4 Ways to Determine if a Job Offer is Really Worth It — When You're Happy With Your Current Job

“If I’ve learned nothing else from the last two years of watching the world reimagine what it means to work, it’s that too many of us conflate who we are with what we do,” Emily Tamfo writes in Girlboss. 

During the Great Resignation, these feelings are heightened. We’re watching our friends and colleagues leave their jobs, and many of us are feeling some FOMO — should we be leaving, too?

That’s what one Fairygodboss member wondered recently when they received an unexpected job offer. “I'm happy where am I, but I am slightly tempted by the change,” they wrote. “How do you know it's the right time to take the leap?”

Should you stay or should you go?

1. “The real question is what opportunities for growth exist in both positions.”

“If the job with slightly more money also comes with a chance to work on great projects that will add something significantly different to your resume than what you have now and also gives you a competitive edge, then perhaps it's worth it,” Barbara White wrote on the Fairygodboss Community Feed. 

“However, if there's no real room for growth, and it's only a little bit more money, then maybe staying where you are for a while makes sense, especially since you are happy there. It's a good place to be, actually, that you're happy and not feeling pressured to take something else just to escape a toxic situation.”

2. “Weight the pros and cons.”

It’s also important to weigh the pros and cons of each role. 

“Which list of pros/cons is longer and/or more meaningful to you?” Kris Mertins-Elliott asked. “There's a lot to be said for liking/loving what you do and having flexibility and a great team. Which of those are you willing to sacrifice if the new job isn't everything you thought it was going to be? OR.....go where your heart leads you. Sometimes, we just have to go with our gut and take a chance on something new. Will you regret not taking the new opportunity?”

Sabrina Cortes agreed. “Do you know anything about the company culture for this company? How do they handle different challenges on the team/within the department? Something that helps me when I have a decision to make is I write the pros and cons of both sides (in your case jobs).” She also stressed how helpful it is to her to write down these considerations.

3. “It’s about risk and risk management.”

No decision you make regarding your career comes without risk. But as the saying goes, “No risk, no reward.”

“You honestly just never know,” Joanna Poe opined. “It's about risk and risk management. I've known people who stayed in this situation only to have the company get bought out and restructured, and I've known people who left and were miserable. I've known people who left and were incredibly successful, and I've known people who stayed and got great promotions.”

4. Trust your gut.

But ultimately, you just need to follow your gut.

“Personally, at a moment like this, I follow my gut,” Kathy Sterner wrote. “If it feels wrong for you right now, don't do it.”

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This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Fairygodboss.

What's your no. 1 piece of advice for deciding whether you should leave your job (when you're already happy in your current role)? Share your answer in the comments to help other Fairygodboss members!