Career Advice

Looking for advice on my personal situation or experiences others may have had in a similar situation.

Have been offered a new job on significantly more money but it will result in more time away from home. Male in his early 30’s with a wife (who also works full time) and young kid just starting school.

Current Role

• Good work life balance
• Able to WFH most of the time
• Good employee benefits
• Well thought of across the business

• Underpaid for role (£50k)
• No immediate progression opportunities but demurely some in the medium
• Uninspiring work

New Role Headhunted by my bosses previous boss

• £90k salary
• Great pension and Bonus Scheme
• Role looks interesting and well suited to my skill set
• Reputable project and company which will look good on my CV
• Opportunities for growth

• Some other benefits not as generous
• Expectation to be away from home 3 days per week for roughly 35-40 weeks per year
• No guarantee that this might not change

Since being offered the new job, I have spoken with my current manager and SLT who are now trying to maximise what they can offer me in order to stay. Expectation that this would be £60k now, rising to £70k with bonus in next 12 months (plus some other soft benefits like new title, leadership programme etc.)

In terms of travel for new role… I have spoken to wife/parents and believe we can adequately cover childcare between us all (where I was mainly responsible previously).

I think common wisdom would be to take the new role, but just feel like I’m constantly doubting myself. My parents both prioritised their careers to the detriment of me and my siblings and i always told myself that I wouldn’t make the same mistakes. My wife is being super supportive and encouraging me to take the role. Our situation is miles away from the one I had growing up but I worry that this may be the start of me falling into the same trap as my parents did.

Am I being an irresponsible husband and father by doing this and does anyone else have any advice on how it impacted them for better or worse?