I'll preface this by saying that obviously no one here can make this decision for me and that I have discussed - at length - both options with DH. He ultimately said we're fine either way, so the decision is totally mine to make. Cliffnotes at the bottom... didn't expect it to be so long.
I graduated last year with a degree in Special Education (K-12), but couldn't find a teaching job. Crappy. But I lucked into a full-time receptionist position at a job I'd previously filled in at over the last few years, so at least I have a job. Yay. It's been a crazy year of ups and downs here, with a lot of (needed) turnover in personnel, but we are finally at a good place. My bosses recognize how hard I've worked to get the shop where it is now and have given me a lot of latitude to do what I feel is in the best interest in the business in terms of the retail area, promos, etc. They also gave me a raise last fall, so I'm making a fairly competitive amount given the relative low-pay in the field. I love my job, even if it isn't what I went to school for.
Out of the blue last night, a previous boss texted me a job offer. It would be doing payroll and human resources for two car dealerships that he is the GM for. I previously worked for him as a salesperson and then as a billing and title clerk at two different dealerships. I loved working for and with him. It starts at the same pay I'm making now, and moves up an extra dollar per hour after 90 days. It also comes with insurance after 90 days (doesn't matter, as I'm on DH's plan which is phenomenal), paid vacation after 1 year (same thing at my current job), and a 401K after a year (no retirement plan where I am now). The owner of the auto group can be hard to work for... he has a reputation for high turnover, especially in under-performing dealerships. But I did well for the three years I worked for him previously.
I'm so torn as to what to do. I love my current job and the people I work with. I have a fairly flexible schedule (they are great about granting requests for time off beyond the one-week paid vacation), and I get a killer discount for veterinary expenses because the place I work is owned by my vet clinic. But there really isn't much in the way of benefits and not much room for growth, unless I become a manager officially (I am already doing a lot of management work, but at an hourly rate; a salaried position would actually probably make less money per-hour than what I do now). The new position I was offered would be something I've never done before, but I do know the GM is fabulous about training for exactly what he wants. And the money is better with room for growth and more benefits, but it means dealing with the crazy owner for my career... and he's notoriously tough to get along with. DH has a fabulous pension/retirement from his company, plus a 401k, so I don't necessarily need a retirement plan of my own (but it would be nice to have). So I have no idea what to do.
CN: Graduated college and got FT receptionist job in a field unrelated to my degree making a decent hourly wage. Love my job and the people I work with, lots of flexibility for hours/time off, but not a lot of room for growth and very little in the way of benefits. Got a job offer from a former boss (GM) that I loved working with for another job, also unrelated to my field of study, making slightly more money with potential for growth and benefits, but working for an owner who can be a PITA and very little flexibility in hours/time off (which is important to me). WWYD?