Job Hunt Decision

I've been talking with a company called Dealertrack, and they've made me a job offer. The job is similar to what I do now (java on the web) and offers a 25% pay bump. Cubicles instead of a private office, and private industry instead of government. I'd have to relocate, but that's not too big of an issue.

My trouble is that I'm pretty happy with my current job - I have a private office, good coworkers and I know where the bodies are buried. I'm a little torn on my decision, so to help me work it out I thought I'd ask the best and brightest if they have any opinions on Dealertrack or stories on similar situations?

Is 25% worth your happiness? I just lost 50% and am happier than ive been in ages. Its all perspective.

Datsun1500 wrote: Relocate to where? A 25% pay bump does not work well if the cost of living is 2X

+1. Use the cost of living calculator to ensure it's a good move.

http://money.cnn.com/calculator/pf/cost-of-living/

Does the cost of living change make sense compared to the raise? Will this further your future career opportunities? Does the idea of a fresh start in a new area excite you?

If the answer to these is yes, I'd say go for it!

The relocation would be from Alaska to Portland. I'd say Portland is cheaper than my current location, at least as far as rent, gas and groceries go...

I'd say it's neutral, in terms of career opportunities.

As for fresh starts, I have had a long term goal of moving down to the west coast, but I hadn't planned on making the move so soon.

Alaska strikes as one of those, love it or hate it type places. Portland is a cool place, but I'm guessing is far more urban than what you have now. So the move seems like a big one to me. Will you be happy in a cube?

You must really like Alaska to have asked this question

If your plan is to move down coast, then get on moving.

My plan is go out west for a few years, then come back to the south east coast if/when I need cheap babysitter...er grandparents. If someone offered me a spot out west today, I wouldn't hesitate.

Their booth at NADA 2014 was quite large and impressive, so I know they have money somewhere.

If you want out of alaska, its a no brainer.

If you were happy at your job, why were you looking. Or did they just come knocking?

They came knocking. I'm always happy to talk to recruiters, see what they have to offer.

I do like Alaska, but I'm starting to think the winters are long and dark, so it might be time to move on.

PDX is more urban than my current set up, which isn't all bad. It wouldn't be the most urban place I've ever lived. I am really fond of my private office. It has a water view and a door, which is not to be sneezed at.

I worry that private industry is a little more volatile than government, but I say that as someone that got an unplanned vacation last October...

Thanks for the feedback, I shall have to mull this over some more

C'mon down, the rain down here is fine!

I'd strongly suggest you try to find some employees of the new company, particularly any who would have the same/comparable duties as you, and try to get some intel on how the company really is from the inside. Use Facebook, Linked In, etc. whatever can get you some contacts there.

If it seems like a good solid company, with a culture that works with your needs, then go for it.

http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Dealertrack-Technologies,-Inc./reviews

Glassdoor can be useful for their reviews of a company. Typical "grain of salt" advice about internet reviews apply though, and sample size can be limited for companies not in the Fortune 500.

Can you squeeze a little more money out of your current position? As I read between the lines, it sounds like you are happy where you are. There is nothing wrong with that.

I've talked to a lot of the employees through the interview process and they seem pretty happy, but tracking folks down via linked in might be a good idea. I have the vague impression that working directly for their HQ might not be up my alley, but this is a satellite office on the other side of the country that sounds good from what I've gleaned.

It's unlikely that I could squeeze any more money out of my current position. It's a government job, we're under a continuing resolution, there's probably going to be another shutdown shutdown (my pessimism on this knows no bounds) and long story short, there is only money to do ~3% raises. That's about what I scored this last round. 7 or 8 years ago, I'm told that bonuses and 5-10% raises were pretty common around here, so the pendulum may swing. At my current rate of increase, I'll be at max compensation for my position (zp-iii for those where that means something) in 6 years.

I probably should make a rubric to figure myself out. For my own benefit:

1. Happiness - I like my coworkers and the work and the fringe benefits, but the other place sounds pretty good. I'm ok with my current locale, but I could do with a change of scenery

2. Compensation - I'm doing ok, I don't really need more money, but I'm also not really making enough to buy an actual home. This is because I live in a place where the choices are trailer or beach palace, so somewhere else would change that equation

3. Risk - How hard would it be for my significant other to find work down that way, what are the odds that the company and I are on good terms for a couple years, how accurate is my assessment of their characters, vs just staying put and running my rut deeper