A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:I have a very difficult decision to make and I need help. It's a choice between 2 very different jobs. I am currently working in sales, I don't like sales much at all, it's a retail job with part time hours. I applied for a new job in the police department (I've asked questions about the new job here before). I've never worked in dispatch before so I don't know what to expect, it's a far more serious position and is at least 40 hours a week. Here's my dilemma, I was just offered full time hours at my current job today- I've been here 4 years, was told full time isn't an option which is why I looked for another job. The new job starts in January. Do I go for a new job where I don't know what to expect with some pretty bad shifts (midnight shifts, possible mandatory overtime, etc) I'm quite worried about the hours.... But I feel is more of a career and something I could enjoy?Or stick with what I know, full time in a position where I know and like my manager, good hours, but not something I love doing?It's hard because I could leave where I'm comfortable and lose everything and hate the new position. I'm scared of losing my job and my offer then hating the new job and having nowhere to go. Please help, what would you do?And ps. The new position still pays more by a fair amount. Reply to this Question
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reader, anonymous, writes (3 December 2012): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks for the advice everyone. Perhaps not, you put things in perspective for me. The only thing I worry about are the hours at the new job, if I could handle mandatory overtime, how bad that could get, and working the midnight shifts. At my current job at least I know what to expect hours wise. But you are all right, I should take the risk and I'm not happy where I'm at so I should at least try for something new. Thanks again.
A
female
reader, PerhapsNot +, writes (2 December 2012):
 1. You don't like your current job2. New job pays moreSo what is the worst thing that can happen? You hate this new job, yet still get paid more money. Would you rather hate option A with less money, or option B with more money? Seems simple to me. At least this way, you have more money to spend on yourself to make your life better and treat yourself.
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A
male
reader, N91  +, writes (1 December 2012):
 Give it a chance I say.
I was in the same boat, worked 9-5 in factories and offices and found it terrible. I took a step back and tried to find a career path to be proud and happy with and I'm exceptionally close to joining the Army as a military police officer which to me sounds like an amazing opportunity due to my interests.
Embrace change, it could be one of the best things you ever do. Whatever is going to make you happiest, you go with.
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A
female
reader, person12345 +, writes (1 December 2012):
 I personally think you should take a risk and take the new job. You said you don't like working retail, it's pretty unlikely police dispatch will be more boring than that. My friend works as a dispatcher and she finds it pretty interesting because of the strange people she often encounters. I worked retail awhile ago and even 10 jobs later have yet to find anything that even approaches that level of boring.
Change is scary, but you likely have a lot more room to advance in the new job, PLUS more money, plus honestly it's a more prestigious job. You'll likely have a lot more flexibility on this new kind of job. As you become more senior you won't have such weird hours either.
Just my $.02, but I think that change doesn't come along too often and when a chance to change your life for the better comes along you should grab it even if it's scary/a risk. I recently had a comfortable stable life where I knew things would be easy, but I wasn't happy. My job was boring and didn't challenge me at all. I had an opportunity for a challenging new job way across the country in a really big city and I took it, even though I was under-qualified and not really sure I could do the work. Now I am expanding my skills, have a ton of opportunity for moving up and love my life and job.
A challenge and change is always more interesting and often is better for your life and as far as risks go, this is pretty low-risk for the chance for a lot of payoff.
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A
female
reader, aunt honesty  +, writes (1 December 2012):
 Personally I think that you should take a risk here! By your own admission you don't love doing sales, therefore I think you should try something new, yes it is scary for anybody starting a new job and the anxiety will be there, but life is to short not to be taking risks, and if you do not try it you will end up thinking what if.
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