[Finance] What is the best or worst career decision you've ever made?

Barnet Seagull · Jan 19, 2023

All of the experiences have helped. Best decision probably a gap year in industry to understand a) what I was and wasn't good at and b) my value.
I've probably hung on a bit too long in a few places and could have probably moved up the ladder faster and further but I now know that I'm kind of at my peak in terms of work/career/money/stress balance. I've seen the sacrifices made to be at the top and that isn't for me. So I'm happy being very good at my job and holding on for another 8-10 years or so till I start dropping hints about voluntary redundancy.

dazzer6666 · Jan 19, 2023

Barnet Seagull said:
All of the experiences have helped. Best decision probably a gap year in industry to understand a) what I was and wasn't good at and b) my value.
I've probably hung on a bit too long in a few places and could have probably moved up the ladder faster and further but I now know that I'm kind of at my peak in terms of work/career/money/stress balance. I've seen the sacrifices made to be at the top and that isn't for me. So I'm happy being very good at my job and holding on for another 8-10 years or so till I start dropping hints about voluntary redundancy.

Excellent plan……

Badger · Jan 19, 2023

I've been at my current company for almost 7 years, which is by far the longest I've been at one place. Up until about 6 months ago, I had absolutely no interest in leaving and I've largely enjoyed the work I've been doing with the usual ups and downs you have in all jobs. We went through 2 takeovers last year. The first one was great; their culture was very similar to ours and we all felt valued. The second takeover; which was billed as more of a merger than a takeover; not so great. I'm not so keen on the direction we've starting going in and I cannot abide the American corporate bullshit we get bombarded with. We had a "Company All-Hands" meeting yesterday and I couldn't have felt any more disconnected from the core of the company.

I've spoken to a few other people from my original company, and the feelings are largely the same. I think the sudden change from a 120 employee company, to a 5,000+ bohemoth isn't what most of us signed up for. One guy said to me yesterday, he hopes to stick it out for a bit and then get offered a redundancy package and take a few months off. I think I feel the same.

Paulie Gualtieri · Jan 19, 2023

Worse: first two weeks in my new job, severe imposter syndrome having decided to move for safety (economy and young family) before being made redundant in June this year (walked away c£30k payout)

Best: knowing I’ve made the best move possible after two weeks in the job and could see myself here for years, great company

Paulie Gualtieri · Jan 19, 2023

The Antikythera Mechanism said:
It’s all about being in the right place at the right time, although you probably don’t realise it then. In 1998 I held a senior position in an Italian international company. I was based in the UK offices in Docklands and travelled frequently to the Netherlands. Out of the blue I got a call from a company in SW London asking if I’d be interested in joining them. They were a small specialist sub-contracting firm turning over about £8m pa. I nearly didn’t go, but decided nothing ventured nothing gained. The owner said he’d have to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse, which was a basic of 45k pa plus guaranteed £5k bonus, company car, pension, health insurance etc. Three years later I was a director, five years later I was part of a management buyout, sixteen years later I sold my shares. Twenty five years later, I still have an involvement as a consultant. My previous company downsized their UK operations and closed the London offices. Things could’ve been so different had I made a different decision twenty five years ago.

Sliding doors

Sirnormangall · Jan 19, 2023

Mustafa II said:
I'm thinking about taking a lower paid job in the same field, but with greater potential for development and career progression...

But I've got a good thing with my current role... I'm comfortable and enjoy my job... But I'm the first to admit it's going nowhere.

Looking for inspiration or ideas.

Have any of you got examples of great or terrible decisions you have made in your careers?

I was in a similar situation many years ago. I gave up a well paid job in the city to take up a (40%) lower paid job nearer to home. It was a big risk ( young family, financial commitments etc) but fortunately it worked out well because the company embarked on a significant growth plan and my role grew with it. A big plus also was an end to commuting! Go for it.

Commander · Jan 20, 2023

I don't think I've ever made a 'bad' career move. Maybe stayed at some places too long, or left others too early. I've always gone along the lines of I'll stay where I am as long as I'm happy, then I usually get bored after about 2 years and move on. If after 2 years I wasn't going to get promoted I'd promote myself by getting a job at the next level up at a competitor. Basically climbed the ladder without ever actually getting promoted. It worked a treat.

cloud · Jan 20, 2023

Best - having a 'portfolio' career with experience in lots of different areas, so more options when applying for jobs

Worst - taking decades to learn how to 'walk the walk', which is the gateway to a higher salary

Harry Wilson's tackle · Jan 20, 2023

Mustafa II said:
I'm thinking about taking a lower paid job in the same field, but with greater potential for development and career progression...

But I've got a good thing with my current role... I'm comfortable and enjoy my job... But I'm the first to admit it's going nowhere.

Looking for inspiration or ideas.

Have any of you got examples of great or terrible decisions you have made in your careers?

Go with your gut. I always have and it has always worked out.

Incidentally............where is the poll?

Greg Bobkin · Jan 20, 2023

Best work-related decision: going freelance in 2008. There have been ups and downs but the work-life balance and having no-one to answer to (apart from clients) is fantastic.

Outside of that is was deciding to run the London Marathon in 2003. I'd never been a runner, but it led to 20 years (and counting) of running great races, meeting amazing people (including some who have contributed to this thread!) and being able to eat whatever food I want

Regrets? I've had a few...

thedonkeycentrehalf · Jan 20, 2023

Greg Bobkin said:
Regrets? I've had a few...

Too few to mention?

MJsGhost · Jan 20, 2023

Starting a business with someone who turned out to be a serial sexual harasser (including our staff) and to top it off, an alleged rapist.

Actually, the very worst part of that decision was only having a very slim shareholders agreement, that didn't cover what happens if either shareholder commits some form of gross misconduct or is a 'bad leaver' in any way.

LennyTee · Jan 20, 2023

Best decision - chucking in the 50 hour week pub manager type job and becoming a cleaner on £12 an hour, finishing by 10 every morning and having the rest of the day to do what I want.

Worst decision - see above. Finishing work as the pubs open is a bad idea.

Lyndhurst 14 · Jan 21, 2023

Worst - following the money and taking a job in London. Realised on the first day it was a big mistake - the boss, the commute from Hove and the job itself. I think I may also have allowed myself to be pressured by the agency people and also being on the rebound from being made redundant and probably grabbing the first offer I got. Stuck it for 18 months thinking I could 'make it work' but not to be. Only positive was having a good mate to do the commute with and avoid that god awful atmosphere in the train with nobody saying anything and everybody looking totally bored or depressed. How folk stick that for 30 years beats me.

Best - taking a job in New York. I agree with the definition of luck - when opportunity meets preparedness, it certainly applied here. I took it after the 'worst job' and I think in some ways that it helped me decide to make the move, so in a way some good did come out of that fiasco. It was a bit of a leap of faith as it meant leaving a lot of things behind and also taking quite a hit on my holiday allowance and accepting a job with conditions where there is much less employee protection than you get in the UK but it all worked out fine

BiffyBoy100 · Jan 22, 2023

Worst: I chased money and worked in a job that I absolutely hated, but was on a 3 month notice period and couldn’t find another company that would wait.

I ended up handing in my notice, working the 3 months (ended up being 4) and then travelled Asia for 6 months.

When I got back after being unemployed for months, I landed a job as an early employee at a tech company (I was 30, living above a kebab shop with 6 others) and very low level career wise.

I left close to the 2 year mark, and vested equity later worth well north of 7 figures! Had I stayed 4 years, it would have been worth a lot more.

There’s so much luck that goes into careers. I often think of it as super mario where there’s different worlds. If you move to a big city like London or NYC you’re probably going to see more growth and opportunity. It’s also worth being cautious right now as the market is changing. Appreciate and value good employers.

Elbow750 · Jan 22, 2023

Best was moving from Managing a Team in Operations to working on Strategy, technical projects, snd representing the organisation on European Projects.
Worst was hanging around after losing my role in a restructure and trying to get Voluntary Redundancy. I had big mortgage, no savings and 3 teenage kids to support so worried I could go under if I packed it in. The redundancy would have supported me for a year.

Although they kept me on in string of temporary jobs (to avoid paying a large redundancy package) and I did get a permanent job in the end it took its toll. I should have tried to get out sooner, but was convinced redundancy was around the corner. It all worked out in the end and I'm now happily retired.

Good luck to anyone making career choices. Don't be rash, make sure your partner supports any big decisions and trust your own instincts (they are nearly always right). Above all make sure you are happy in your job and have no regrets.

Beach Hut · Jan 22, 2023

Best = Retirement

Tom Hark Preston Park · Jan 23, 2023

Worst decision was taking up archaeology. Now my career is in ruins

Herr Tubthumper · Jan 23, 2023

Tom Hark Preston Park said:
Worst decision was taking up archaeology. Now my career is in ruins

Best decision I made was astronomy; my career is now looking up.

Herr Tubthumper · Jan 23, 2023

I just quit my job at the donut factory. I got fed up with the hole business.

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[Finance] What is the best or worst career decision you've ever made?

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