if you had the opportunity to apply for and probably get a position that could net a potential 30% pay increase yet would entail enough travel to keep you away from home 3 nights a week, would you go for it?
here's the situation: i run a restaurant and have done so for the better part of 7 years. my salary has pretty much plateaued. however, i know of some field consultant positions that are open from the franchise parent company. i'm very qualified and could even secure several letters of recommendation. the hitch is that it is a FIELD position and i may end up away from home as many as 3 nights a week. i'm married and have a young son. the wife likes the idea except is wary of the travel part (as am i)... i haven't been able to get a straight answer on a realistic travel amount so i'm guessing at half a week each week.
i'm going to go ahead and submit a resume, but any advice is welcome, especially if you travel a lot away from your family in your job. do you like it? do you hate it? i'm a rather solitary person so i could probably deal with it to a point although i'd miss my family dearly. still, that's a big bump in pay...
Last edited by chrisfasowned; 11-26-2006 at 06:40 PM.
killing threads since 1976.
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it could be a stepping stone for you to something up the ladder. And there is nothing saying you have to stay in that position forever, right? Apply and see where it goes. As much as it would suck for you to be away from your family, three nights a week isn't as bad as it could be.
I would agree.
If you do apply you can always decline later, or go back later.
If you don't apply, you'll never know.
I travelled for a year and a half after graduating from college. It wasn't so bad since I was young and didn't have a kid yet. I missed my wife, but we survived. I would usually leave Monday morning and return friday afternoon or Sat. When I came back on Friday, it wasn't so bad, but I hated having it go into my weekend. About a year is all I wanted to do and I got out. 3 days a week wouldn't be so bad though. If I had to travel again, I wouldn't mind 3 days, but I don't ever want to do the entire week thing for a year straight again.
also, if you like eating out, you won't after you travel alot. I still hate eating out and it has been over a year since I did that.. When I think of all of the Chili/Benegins/Friday's I had to eat, I want to vomit.
It is often times very stressful on a marriage. Especially if there is a young child involved and can lead to some unintentional resentment. How old is your son? Are you prepared to miss his first steps or his first words? Those things can, and do, happen when you travel a lot for work. It is a real concern and you and your wife are really the only ones that can know if it is something you can handle.
Originally Posted by Fone Bone
I will agree with that. I didn't mind while I wasn't a father, but I wouldn't want to do it now. My manager told me about a guy who worked where we did. He started working as a consultant when his kids were really little and did it for several years. One time when his wife and kids came to pick him up from the airport, one of his kids wouldn't come to give him a hug because he was shy. That guy ended up quiting the next day, since his kids were not seeing him enough and were starting to feel like he was a stranger. I never wanted to go through that.
Can you ask the guy who has the job now exactly how much he travels? Because if "they" aren't telling you how much travel is involved, it's probably a lot. And if there isn't a guy to ask because the position isn't currently filled, I would ask why, when I went for the interview. If this is a job that has a lot of turnover, then ask why. That may give you your answer.
think what is more important to you and which would be more fulfilling in life - time with family or increase in pay in a field you're good at - neither is supposed to be the correct answer, mind you.
the answer is right in front of you if you figure that out.
thanks for all the good advice and kind words, guys.
the position is a new position that is opening up to split the duties from another field consultant position. the original field consultant position hits 40-50 stores twice a year and usually spends the better part of a day in each store. usually, johnnie (the guy i've spoken with who is a field consultant) is home most nights and is always home on weekends. he may spend one night a week away from home. this new position would get me in and out of each store in a couple hours. and if several stores are relatively nearby in the same city, i could hit 3 stores a day monday, tuesday, and wednesday, then spend the rest of the week at home uploading reports. i would actually be home about the same if not more than i am now while running a store. it's just my time away would be lumped together.
there's a lot to think about, and i won't know anything concrete until i talk to someone in charge...
killing threads since 1976.
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