Got a raise and offered a higher position

Systems

I finally got a decent raise today. They kicked my pay up $6,300 a year more. And they offered me a position as a project manager in the office. I guess since I basically do what the project manager should be doing for me they think I could do a better job for fellow superintendents who are out in the field working. I don't have a college degree and no formal training as a project manager but I get **** done that most of my project managers can't seem to make happen. My only delima is the fact that I love to travel and run the show out here in the field and the congrats that go along with a project well done. That being said I wouldn't mind being at home every night and actually having a somewhat normal life. I miss my son terribly at times and being away from the girlfriend can be a drain of the relationship sometimes. I don't have any doubts that I can do as good or better than most of the project managers in my office. I guess thats why I was offered the position. The base pay stays the same at just over $100k and I get bonuses to boot. But I have to quit all the traveling that I enjoy so much. I give up the extra money ($10k - $15k a year) I make from savings on my per diem and the bonuses ($10k or so a year). I've more than likely seen more of this country, Canada and Mexico than most will see in a lifetime of watching the travel channel or National Geo. Its a tough decision that I will have to make in the next month or so. I've been asked to answer the call by September. Should I turn it down there will be no hard feelings and I go on as I normally do.

I got some serious thinking to do over the next month or so. Any of you folks ever been in this situation? Thoughts please.

Chuck

zombie boy 2000

Always go with what will make you the happiest. The extra scratch will mean nothing if you're miserable.

madmax

So overall you are loosing maybe 12K to 15K a year. And you like to travel but will be moving inside. I'll bet you get the same amount of time at home too but in spurts rather than routine? As I'm typing this I'm thinking you could ask them to up the offer so it becomes a real promotion. I would never want to travel so I can't offer any opinion of what is best.
madmax

steveinaz

zombie boy 2000 wrote: »

Always go with what will make you the happiest. The extra scratch will mean nothing if you're miserable.

...and there it is.

george daniel

+ 1 good luck whatever the decision.:)

Jstas

Well, the extra money may "mean nothing of your are miserable" but that's not what should be concerning you.

Whether it is an "actual promotion" or a paper promotion is also not as consequential.

You are being asked to move to a project manager position. Any way you cut it, it's a management position. Someone obviously has their eye on you. Project Managers at my company typically don't have the next move of middle management but get shot right up to senior levels.

What you need to ask yourself is where you see yourself being. A senior manager doesn't manage people as much as they manage business. Middle management are people managers. If you want to climb the ladder and get your butt into a position with greater responsibility and influence on the company, I would take the offer if I were you. If you like what you are doing now and don't want to leave it, consider your decision carefully but know that if you drop it, even if there are "no hard feelings", there might not be an opportunity with as much potential in it to be offered again.

If money is your concern, don't go for it. You can work your **** off and make a buck the rest of your life. But, if you are already successful at the challenges you are currently presented, you won't be able to go above a project manager until you get some experience and success at the actual position. You also won't be promoted again until you show you can do the job of the level above you. If you know you can do that next level job then you need to take the project manager job. They will never let you see or touch the stuff that is above the level above you without proving yourself in the actual position of teh level above where you are right now.

So money or success. You've already reached your success in your current position. Along with that success has come money but at what cost? The relationship with your son and girlfriend? Sometimes you gotta take a hit to realize a benefit. The project management position has much more potential for earning power if you realize the same level of success that you have in your current position. Dollar signs are nice and big but sometimes it's not so easy to see around them and get a glimpse at the bigger dollar signs down the path you have to choose.

sucks2beme

I've been the project manager. No thanks!
But to each their own. The sheepskin helps with
talking execu-speak, but doesn't always make for a good PM.
I'm glad to see your company feels you can get the job done
and gives you the shot at the job. Too many wouldn't even
think about giving it to a non-college grad.
The touble was for me, I hated trying to get technical people
to follow directions when I was a PM. Then when I went back
to being the tech, I hated PM's that couldn't organize the job.

Ricardo

Congrats Chuck. Obviously they are happy with you and that should make you feel good.

Just ask yourself this question:

Do you like getting things done by yourself, while bitching at the PM's that don't know **** about anything, or do you like to **** at people so that they get things done?

Demiurge

Take the extra money. It will make you happier and you'll win friends with the stuff you buy with it.

Grats!

ben62670

Project manager = everything that goes wrong is your fault! Now after saying that traveling would get old for me pretty quick. You end up missing out on things like PFGA, and even time with loved ones(PFGA). Well I hope they are giving you some time to really dig deep inside. Good luck with the decision making process.
Ben

obieone

Congrats. I hope it works out, whatever you choose.