to
So your wife just sits at home all day doing nothing?
Posted by Mr Sausage
Cat Spring, Texas
Member since Oct 2011
12859 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:43 pm to
Will your new job decrease the massive amounts of time you are on this website?
Posted by Civildawg
Member since May 2012
8601 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:43 pm to
Have you looked up how much health insurance would be for your family? Because it’s ridiculous
Posted by thegreatboudini
Member since Oct 2008
6461 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:44 pm to
No benefits and no bump in pay? I'd have to stay put.
Posted by Saint Alfonzo
Member since Jan 2019
22292 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:47 pm to
quote:

The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.

Nope
Posted by Warrior Poet
Living Rent-Free in Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2011
7956 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:50 pm to
What is your outlook in the industry you work in (or would work in) if the country goes into recession?
Posted by Sao
East Texas Piney Woods
Member since Jun 2009
65944 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:50 pm to

I think the choice is obvious but what is your gut feel
Posted by subMOA
Komatipoort
Member since Jan 2010
1723 posts
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:56 pm to
Good salespeople make TERRIBLE operations people.

I was Fortune 500 sales- and badass at it. So much so I worked for the brand President before I left to go out on my own.

Operations is my weak point- and everyone on my management team now tells me “We gotta get the salesman out of you somehow”

Only you know if you can make this jump. But it’s TOTALLY opposite of what you’re doing now.
This post was edited on 1/14/22 at 7:58 pm
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