Crazy Job Situation: What Would You Do?

[The Goat]

Lots of good advice here already.

I've hired a lot of people over the years and never "judged" somebody for taking every great opportunity that passed their way, as long as it was ethical and legal. Two me, that's a two week notice unless you're managing a dept, region, division, etc or strictly in sales. Then you get to walk the eff out

[skinsguy]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the good advice you have given me. After talking it over with my wife, I realized that I need to just call the college up and ask for more information before I decide either way. There are a lot of pros and a lot of cons to this decision, but some of the cons are things that I think directly effect me and my wife's financial health.

Having worked in the I.T. field for almost eight years now, and just a couple years away from hitting the big 4-0, I feel that at this point in my life, my career needs to be moving forward, not restarting back to square one. At times, you do take a step back to move two steps forward, especially if it's with a company that is offering you the job you have always wanted, but maybe it starts you out at a much lower pay scale, with a promise that you can move up quickly. In the case of this college position, my responsibilities would actually be reduced from what they are now, and so would be the pay. After doing a little more digging, it seems like this job might be more geared toward being a data entry type of job, with a few minor responsibilities above that, but nothing like the responsibilities that I have at my present job.

Having said that, I'm not sure if this situation falls under the category of taking a step back to move steps forward, or if it's just plainly taking a step back, merely to have a closer drive. I am thinking about all the great things that the college can offer that is indirect of "benefits", such as a place to workout, play tennis, college atmosphere, discounts on events hosted by the college, the free classes, etc.... I don't know if those things are enough to sway me. I DO think if they offered me equal pay as I'm making now, then the thought of the free classes would probably be enough to make it work.

But anyways, I think I just need to call them back and ask some more detailed questions. If it was just me, and I was a few years younger, then it would probably be an opportunity worth taking the risk. But, I'm getting close to 40, I'm now married, will start a family soon, and I feel this point in my life and career, I need to look for opportunities that give me ways of growing in my career.