cant decide whether to go for the 'big' job or keep phoning it in - WWYD and why?

[Anonymous]

12:06 ^^

[Anonymous]

This is such a tough question. I'm in the same boat -- kids are 2 & 4, like my job and it has a lot of flexibility, but I need to think about a move soon or get stuck. This definitely is not a job that I want to be doing for the next 20 years. I know myself though and know that the stress of a job with long hours and lots of travel makes me not a nice person (did this at the firm for four years.) I may take some boredom/regret over the chance of complete deterioration of my marriage and family life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NP here. Why do you think there is a time limit on your opportunity for a "big job"? What is the reasoning behind this thinking? Just curious.

OP here. I'm a lawyer at a trade association for a highly regulated industry - a relatively specialized area of law, although a big industry. I've been practicing for 11 years. I'm in a sweet spot right now because I have the right amount expertise to go in somewhere 1-2 levels below the GC (or, for the 'big job' in question, 2 reports from the COO of a huge company), and those positions have lots of opportunities, either to move up to GC or move out to the business or policy side, if you'll be around long enough. I know I'm in the sweet spot because I've gotten a lot of invitations to apply for these jobs. If I stay another 5 years, because our structure is flat, I wont gain commensurate experience to go elsewhere at a higher level, and I wont have 15-20 years to offer. Also, because our structure is flat, I think I would be perceived as not that ambitious if I stayed in the same job for 12 years. I work with people who have been there for 15 years, and I dont think they really have many outside opportunities in the industry anymore - they have sort of stagnated.

Is there something else you can do so you won't appear to be stagnating? I don't know, I'm just brainstorming, but could you write a book? Teach? Take on a more public role? Get more involved with trade association type events? Address some of the policy side? IE, keep your job, but add on in ways that will make you appear ambitious and more marketable?

[Anonymous]

Interesting article in today's Times that is on point: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/08/business/coveting-not-a-corner-office-but-time-at-home.html?hp&_r=0