This is always a scary situation, but even more so now with our economy as it is.
His current job is pretty secure. He's a general manager of a retail store. He makes a set salary, so we always know how much we'll have each week. He gets benefits and medical insurance, and 2 weeks paid vacation per year. The only real drawback is the amount of hours he works. He doesn't have much time for his family, and is usually home after the kids are in bed.
The job he's considering is commission based. A friend of his does it and earns a great deal of money, more than we are making now. The benefits would be he could set his own hours, and work far less hours. There's also the opportunity to earn more money. But of course it comes with risks and what if's. What if he doesn't make money, what if it doesn't work out. Will there be enough work?
It's a pretty scary decision. It could make our lives better, or turn our lives upside down.
Have you or your spouse recently changed careers? How did that work for you?
If this decision were up to you, what would you do?
[question posted by katsmeow1213]
responses and comments:
Hi, Its not just your husband, we are all debating a career change.sad The economic crisis is creating a lot of insecurity that we all are not sure whether to go for a job that pays higher or just stay put and remain secure. confusedIf I am in his position I will not quit the current job. [pkraj111]
I always think it is wonderful when people change their lives for the better and it seems in your husbands case he would be able to spend alot more time with his family,which is awesome. I think the economy is a big issue to consider however, there are many people being laid off and even more being careful how they spend the money they do have. I think if you both are confident in this change and are willing to take the chance then go for it.I wish you all the luck in this and I hope it gives you more time to spend together as a family:) [celestos]
If this is a sales position I don't know that I'd risk a secure job for something like that right now. The economy is not in a good place and will likely get a lot worse before it gets better. If your husband does take a chance on this, you should have at the very least three month's worth of living expenses in savings as a cusion. It's not wise to take a risk without having a financial backup. [spalladino]
My husband has been debating the same thing. He makes pretty good money at his job but he isn't happy there. He works his butt of but the guys that are buddy buddy with the boss get treated better. He'd like to go somewhere else but there is too much riding on his job. He has a really good insurance plan and with 3 kids I don't want to lose that. And we can't possibly make any less money or we'll lose our house. I think your husband should do what makes him happy but make sure that it will provide for your family. [ravinskye]
That's the problem, there's really no guarantee with this job he's considering. The hours would be better for our family, but the money may not be. His time is most important to us since we hardly get to see him, but of course we still need to survive. [katsmeow1213]
I think the decision needs to be seriously thought out, you and your family need to discuss it thoroughly. I think the kids need to be included in the discussion. We both worked full-time until January of this year then I quit. I do not work at all except a couple on-line jobs making literally pennies a day. We decided that it was more important for one of us to be home with our kids then to have money. Our kids are not in school yet, except his 7 year old that's only here every other week. We are completely broke but our kids have us around. He switched departments at his job and works better hours now also. We are getting very close to not being able to pay our rent so yes it is very scary. You and your husband need to decide if the risks outway the benefits or not. For us, the benefits outwayed the risks at the time, I may have to go back to work soon. Atleast part-time. Good Luck. [camomom]
My husband works for the state. In the last couple of years the pay increases have been below inflation and health insurance premiums have greatly increased. We have less and less money and now have started to dip into savings. However, his job is relatively secure because even if they would consider lay-offs his office would be one of the last to take a hit. He got his PhD last summer and had been looking for another job but there is not much out there. Now he thinks it may be safer to stay put for a while and just make due with even less because at least he has a job he can't lose from one day to the next with little to no warning. We are torn, too, as a non-government job would pay much more. Anyhow as to your situation, it really depends on how good you are at sales, if the work is commission based. With people not wanting to spend money, your husband's friend may have a bit exaggerated his recent income statements. You have a family to think of. What is the worst case scenario? Would you make it through it without losing the roof over your head etc. In this economy it's really difficult to make any decision because who knows how much we'll have to pay just for the basics next month. Good luck. I'll pray that you guys will make the right decision. [jonesy123]
i think in the current scenario, a lot of people have to debate that option, but the good thing in your case you are making the choise, it 's not forced upon you, as others who have been layed and need to look for new jobs. I aways believe , change is necessary in our lives, otherwise there would be no progress, and surely this change will bring in a lot of progress in terms of both finance and time to spend with family. Good luck, and keep us posted. [vidasandi]
My family has been in the VERY same situation more than once. One time, my spouse had a really good paying job in his trade and quit to pursue a commission based sales job. He had to quit after two weeks cause he wasn't really cut out for selling. He barely made $100 a week. And, yes, a friend of his talked him into doing the sales job. Told him how much money he'd be making. Then he couldn't get his good paying job back. And, he couldn't find another job in the same trade. We basically went broke for almost a year. That was way before our daughter was born. Selling is a tough racket. And, I would NEVER EVER allow my guy to put our future on the line just so he could try out a new fun sounding job. Has he ever sold anything before? Does your spouse know if he's a good salesman? Would he be willing to try to sell on the weekends or even evening hours? What if he tries out the sales job part time, in spare hours (weekends and such) and finds out that he can't make a dime doing it. What then? At least, he hasn't lost his good paying job. It's a tough call. I know that it's up to you two to decide what is best for your family. And, I'm sure that it sounds like I'm being a party pooper. But, speaking as someone who has lived through that kind of situation and went broke doing it, this all sounds like a "biz opp" and maybe your spouse has been sold a bill of goods on how easy it will be. Just cause the friend makes money, doesn't mean your spouse will. Selling is the HARDEST job on the planet. I would hate to see you all penniless over something like this. Just do what you think is right. I'm sure things will work out. (Sorry for what sounds like a rant. I'm just worried about you all.) [beautyqueen26]
OK! I see. Well that's a different story with them providing leads. My spouse's former sales job involved drumming up his own leads. This would be easier then, I'm assuming. I wish you all the best and hope it works out. Sometimes, it pays to take a calculated risk. I hope everything works out. Best of luck. [beautyqueen26]
for me, i always prefer to play safe rather than taking risk... so i never want to take a comission based job... neither do my hubby... it is better to know for sure how much we will be earning each month as we have huge responsibilities with our mortgage, car loan, bills, etc... so if i were in your hubby's position, i won't quit the job especially with such a good position... take care and have a nice day... [lingli_78]
My husband would LOVE a career change. He works in a factory right now that makes playground equipment for schools and parks...the great big stuff. He is a lead man on his machines...which really doesnt mean a whole lot. LOL He IS on his way up pretty fast since he just started in January. He was working as a supervisor in another factory bringing home $600 at the least a week. The job he has now is way less then what he was making. But we moved about an hour away from the previous job and he was tired of the drive so he found somewhere closer. The benefits though are that he is home a lot less and our daughter is getting to know him. Since he was working 12+ hours a day...He does still work evenings 3-11. And he actually has a chance of getting ahead in the factory instead of being stuck where he was at the old one. The actual benefits are even so much better. So for us...the pay was our only negetive thing about him changing jobs...and we thought about it...REALLY hard for months before we made the decision for him to do it. Just think about the negatives and the positives of him changing careers. Thinking about the what ifs. What if it doesnt work...are you going to survive until he can find another job. [ambkeb]
Hi, It is good to know that even in these days people are looking forward to do what they like the most even if they are well set and are earning a pretty decent money. Although it may be scary right now I feel that one should do what they like the most. Family and friends must figure in one's life. One must be caring and devote time to their family if they truly want to live their life. Just any other job might earns you good money but you would never enjoy the job if you don't like it and if you don't enjoy your job, it should be reason enough to start looking for a job that is more connected to you. Hope my views would be helpful... [piyushbehera25]
More money does sound good. Will he still get his medical? What kind of work is the second job? [LouiseKnittel]
They do offer medical, but we're not sure how much it would cost. His medical benefits right now are really pretty cheap. We're not sure if it would be more money because it's commission based sales. It's a big risk, but would definitly be more time for his family, which is important to us since he's been working crazy hours for years. 50-60 hours per week, we hardly ever get to see him. [katsmeow1213]
It's a shaky situation, do you or don't you. I can speak from experience, I was laid off from my job about four months ago. My husband was not working out of the house, he was basically trying to make a home based business work and generate revenue, which it didn't and still hasn't. He decided to take a sales position, because that was the only thing that was hiring immediately. It was a commission only job. Well, for the last almost two months, he has made five sales, and two people cancelled on him, so it has only been three sales. You did not mention what kind of commission work your husband is thinking about. For us it was spending money after money after money on gas, and there was no steady income coming in. Of course the potential is there if you are able to make two or three sales a week, but that was not happening for us, we are deeper in debt now, because so much money was being spent on gas, that left not much to pay our bills. You and your husband should think this over very carefully before he makes a decision, again, you did not mention what kind of commission work he would be doing. Wishing you luck [sudalunts]
I can sorta relate, I was supposed to go to college after 2009 to finish my education with a degree for a career or two to set me off for life. But now with the economy, I've had to rethink about how reliable those careers would be in the economy (ignoring the fact that I can't afford college anymore lol). So now, I'm looking to start my own career on something a little closer to home and much earlier than I'd previously planned. So while I hadn't had a steady form of income before, I'm now seriously aware of how unstable my current life is in terms of money. While I'm taking this to heart and letting it build a new hope for me. Me and my Mom are also now telling my Dad to stop thinking about quitting his VERY stable and decently paying job -- our family's main source of income. My advice, Kat, is if you're worried...to look around and have options. Jumping just because something could get bad, imo...isn't the wisest thing. The idea is to think and be aware as much as we can, so if something happens...you're prepared and whatever problems happened: you didn't contribute or help cause them for yourself. [xParanoiax]
hi katsmeow with the economy the way it is that is really risky but if he could do it part time and maybe get a part time job with his old company then he co uld see if the commission thing will really work for him. if it does he can resign his old job and work at comissions full time. [Hatley]
I'm not sure that I would want my husband to leave a secure job for one that isn't secure with the economy the way it is right now. I'm lucky in that my husband likes his job, though. He's planning on staying in the Air Force until he can retire, so as long as nothing major happens, he will be working his same job for at least another 15 years. [carlaabt]
I think in this market we all must be very cautious in changing jobs. i am considering job change. but I am careful. i may just change the company and will continue working in IT [subha12]
I probably would not like it, but as he is the breadwinner of the house and he has a pretty good judgement I would go reluctantly along with what he wanted. My hubby is at the moment on the road to a career change, he has set the wheels in motion and hopefully after christmas will be in a new job. The new job will entail him being away from home more than he is but the money is a lot lot more, and the job he is in at the minute is good money so we will be even more better off. It will cost a bit to get him there, but it is going to be worth it and we will not have redundancy featuring in our lives all the time so I am 100% behind him on it. At the moment where he works there are about 5 or so factories, and there are going to be 400 redundancies made in the next couple of weeks, and there is going to be a big cut in working hours. After christmas there will probably be more redundancies made if things do not buck up. Where my hubby works there will be 8 redundancies made, we are hoping he is not one. [gemini_rose]