"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus) 02/23/2017 at 22:03 • Filed to: None

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well the final numbers are in. there is still a large pay gap.

So i’m sure alot of you are like so whats the problem?!? u a dumb mother f’r?!? maybe i am, but I like what I do. I can OPPO during the day, but I work hard. I will get to design hotels, restaurants, condos where I am. Or I could just do houses, but get paid more to do it. I would be happy just doing the houses, but i’m afraid I’d always be thinking I’m be missing out. At this point in my career, if I dont get the experience in commercial architecture, I probably never will. My dream is to do a large resort/hotel on Cape Cod, and with the residential job, I’d most likely be giving that up. But I’d be getting paid a lot more to do it. The commute would be 100x better as well.

My boss talked about how hes looking for a path to not necessarily retirement but to be in a position where he can just pull clients in and oversee operations but not really have to do that crappy parts in the next 5-10 years. He said he thinks I’m a great designer and could take over part of the company. I like how there is some sort of path laid out for me, which I don’t really think would happen at the other place. We also got a great job doing a beachfront restaurant yesterday. That is something I’m excited to be a part of. He said he would give me merit based raises but couldn’t really promise any sort of schedule. I’m just having a hard time walking away from the money. Money doesn;t buy happiness, but it does buy an WRX and look at how happy he is

E90M3 > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 22:11

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You’ve changed jobs before and can do it again if you need to. Sounds like the opportunity is pretty good, plus you’ve worked for the guy before. Money isn’t everything, but you’ve got 3 kids to support, and it sounds like this would also be a good opportunity for you.

I didn’t chase money in my job search this time, but it is important to get paid.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 22:23

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As they say money doesn’t buy happiness, but it does buy horsepower, and that’s pretty much the same thing. Houses are boring anyway. If you don’t hate where you’re at, and you have an opportunity to move up on the company within 5 years, that’s not a bad deal. 5 years is no time at all.

If you’re miserable where you’re at, then that’s another story. If the money is close, then make the switch.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 22:23

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Money is nothing if you do not enjoy what you do. Having a car you love won’t make dealing with work any easier.

It sounds like there is a clear path to advance within the company you are currently with and they offer a better variety of projects. So despite the lower pay, I would stick around if that isn’t going to be weird.

It sounds like the field you’re in has plenty of opportunities to move on should you absolutely have to later. I’d stay and get as much experience as you can and if this path you’ve been told about doesn’t materialize you have the ability to change companies on your terms.

Biggus Dickus (RevsBro) > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 22:27

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Don’t always chase the money. I did once and hated it. I worked for a summer for a BB investment bank. Made an assload of money (for a junior in college) but Fuck I had no life outside of work and was just miserable.

OPPOsaurus WRX > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 02/23/2017 at 22:31

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I’m sure i would liek them both. I think the projects are better here, but the office environment would be better there.

OPPOsaurus WRX > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc 02/23/2017 at 22:32

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thats true but seeing my kids get older, I see I’m not getting any younger

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 22:36

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I still vote for experience, but it sounds like you can’t really lose.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 22:37

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If it’s the choice between doing something you love and money, choose doing the thing you love.

If it’s the choice between doing something you like and something you hate, but that pays more, choose the thing you like.

But it sounds like the choice between two things you like, one you like more but one that pays more money. In that case I would choose the one with the highest return over the next five years.

rillweid - Now with more TRD and less TDI > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/23/2017 at 23:31

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Not sure where I stand on this one. Sounds like you clearly want to stay with the job you have now, but it sounds like you have a family to support, and kids are expensive.

RacinBob > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/24/2017 at 00:33

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Put on your 10 year glasses and determine what is your best route. Life is like endurance racing. The ultimate result matters, not any given lap. This is a long play, act like it.

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/24/2017 at 00:41

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Take the job that pays more and tell the guy to call you when he is ready to retire. Vague promises of more money and higher positions rarely pan out. The extra money you save for retirement in the higher paying job will leave you happier in the long term. Diversified experience is always good.

Tazio, Count Fouroff > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/24/2017 at 02:29

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What @RacinBob said

More pay now at the cost of limiting your career options later sounds like a risky trade-off

OPPOsaurus WRX > MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow 02/24/2017 at 07:53

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Part of me agrees with you in that he’s kinda cheap and it could take another round of this BS to get it in place, but on the other hand, he already had been trying to get 401k’s in place so there could be some truth to it. Staying here would actually give me more diversity as the other place is strictly residential but this place will do anything.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/24/2017 at 08:53

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This is tough, but I’d recommend keeping the job with more variety and potential for advancement. At least for, say, two more years. Here is why:

As you said, it’s more interesting. That is more valuable to a professional than many realize until it is too late.

It is helpful to get licensed while working with the person who can write the important reference letter while you are able to walk over and bug them about it (assuming architecture is similar to professional engineering license process, and also I’m not clear whether you are licensed yet).

Also, as a professional, if you specialize into only residential housing, you will be that much more limited as your career advances, and are more likely to have fewer options in the future and that may limit your future earning potential. I have seen this happen with civil engineers, and this is the basis of my perspective. And now that I am in a position to hire, younger engineers with diverse experience at least give me the chance to say that they have SOME experience in the specific sub-specialization I’m looking for. Otherwise, they have to be a rare candidate with ONLY the experience I’m looking for.

Finally, there is a lot to be said to having the chance to advance as one’s manager advances . . . in this case, if you like the business, you then have an opportunity to buy it out, or at least have a hand in growing it and thereby justifying more salary and bonuses . . . and every couple of years evaluate the situation and if you are not getting the returns, take that diverse experience of projects and responsibility elsewhere.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/24/2017 at 09:41

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If you’ll bear with me, I’ll give you a personal story. I left a job where I literally would be making double what I make today. However, it was a miserable environment and I was surrounded by arseholes. I still make good money, I like the people I work with, and I have a better schedule. I look back sometimes and miss the cash and early retirement it would have allowed, but I really would have been miserable.

If you stay, will there never be another opportunity like the one you have? I suspect there would be. It sounds like you have a good relationship with your boss — any chance of actually sitting down with him and charting out the future pathway to take over part of the company?

OPPOsaurus WRX > haveacarortwoorthree2 02/24/2017 at 10:26

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yes, he couldn’t agree to anything but thats what he wants to have happen. he just couldn’t spell it out at this time.

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/24/2017 at 12:32

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I mean diversity in terms of employers/work environment. You never know how good or bad you really have it until you work somewhere else.