I was just presented with a new job opportunity at another company. It would be a step-up position full of challenges and working with high-level executives. The position, in a nutshell, rolls up the last 20 years of my work experience into a position where I can contribute some of this knowledge and direct a team to be successful in a product. Part of me was excited to be approached for this position as I have always admired the company and the role sounds interesting enough that I can see the results of my efforts.
The other part of me is saying to myself, I can continue with my current job and coast into retirement. I already know the highs and lows of my current job. Do I really have the energy to take on a challenging job at this stage in life? I donāt have any managerial experience. What if I fail? Then, I would have neither.
This job would bring more $ that could help fund our retirement. However, it might mean moving or partially living in Boston near my daughters. My husband and I live in NY and he would have to stay to continue with his job.
I have to let them know if I want to move forward with the interview process and I am just at a point where I donāt know which way to go. I just want to get some thoughts.
Totally agree. Go through the whole interview process, see if it reaches the offer stage and what exactly theyāre offering (whole package). Then you can make a decision with all information in hand.
Moving jobs mid to late career is always a bit of a challenge and brings some anxiety with it but it can also be exciting and refreshing (Iām speaking from personal experience). If itās a step up and brings more money with it, definitely worth considering.
Pay careful attention to company culture though and try to judge if it is going to be a fit.
It sounds like a great opportunity, and I would certainly move forward with the process.
That said, when I was at a point where I knew I could retire comfortably if I chose to, I actually took on a less responsible job, which involved some āgiving backā to my work community. (So I totally get you thinking about the āeasierā option).
I think this might come down to some factors external to the job, like how will your husband feel about you not being around X days a week if you have to go to another city, how do you feel about commuting back and forth, especially in COVID times, how would your daughter(s) feel it you wanted to stay with them a couple times a week, or whatever.
None of us can answer those questions.
May be time to start writing pros and cons, but no harm moving forward.
My husband changed jobs (albeit in the same town) at about the same age. It has worked out great. He had regrets in the beginning, but that didnāt last long. It was a large difference in pay.
Moving and being without your husband seems like a big negative, especially being in another city. When we were young my husband once lived a few hours away for a job. Iād go on the weekends but it wasnāt fun for either of us. Not to mention you will also need to rent an apartment ( not cheap in the Boston area).
Iād ask myself, how much do I need the money for retirement? And how much of a risk taker am I? And, how much energy do I spend, want to spend on my job for the next 5-7 years? Some Senior management positions are very long hours and lots of work. Could be fine, could be very different from your current position.
From your description, it sounds like you are a good fit but it might also not work out. Where would that leave you financially? You still have 7 years ( average) to work. Is the company secure?
I agree with all, that you should pursue the opportunity so you have a real thing to consider rather than a hypothetical position.
And if you get the position, you can try to negotiate working from home most of the time and only occasionally being in Boston. If they really want you, theyāll make it work!
Congratulations on being considered for the new opportunity. I would suggest you review your prior posts and threads and reflect on your decision making (good and bad) juxtaposed against this current situation.
In November of 2014 you apparently had another career opportunity that would have involved relocation and described yourself as followsā¦
āWith regards to work. I do enjoy what I do but I know that at my age, opportunities do not come often in this job market. As it is it makes me nervous that I would be the oldest person in that Florida office.ā
Then 2 years later you were extremely frustrated while looking for a job and statedā¦
āA few months ago, I vented about job search hell. I just hit my fourth months of unemployment. I am in my early 50s with lots of energy, solid work experience and willing to travel. The kids are grown so I can dedicate myself to the job.ā
None of us know what went on or how you found yourself in that position nor can we possibly gauge your suitability (in terms of personal drive and ambition) for this new role.
Personally the fact that you are seeking advice on a public forum and suggesting you have personal doubts is a red flag. You are a successful 58 year old professional. Look inward for the answer not outward for the advice of those such as myself that only have a small sliver of the picture and canāt possibly offer informed advice for something so important. Learn from your past and use it to plan for your future.
Congratulations on being approached for this new opportunity! Savor the fact that at 58, many companies would not approach someone ā58ā - this company appears to respect your seasoned tenure.
I agree move forward with exploring the opportunity more through interviews. Your āprosā list seems longer right now that your āconsā list. See through the interview process which list grows and is appealing.
Do you at all see the move as a āproā? I understand leaving your H part time - and maybe setting up a second household/apt might be a āconā - but also, maybe at this time in your life it is an opportunity for growth and more appreciation for each other - and your own self!
Interviews are two way. For the employer/department to learn more about you and for you to learn more about the employer/department. No one is obligated. At least not from the start of the process!
In the last 10 years I have changed jobs 7 times. I was going through a lot of changes in my personal life, and was also searching in my professional life. I finally ended up some where that I probably can retire from.
Each one of those jobs challenged me. I learned how to do marketing (sales). I was always afraid to speak in front of large group of people, but now I do it all the time (part of job) and have been told that I am actually pretty good at it.
I donāt think you are ever too old to challenge yourself. Whatās good now at my age is I donāt feel as much of an angst at failing, so I am more willing at āgive it a shot.ā
58 is the new 40. If you are thinking about retiring at 65 then you still have 7+ yrs to go. Why now do something interesting and challenging?
So many companies allow remote work now. I wouldnāt be surprised if you could negotiate to work 2 days onsite and 3 days at home. Commute between NY and Boston is easy by train.
I would continue and see what they have to say before you make a decision.
Thank you for all the positive replies. It is helpful to get an unbiased opinion. I think I will pursue the next steps.
Catherinthetoast, thank you for looking back on my prior posts. I had even forgotten about those. So the 2014 job in Florida from my prior employer, was offered to me at the beginning of 2015. It was a long decision process and I was willing to take it. However, I wanted to wait to move until my daughter graduated high school. My manager at the time did not want to wait two months for me to move and gave the job to someone else. That person got married had a baby and left within two years. I lost my job in 2016, partially because I didnāt take the Florida job.
I was lucky to find my current job, which is flexible with work from home and where I planned to retire from eventually.
Thank you for the context but please understand my comments were intended to highlight your level of experience and capability. You and only you know what best suits your unique situation and thankfully you have both the opportunity and life experience to make that call.
I personally find that we all enter into situations like the one you describe with a preconceived desired bias. When soliciting āunbiasedā advice it is then natural to selectively hear that advice which reaffirms out prior bias.
I once again in this situation suggest you reflect internally on how this will impact your family, future, finances, enjoyment, and sense of fulfillment. I wish you nothing but the best which is why I am telling you I (and other strangers) have little to nothing insightful specific to your situation to offerš
I took a new job at 51 after a layoff from 15 years at the same company. It turned out to be a fantastic move - I actually took a significant pay cut initially as I had no experience with this specific technology (Iām in tech but my experience was with a different tech area).
You hear the phrase āget out of your comfort zoneā a lot, and in my case it was true. Iād gotten complacent at my old job, and I threw myself headfirst into the new one for the first couple years. It was stressful and exhausting but really mentally invigorating- like taking a run on wet and rainy day when youāre tired and achy and worried about other stuff, but at the end of the run you feel so much better and are happy you went.
Iāve been pondering the same question as OP lately - do I just hang out here until retirement in maybe 5 years, or do I buckle up and go out for another run? Itās a tough choice, but I love my current job and team so Iām inclined to stay for a while. Thatās probably the key question to ask - do you currently love what youāre doing?
If not, then put on those running shoes! And honestly another aspect to consider at our age is mental engagement. Studies have shown that mental engagement is important to retaining memory and possibly delaying dementia, so itās just as important as an actual run.
I took a job at 55 when I was being laid off from the company I had worked at for 30 years. I have now been at me current job for 7 years and this is the job I expect to retire from. I went from working for a large corporation to a small company that I just love. Since I have been here I have helped choose a new accounting system and worked on transitioning to the new system, I have 2 direct reports that have now been here 5 years, I have helped choose two new office spaces and facilitated the moves and best of all the people I work with are like family. We have a mix of employees my age and even older as well as a lot of young people that keep the office fun the 2 days a week I work in the office. We do trivia nights out at breweries, boat rides on the bay, picnics at the beach and many more fun activities. I am paid very well for my work (accounting manager) and I feel fortunate every day that I landed here for my last career job.
My advice is to go forward in the process and see what it leads to. Good luck!
Agree with the advice to continue with the interview process to at least find out more. Although if you are sure you wouldnāt take it, I would stop interviewing to avoid wasting their time.
How long do you plan on working? Will you stop at 60 or go until closer to 70? If the former, then staying makes sense. If the latter, to me the question would come down to logistics - would you hve to be in Boston one week a month or three times a week? Is your husband closer to retirement and willing to relocate? Is the pay bump enough to pay for a second place to live? How stable is the company and the employees?
I certainly donāt think 58 is too old for a new challenge. Good luck and let us know what you decide!
For those of you suggesting she continue to interview for optionality, greater info, etc please note that extending the interview process and then declining can have adverse consequences. This is exactly what OP did and experienced previously.
In a corporate time taking up peopleās time to ultimately say no has consequences. Extending the discussion suggests legitimate interest and likelihood that if ORM fee is extended it will be accepted. Fair or not that is how it will be perceived.
Without understanding the full circumstances such advice can lead to a situation where OP canāt put the proverbial toothpaste back in the tube.
How could interviewing with a different company have adverse consequences with the current company? I could see it for an internal transfer where the current manager is notified, but not externally.
How big is the industry or community, could current employer find out? Down the road if a local opportunity at external company were to arise would they consider you having been declined previously? Was she made aware of the opportunity by a resource that will not help again? I can go on but only OP knows that.
If you know you arenāt making the move donāt waste peopleās time is a pretty good guiding principle. Conversely if you are willing to relocate and welcome a new opportunity go for it!!
I often think it is the things you didnāt do in life that create more regrets, rather than the things you did. Not to say changing jobs is the right move for you. But what is the harm of exploring further?