Hello MT, I hope some of the more experienced members can help me navigate this.
I'm a junior expat working for a large multi-national as a cus/operations team leader in our largest branch office. I like my current role, but I'm not interested in advancing directly upward in this function.
One of the senior managers in this location has asked me to consider a promotion and move to his department working on systems implementation, projects and lean roll-out for the branch. The job is big and it shows his huge confidence in me to even consider me for it; it's better than anything I expect to be hired for in the US.
But he's asked for 2 years, and I'm not very happy in this location. I've been here for 16 months and I'm tired of the pollution, traffic, cost of getting in and out of here, and the general lack of social and cultural outlets. I'm also a little worried about losing touch with my US network. There is probably a pay-point that would make me stay, but I'm not sure what it is or what I could negotiate.
I'm 26 and two years is only one more on top of my existing contract. I love work (I read MT on the weekends!) but I'm scared of taking promotions like this and waking up in 10 years, still single and having missed out of years of family events.
Should I say yes because the opportunity is unique? What could I negotiate to make the location more appealing? Is there a good way to say no?
Thanks!
Any possibility that you
Any possibility that you could do the job remotely (eg. from the US office? / preferable location)? Also, you don't sound very happy in the location - it sounds like you might regret taking the job for almost any "reasonable" pay point.
time flies when you're having fun
Just my opinion - if this job is really just one more year on top of your current commitment, and is taking you in a career direction you want to pursue, and you like the work, ask yourself if two years from now you will have been glad you took it. Only you can answer that.
My experience: I was in a location I loved (Oregon), close to family (in my case grown children), but in a dead-end position. I was offered a job on the opposite side of the US (moving from Northwest to Southeast). It was a hard decision and I agonized over it, but in the end I took the job for the opportunity. It meant moving away from my kids, to a part of the country where I knew no one - and the culture was very different. But, I really wanted to work for the hiring company. I wanted the challenge the position offered. I did a good job for them, got some great experience and after 3 years there was recruited for my current job - back in the Pacific Northwest. I KNOW I wouldn't have my current job if I hadn't taken the one in the SE, and it's heads and tails above any job I've had before. Now I have it all - job I want in the location I want. For me, it was worth it. Of course everyone's experience is unique and you have to decide for yourself if the trade off is worth it.