Advice on tough career/life choice...

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Im wondering/looking for advice here on a career choice.
For those that dont know I moved 2 provinces away(Im in Saskatchewan) from my family(in Ontario) to gain experience in Water Treatment...on my way to earning my licences/tickets. Love the job the technology with it as well as the responsibility, but my boss can be a dick, although a very smart one. Being in Sask is temporary, I have only been here 5 months.

Now a good friend of mine is Branch Manager for a heavy equipment dealer. He called and offered me a job. More money than what I am currently making, not huge but noticeable. Benefits, pension, same as what I have now.
I have 10 years experience in heavy equipment and enjoyed it for the most part. My last position in heavy equipment was in sales and I just didnt enjoy the pressure that goes with sales. Although it wasnt commisioned based.

If I take it, we would have to move, but it is to a part of Ontario that we are familiar with(Durham region), which is approx 1 1/2 away from where we live now.
Dad is ill, so that brings me back closer to him as well.

At my age this will hopefully be my last career change. I only have 25 years left at most of earning potential.

I have to and want to come home, now do I take the sure thing job and make a career change again, or tough it out in Water treatment and hope for a job opportunity back in Ontario which could be another 6 months to maybe a year??

Sorry for being long winded, this is a tough choice for me and Lori.

Thanks all
 
Wow. That is a tough choice.

It's an platitude, but one in the hand is worth two in the bush.

You future in water treatment can only be assured by pushing through and hanging tough until the opportunity presents itself, if it ever does. Is it a future worth fighting for and holding on to?

In the meantime you have something in front of you, that's offering something now.

I'm a gambler, Steve. And I'll gamble the future for what's in my hand now. I'll lose a few hands at a chance for the whole pot. But that's me.
 
Very tough decision here....... I know you're really close to your Dad & if he's ill, the time spent together could be priceless.

You and your wife need to sleep on the choices for a few days. It always helps ME when I wait until a clear decision magically arrives :sign7:
 
Sales can go to hell if the economy takes another turn for the worst while water treatment will remain in place for the rest of your life. To me you now have the bird in your hand now and experience will get you where you want to be.

Your dad's health may be the deciding factor here.
 
I would consider it a opportunity ,to get back home to family. That alone.
 
Thanks Robert, I have already written my Level 1 exam for Water treatment in Saskatchewan and have made the appointment to write for Ontario while I am home for Thanksgiving. Im not bragging, but am confident I have/will pass the exams. So in the future I can see easily achieving my level 2 once I put in my required hours.
There is more competition in Ontario for these positions, due to the higher wages in Ontario. Thanks for the analogies advice Robert.
 
Thanks all, if this job offer had come up 6 months ago I wouldnt be here in Sask right now.
Bill the job isnt in sales, but it is a position I have held before, enjoyed and excelled at. Branch is about 2 years old, the company/dealership is approx 30 years old...
 
If you're father is ill now, it'd be better to be closer to him. In time you could always return to water treatment is you want to. You have a teenaged son as well, correct? In a few years he'll be off doing his thing, and if you need to return west to continue your training, Lori could come with you as well. Good luck with whatever you decide, and prayers for your father.

Jim
 
Thanks Jim, Lori and I have 3 boys, 2 of them live at home. They are all 21-22 years old. At 45 Im hoping this will be my last career change/move. But if things dont work out in this opportunity I could try to get back into water treatment, but we wouldnt be moving west. Thanks Jim for the advice/thoughts and prayers.
 
Bill, I also agree with your thoughts on Water Treatment, it is getting more important by the minute. The gamble being where/when do I land in Ontario? Will I be successful at it? Although I think Level 2 would be achieved in the next 3 years. The biggest holdup being putting in the hours, which is approx 3 years from now.

Thanks again!
 
This is a tough choice Steve. You chose to change careers to move into a field that almost certainly has a busy future. However you are forced to temporarily be away from the "things" that are most important to you in life. I have always made my choices by what I would or would not regret, or regret the most. With that being said, your family situation is high in the factors that will play a part in your decision, as it would be in mine. I would believe that the qualification you have acquired in the water industry will not be lost, and if you ever decided so, you could fall back on it. To me this offer sounds like a small blessing in disguise. I know.....no real help, but you can see which way I am leaning.
 
Thanks George, yep if this option was available 6 months ago I would be home right now.
Oh and I would also be able to make progress on the project as well and get it outta bodyshop jail...
 
The other good thing is Im going home next week for a week, so I can meet up with my buddy, check out the dealership and Lori and I can scout out where we may end up living....
 
From what I have seen here in the states. I think your on the right path in water treatment. Lots of room for growth in operations and supervision positions. It offers respectable pay as well I might add, all the way up the ladder to excellent pay. I'm guessing it is a government job with lower stress levels than maybe a private industry job generally comes with. That alone would be a huge consideration in staying. Especially for a middle aged worker considering a job/career change. I'm thinking long term to retirement here. Hard to go wrong once you get your hours, certs and licenses all squared away. Water treatment is everywhere people are. Suck it up and do the time is my thought, odds are very good for it paying off in the long term.

Nothing wrong with sales, service, or dealer work lots of people making great money. But you can also get tossed out on your *** in a moments notice for just about any reason.(See anyone else job hunting thread) Including performance, change in management, or maybe your just really good at your job making it look easy. Next thing you know they think your making to much money and you will be gone. There is a point in life, probably late in your 40's I would say, that you don't want to be looking for a new career or even a job for that matter.

Sorry to hear about your dads health that's important, but taking care of your future is also very important. I would try and find a balance but I still think sticking with water treatment would be my long term choice if I was in your position. I'm about your same age so I can kind of relate. For me there is a shifting away from trying to make the most money now to setting myself up for a stable job/career that I can do till retirement. The right choice now for me personally. I would be looking for the best opportunities for advancement along with highest possible future salary increases, as well as job security.

Sounds like your in on the ground floor of water treatment. My thought is no where to go but up the ladder. Don't know for sure but I bet the dealership job would be on the higher end of the ladder based on your prior experience. Might not be as much room to top out there. If you bail on water treatment you may not get a second opportunity with your minimal experience and your age. I see lots of openings all over for experience and certified waste water positions here in the states but very few entry level positions.

Best of luck to you.
 
What is more important to you?

I would say that if you get out of water treatment, it will be tougher to go back later.

Which job has more long term earnings potential?

This current boss may be a dick, it sounds like the heavy equipment guy is more of a friend and will treat you better.

Which job do YOU like better?

I think for short term, take the heavy equipment job to get closer to "home" and your dad. If it keeps paying well, stick with it... But that's what you have to decide...
 
Take the time with the family & have a serious discussion-- sleep on it & move forward-- only you can make that decision.

You at least, have good options -- use them wisely, good Luck Steve, Lawrence
 
Have you asked your father his opinion ? I think if you are stuck and can not decide he will give you the answer. One other thing, since your father is ill, I highly recommend a long conversation between both of you, with the topic being "everything I always wanted to ask you". Take it from someone who knows, you don't want to say later on, I wish I had told him something or asked him something.
 
69MOPE said:
Have you asked your father his opinion ? I think if you are stuck and can not decide he will give you the answer. One other thing, since your father is ill, I highly recommend a long conversation between both of you, with the topic being "everything I always wanted to ask you". Take it from someone who knows, you don't want to say later on, I wish I had told him something or asked him something.
Click to expand...

Very good advice. No Dad and I havent had this conversation yet. I will see him in a week, and there will no decision made before then.

My struggle with this is the uncertainty of when/if I will get a Water Treatment job back in Ontario. If I decide to take the job at the dealership, I feel like I have given up. Also Water Treatment gives me a sense of pride, as everyone/everything needs potable water and always will.
Even though I would be great at my job at the heavy equipment dealership, Im questioning if I would have the same satisfaction of doing a good job...:banghead:

My family is very important to me and I want to see them asap, but there is always the uncertainty with the big corporations...:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
Is get closer to home with your buddies offer.
Be satisfied with doing your job right well and with excellent effeicentcy.
It isn't a matter of giving up but rather insuring a happiness among all and security for the family.
 
rumblefish360 said:
Is get closer to home with your buddies offer.
Click to expand...

Hey Rob, Im in Saskatchewan right now, which is 2 provinces west of Ontario. Ontario is home for me and Lori. The job offer is approx 2 hours from where we live in Ontario.

I just sent my friend my resume and plan to meet up with him while Im back home next week for a visit.

Cheers
Steve
 
Steve, may the good Lord shine apon your door and the tax collector Ceasar, not be able to find it.
 
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