Good idea/bad idea?

So I currently work for the University of Michigan as an electrician, been there ten years (good gig).

I used to work for MAHLE USA as a quality Manager. One of the cats left MAHLE and is setting up operations for a company called Bleistahl here in MI. They want me to be their Quality Supervisor.

I've put them off twice because they won't talk money with me. I highly doubt they will match my current salary. But I would be working for a tier one auto supplier again?

What would you choose? Stability or adventure?

As background I'm married with two young boys. I work five minutes from home now. I'd be taking on an 1.5 hour 1 way commute and a lot of travel to Germany, Mexico and China.

Should I turn them down?

you still might be young enough for adventure depending on age.... but money talks

You should turn them down every time until they're ready to talk money.

GameboyRMH wrote: You should turn them down every time until they're ready to talk money.

THIS

Sine_Qua_Non wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: You should turn them down every time until they're ready to talk money.

THIS

+2

They looking for any car savvy cubicle jockeys?

Do you get classes for free at the University? That should be considered. As well as the future college options of those two young boys.

Bobzilla wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: You should turn them down every time until they're ready to talk money.

THIS

+2

+3

Yeah definitely consider what benefits your children might receive from UM. There is no way you should accept a job without talking money, so that conversation needs to be had. Also thats a bad commute. Would you be able to see your kids much?

Bobzilla wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote:

GameboyRMH wrote: You should turn them down every time until they're ready to talk money.

THIS

+2

++3. Ask them why they are wasting your time.

Sounds like an exponentially worse gig than what you have now. As mentioned, any tuition benefits for the kids at the college?

That could be potentially hundreds of thousands down the line.....

Stay put. Not worth the potential risk. Commute sucks. Spend your free time playing with cars not commuting

BBC

So they won't talk money (but you're assuming it's going to be noticeably less) and your commute goes up by over an hour each way. Plus you don't sound too enthused by the travel requirement.

Why are you considering this again?

paranoid_android74 wrote: As background I'm married with two young boys. I work five minutes from home now. I'd be taking on an 1.5 hour 1 way commute and a lot of travel to Germany, Mexico and China.

You can't buy back the 390 hours of time per year you will lose with your boys. Stay where you are.

Too bad you're not in software tech support or project management...

GameboyRMH wrote: You should turn them down every time until they're ready to talk money.

This is what I've been doing. I laid out my current compensation package twice- only response is we have competitive benefits as well.

Psha...

beans wrote: They looking for any car savvy cubicle jockeys?

Possibly- they are at ground zero. Offices aren't even finished yet. They are in Battle Creek, MI.

vwcorvette wrote: Do you get classes for free at the University? That should be considered. As well as the future college options of those two young boys.

I get tuition reimbursement, yes. No educational benefits for my kids which sucks.

fritzsch wrote: Yeah definitely consider what benefits your children might receive from UM. There is no way you should accept a job without talking money, so that conversation needs to be had. Also thats a bad commute. Would you be able to see your kids much?

Likely not- they deliver to plants in Mexico and greater Detroit and Flint and aren't in full production yet. So they have a bumpy road to go down quality wise until it smooths out and I would be the only resource for this.

The job posting said 25% travel...

BoxheadTim wrote: So they won't talk money (but you're assuming it's going to be noticeably less) and your commute goes up by over an hour each way. Plus you don't sound too enthused by the travel requirement. Why are you considering this again?

My career goal finishing college was to work in the automotive industry. I did that and was angling toward working in a motorsports division, which almost happened. The plant in Michigan closed before I got that far.

At a sacrifice, I could be doing that work again. And I could be losing that job again if this plant folds too.

Does anyone here work in the industry currently? I have no idea what the prospects are these days...

Billy_Bottle_Caps wrote: Stay put. Not worth the potential risk. Commute sucks. Spend your free time playing with cars not commuting BBC

This is precisely what I was thinking!

If all they're saying is they have "competitive benefits" that's not a good sign.

If you do consider working for them, tell them what the minimum they'd have to cough up is (with some negotiation room built in) and tell them that's the minimum it takes to get you to move.

paranoid_android74 wrote:

Billy_Bottle_Caps wrote: Stay put. Not worth the potential risk. Commute sucks. Spend your free time playing with cars not commuting BBC

This is precisely what I was thinking!

I think you have your answer then .

The business-page consensus seems to be that US manufacturing is coming back, and the auto industry with it. I have idea what insiders would tell you. That said, I think you'd have to be crazy to take on that travel and that commute for anything less than about 4X your current compensation. The key sentence in your description was "I have two young boys." Wanna keep seeing them grow up? Just your commute alone would cover their breakfast and after school times. What does Mrs. Android think about this?

Stealthtercel wrote: The business-page consensus seems to be that US manufacturing is coming back, and the auto industry with it. I have idea what insiders would tell you. That said, I think you'd have to be crazy to take on that travel and that commute for anything less than about 4X your current compensation. The key sentence in your description was "I have two young boys." Wanna keep seeing them grow up? Just your commute alone would cover their breakfast and after school times. What does Mrs. Android think about this?

The stumbling point in the wage discussion comes down to three distinct labor markets existing in Michigan, I am currently in the highest paid one and would be working in a lesser paid one if I took the new job.

Lol! Mrs. Android (Morse) is leaving it up to me and she will deal with what I decide.

I guess I'm worried about becoming "that dad" who is never home, off pursuing their career...