My dream job has opened up

I am an executive assistant. I started as a secretary to two analysts, then worked my way up to an exec assistant working for a very senior partner in my company. I always wanted to one day work for the President, but was just waiting for the position to open up.

Well, it is about to open up and now I don't think I can take it . It is definately where you want to be on the executive assistant scale and it is a lot more money, but also a LOT more work. It means lots of contact with high profile people, much better bonus and much more responsibility. (I work for a very well respected firm in the IR industry). However, it is also many late nights and I would have to start on the phone at around 7 am. I feel like I hardly see my son as it is.

This is the job I've been wishing for since I started working and now I can't go for it. If I didn't have Steven, I would go for it, but seeing and spending time with him is much more important.

Did anyone else pass up a really great job, and how did you feel about it?

Re: My dream job has opened up

Steph I am in the same boat. My boss just offered me a job reporting to the director (in other words her boss.) The director is awesome and I'd love to work for her. The pay is much higher and I'd actually get a bonus (I don't now).

My issue is that I'd have 6 people reporting to me (6 people that feel they deserve the role), so that's not fun. Plus during financial deadlines there are late hours consolidating all the numbers and during HR deadlines I'd be responsidble for developing goals and doing mid year and annual reviews for 6 people. All of this is very time consuming and I'm not sure I want to take that on yet. Right now I'm totally struggling with working FT let alone taking on more responsiblity.

I wish I could give you advice, I'm not sure what to do myself.

Re: My dream job has opened up

I passed up moving up the corporate latter from my company and stepped down from management to work PT and I don't regret it one bit. The time with my daughter is so much more valuable. Jobs will always be there in the future. I can start climbing the latter again when she's older if I want to.

Re: My dream job has opened up

It wasn't my dream job, but an opportunity opened up for me and I took it but this is what I did....
Instead of getting a big pay increase, and a bigger bonus, I negotiated telecommuting...and a smaller pay increase/bonus. I go into the office 1 day a week, and work from home the other 4. It's tough sometimes, but worth it.

Re: My dream job has opened up

I passed up an event manager job at a NYC museum so that I could be home at a decent hour.

I totally understand. While it was my dream job (and probably a cake walk compared to my old events job), some things take priority. In the end, I have no regrets about my path. I'm bothered if I miss their bedtime story for work events.

Also remember while it's your dream job, it doesn't mean you won't have another opportunity to create a new dream job. When one door closes, a window opens. (or whatever that expression is that I'm too lazy to look up).