I need some advice as I have an interesting new career opportunity.
I can stick with a job as a server admin in AZ, where I am frequently just waiting for something to happen and have free time to post on Bullshido, work on outside projects, etc. It also has excellent benefits and lots of room for advancement.
Or, I can move back to WA and become a finish carpenter in the family business with my brother in law and my dad. I would actually make more money, but without benefits, and I would have to work every hour I am on the job. I would also have my own crew to boss around and get to do stuff like this:
I assume I would have a greater sense of accomplishment from being a carpenter, and wouldn’t have to fix other peoples stupid mistakes all the time. My brother in law does excellent work and is booked 3-6 months in advance, but carpentry is seasonal work and definitely does not offer the job security I have right now. AZ is starving for decent IT people and I have moved up the chain pretty quickly.
I honestly don’t know what to do. Would taking ninjitsu help?
Well that certianly complicates things. In my fairly worthless opinion, I’d talk to the guys who do the work, give it a try (have you done that type of work before? I haven’t done much, but I’ve done enough to know that it’d be an uphill battle for me to be happy doing it day in/day out), then do all the usual planning/talking about the future, etc. etc.
And let’s not forget the really serious question of where you’re going to train if you make the move.
You would make more money, however, that would be eaten up in paying for insurance, retirement and so on. So it would be the same in the long run.
I assume that you have sick leave/PTO where you are now. That will evaporate.
Is the carpenter job a STEADY source of income?
Are you qualified to do this job, or is it a learn as you earn position?
Will working with your family put a strain on your relationship? i.e. If you arent doing your job well enough.
Will moving closer to your family be better for your children and your marriage?
I have worked for my father for two different companies. I was my twin brothers boss at one company.
It sucked.
My Dad expected LOTS MORE from me that he wouldnt have expected from someone else, and my brother showed me ZERO respect, to the point that I had to send him to the office, and off my Job/Project. Caused much grief amongst my family for a while.
Do you like sitting around all day or would you like to bust your ass all day?
I have a job where 75% of the time I dont do shit. It gets old in a hurry so I can understand your plight. However, it pays VERY well, and the benefits are good. (Paid Holidays/Vacation/Insurance/Retirement)
My philosophy is, I dont work because I like to work. I work because I want to make money. Therefore, I will work at a job I hate if it pays well enough. Eventually EVERYTHING becomes a job. Even something you love.
If it were only based on that, it would be an easy decision. If I took the finish carpentry job, I would be helping to build a family business and have works made by my hands in peoples homes that could be around for decades or longer.
I guess part of the answer is how lazy I am. Do I really want to have to work for a living?
I have the same philosophy. I have never counted on being able to make money at something I actually enjoy doing.
My brother in law is one of the nicest guys you could meet and is pretty much the best there is in what he does. I am sure he will always have work. I would be more of a partner than an underling and have my own team. Motivating and training others sucks though. I don’t have to do that currently.
Mostly I miss Washington, all of my friends are there, but there just isn’t enough demand for my IT skills.
I’m a systems/net engineer, and it’s not even remotely difficult to find parallel level jobs nowadays. Noone new is entering IT, all the elders are retiring…
I’d drop it for awhile, if you don’t enjoy it, get back into it.
The biggest thing to think about is moving, in my opinion.
I had a great IT job after I graduated from UW, but then September 11th happened and the bottom fell out. Tried forever to find a similar position in WA but never could. Came down to AZ and had 3 job offers right away. I still apply up there every once and a while with no luck.
Moving will not be an issue. Have plenty of relatives down here and up there to help.
Originally Posted by oldman34
My philosophy is, I dont work because I like to work. I work because I want to make money. Therefore, I will work at a job I hate if it pays well enough. Eventually EVERYTHING becomes a job. Even something you love.
This must be my youth talking, because I have the total opposite philosophy. But I also have no wife and no kids.
Sounds like you really want to go back to washington, and so does your wife. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll bet the IT industry in Arizone will still need ppl, or the industry in Washington even.
Some people can make it work. Its just my way of thinking. Having a wife and FOUR kids makes you REALLY think about your career.
I LOVE Bonsai, but I think if I went to work at the Bonsai nursery it eventually would become a job, and the little political BS that comes with employment would make me hate Bonsai.
Keep the job with the insurance. You have to have it for
the Mrs and the kids. That is, unless your night shift job
is killing your family life and your kids call you by first name.
Carpentry work can be really hard on the body ( I said “can” be).
If you move, can the Mrs get a job with insurance? Can you get
a computer job in WA?
