I seriously need advice about work HELP

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
I seriously need advice about work HELP
5
Sat, 04-17-2004 - 11:46pm
Hi Everyone,

How are you all? I just wanted to drop by and say congrats to all the "losers" on the board! I've been so stressed out and confused lately. I started March 1st at 320 and I'm down to 302, so I've lost 18 pounds!! I'm elated about that. It's hard work. I do LOTS of cardio and also strength train 4 days/week (2 days upper body, 2 days lower body). My body fat % is down 7 %!!!! So I'm so excited.

Anyway, that's not what this is about. I have a really, really tough decision in mind right now. I'm going to tell you guys what sort of income I make. I don't want you to take it as any sort of bragging or anything. As you'll read, I am really not driven by money. But here's the situation:

I've been off of work on disability leave since the beginning of February. I am a mortgage banker, which means I sell, sell, sell mortgages. For those that know about the mortgage industry, mortgage banking is a very lucrative career. I was on pace to make $120,000/year before I got sick. The money you can make is crazy. Well, I went on disability and got very depressed. I'm having lots of problems with my thyroid and with my jaw and ears becoming inflamed and infected (which makes it very difficult to sell mortgages if it hurts to talk). Anyway, my disability pay is about $45,000/year. It's a far cry from the full pay that I could make if I were working, but it's certainly not shabby. The problem comes in when I realized that I don't want to go back to my job. I simply find it extremely stressful. When working, I typically work about 60 hours per week, and usually every other weekend. So, basically, I usually work Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and then every other Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As you can see, there is literally no time for myself. And the biggest stressor is the fact that if you're behind your production goals, you have to stay after. So, say on a Tuesday evening when 7:30 or 8:00 rolls around, if you don't have a loan, you're expected to stay until you get one. I've literally been at work until 10:30 p.m. sometimes. You're probably wondering who I'm talking to at that time. I work in the Eastern time zone, but write loans in all states. So I can talk to people on the west coast at that time. Now, here's the twist:

At my company, there's a position open called a Quality Assurance Sales Specialist. I was SO excited to learn about it. Based on my research, someone in that position would make about $40,000-$50,000 per year. It's in the training department, which is exactly what I've always wanted to do! I was elated...until I found out that the pay range is $30,000-$35,000. Sure, you can get a yearly bonus up to 25% of your salary (which would put me in the $40,000 range, but still). The training director really likes me and I think she'd love to have me in that position. But it's a HUGE decrease in income. My therapist told me that I shouldn't go back to work yet. But I feel like crap sitting at home. And that job sounded absolutely up my alley. I basically get to listen to people who do the job I used to do, and critique them on their performance. And since I was a high performer, the training director feels I'd have a lot of great input. That's great and all. But how can I justify going back to work to work for LESS MONEY than what I'm getting paid to sit at home!! And there's no way I can get a salary higher than $35,000...that is the absolute max. Really, they're looking to pay less than $33,000, but I think I can talk them into $35,000. If I were to take that job, in about 6 months or so, I'd probably get a promotion to a Sales Coaching position. This position sort of takes over for the position I'd be doing in the sense that the salesperson would be critiqued by the QA specialist, and then the sales coach goes to sit with that person and coaches them. That is IDEAL for me. And I'd say the pay for that is probably in the $40,000 range, which is fine. But it just freaks me out that I'm going to go back to work for less money than I get sitting at home.

I'm sorry this is so long. I just need major advice. David, my fiance, doesn't know what to tell me. We really do need the money right now. He is just finishing school, and hasn't yet gotten a job (he's waiting to finish his internship). So, we've been living on my income...which was fine until I got sick and stopped working. Now I don't want to go back to the same position, but I almost feel forced because of our money situation. My disability is exactly enough to pay our bills. Anything less would be a major stressor financially. However, David's parents are very supportive of us. We never ask them for financial help, but they are just the type of people who would help out financially if we needed it. I mean, should I follow my heart and go for the training position? I've always wanted to get my foot in the door in the training arena. Or should I follow my head which tells me to stay at home and collect disability in excess of what my new pay would be? AHHHHH!!! What would you guys do?? I'm just so confused!!!!

Thanks for your advice. I sincerely appreciate it.

~Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Sun, 04-18-2004 - 2:08am
Shannon, while I obviously can't make the decision for you........I did want to say this.
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-18-2004 - 11:45am

Hello Shannon =)

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-22-2003
Sun, 04-18-2004 - 10:11pm
Thank you Rely & Shawna. Yes, I think you are both right. And I don't like staying home and drawing disability. I'm bored and depressed, sitting here at home. I'm kind of at the point where if the position is offered to me, I will take it. I feel in my heart it's the right thing to do. I can't stay on disability forever, anyway. I either stay home now and dread going back to a job I hate or I go back now and maybe suffer financially for 6 months to a year, but then get promotions within the training team. Training is my passion, like social work is yours (Shawna). I figure if I start now and get lots of experience in the next 3-5 years, I can always find a position somewhere as a director making lots of money. I am going to get my MBA since my work pays for it and since the position is many less hours. I figure I can get my MBA within in 2-3 years and then I'll have a great way to make more money. I guess that's my plan now. :)

Thanks for listening guys. Money isn't everything. Many people would kill for the chance to make what I was making. But I don't feel it's worth it. Life is too short to be stressed out or dread work.

Talk to you soon!

Shannon

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 1:24am
Hi Shannon

I'm hopping in a little late, but I just want to reinforce that you seem to be making the best decision for you. My husband has made a similar decision in his life and I support him fully. I'm not with him to get into a higher tax bracket; I'm with him because he cracks me up. If he isn't happy, then I wouldn't get as many psychotic giggle fests.

You also seem to be plotting a five year plan, which is awesome and only reinforces that this is the best idea for you. It may sound dorky coming from a complete stranger, but I'm proud of you for not getting caught up in the mad cash frenzy. People burn out and become so miserable that way.

xxkathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 9:46am
Hi Shannon,

I'm coming in a little late on this, too but I wanted to let you know that I agree with the others. Money isn't everything. And it sounds like you have a good plan ahead of you. You probably wouldn't be able to go back for your MBA if you went back to your old job with all the crazy hours you were working. And if your heart tells you that you should take this new position, then I say go for it. Yes, it might be tight for a while, but like you said, you will get the promotions and make more money in the future. At least you'll be doing something that you love. Good luck :-)

~~Linda

~~Linda