Career Dilema..Opinions?

[highwayman]

Money doesn't buy happiness. Money buys things that may make your life easier but that material things aren't what truly make people happy.

I am happily married...which is not based on money. When we got married I was making $5.75 per hour , drove an 8 year old rusted out car , lived in a small apt. but we were happy.

Nicely said +1

[Gutwrench]

Money does not buy happiness, but it does buy a better class of misery.


NOLACOP,

I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation, but it certainly seems to me you're taking a wise, pragmatic approach to address your problem. I’ve meet many people who don't extend the due diligence to think issues through as thoroughly as you're doing. I'm sure you and your family will reach the best decision.

If I were in your situation this is where I would start. Over the years I've developed many contacts in law enforcement, inside and outside my agency, and so I'd take advantage of them. I’d seek out a respected mentor/friend probably a chief or some other higher-ranking administrator from an unrelated agency to discuss this with. I would not rule out a middle manager either. I’d try to choose someone with the background of my core concerns so I can get the best benefit of their experience/comments. I hope you have such a relationship with someone, but in the event you don't this might be the opportunity to develop such a relationship if you know someone who is both safe and approachable.

Off the top of my head I’m thinking that if your family can adapt to any financial changes that switching agencies can cause, I'd considered making the change. I obviously do not have enough information about your specific situation to give advice, but I know myself. I know that if I love the work I'm doing I am more likely to be passionate about doing it day-after-day, and I am then more interested to learn new skills, etc. And when these things are happening in a person's career they are more likely to be recognized and the opportunity to promote is greater.

If I was a veteran officer and afraid to make the switch because of longevity concerns, then I'd probably sit down alone and do some deep soul searching. If I reach the conclusion that I should stay in my current agency, then I would identify what parts of the job I like the most and focus on them. I'd try to look outside the box to see if there are positions within my agency, a move up or a move laterally, that I could skill up on to move in to. I’d try to set some concrete goals and start working toward them. This accomplishes a few things: progress toward a better station within my career/department, serves as a distraction over the stress of my current station, and it will give me some peace-of-mind that I am taking some affirmative action to address my problem.

I hope you keep us posted. If I can be any help privately please don't hesitate sending me a message. Good luck.

My best regards to you.

Gut

[Aussie George]

I can't recall who said it but I remember the quote...

"Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy a nice boat to pull alongside in." :D

Personally, the money would have to be REAL good.

I chased the money to my current dept. The money is a LOT better. The job is no better, and if anything more frustrating and tedious, with far fewer rewards (other than the pay) and very little job satisfaction compared to what I was used to.

Some of that is due also from moving from country copper to city copper, but a lot has to do with the politics of the new dept, being federal compared to state.

I also thought I would have some chance of using that Federal job to get to my dream location. WRONG!!!

So now I am looking at what options I can pursue to stay in my dept to get where I want,a nd if that is not possible, I will be looking at other work opportunities to get to where I want to live.

At the moment that means looking outside LE, because the state where I want to live does not offer a very attractive lateral program and I don't want to be a recruit again after 7 years, and the pay is back to less than what I left in my old dept.

Choose happiness over dollars. Remember the extra dollars can only be spent in the pursit of the happiness you are missing out on, whereas if you already have the happiness, who needs the green? ;)

Good luck with your choice.