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Quick background:
DH works as an asst mgr at a retail store. Not much room to advance. Super high stress environment. He is doing the manager's workload atm b'c he's been told they want him for a promotion when a new store opens in the area, and he needs to make a positive impression on the district & regional mgrs for that. To put it mildly, his boss is a JERK [that's the most grace-laden way I can put it right now! ] and DH is just sick of it. His schedule continually shifts, sometimes giving us less hours (putting us under budget) one week than the next, and we're already living paycheck to paycheck, budgeted by the skin of our teeth. This store they say they want him for keeps eluding him for numerous reasons. We both feel that he really isn't meant to stay in his current field and move forward - that there is something different out there that is more flexible, higher pay, and better work environment. Also, we have $7500 in cc debt, $500 in medical bills, and are working on having another baby [which would mean a need to move within a year or so after the baby comes..which may be soon, as we think we're currently pg! ]. We have a passion for working in the church with his father (a Sr pastor) and would like the freedom of time and financial security to be able to work on the camp they just inherited and with the church they're hoping to expand to another area. Schedule flexibility would also allow for DH to get some medical testing and treatments done that he hasn't been able to do b'c of scheduling problems and worktime at the current job. Treatments/testing that would drastically improve his health and physical well being. We have no financial cushion that allows for him to get this testing/treatment done; no savings built up for medical bills or anything else.
With that not-so-quick background laid out, he has been offered an Account Executive position in a mortgage lender company. Now, he knows nothing about this field. But his mom's cousin is the VP and Midwest Regional Sales Manager and is confident that DH could do the job, as he's a quick learner and a very motivated and hardworking man; he has the traits needed for the job, and has been utilizing and honing them at his current job for over 2 years. There is three months of non-paid training (he was told to keep his day job while doing that and they'd do training around his work schedule). Then he would start the paid work. His mom's cousin said he would take him around to some meetings to show him the ropes and counsel him mono et mono with any specific problems DH had. His starting salary (based on commission) would be 2-3 times what his current salary is. There is a position open in Pittsburgh [40 minutes from where we currently live]. He would have flexibility to create his own work schedule and the increase in finances could clear our debts and make way for a good savings. He was told he could keep his day job if he REALLY wanted [normal hours of work are from 4-8pm], but that the salary would increase after a year and be plenty enough to provide for our family. I'm praying that he takes the job. I've been praying for God to open the door for a job that is better on his health (very important - he was just hospitalized after a collapse a few months ago that the dr said stemmed from a combination of extreme stress and overuse of OTC medicine DH had been using to alleviate some of his continual symptoms), on our finances, and on our love and desire to work with his parents in the church. DH only needs to call a contact of his mom's cousin that's nearby and get the ball rolling. He has already said that he's very excited about the opportunity, so I think he's just internally checking with God to make sure it's the right thing. Please pray that God's will is done for our family in regards to this. Thanks!
Answer:
I remember his history w/this company. I will give you my honest opinion, as always.
I agree that it's time to move on. Retail only pays when you're at the top. Sales would probably be better for him, and the mortgage field is a good one, but there are many open fields in sales.
That said, I disagree with taking on this job with no paid training. There are real estate jobs that pay while you learn. I KNOW there are mortgage jobs that pay while you learn - you just get stuck doing some office duties, but that's not all bad - you're learning it inside and out. My gut tells me this is not the opportunity for you all. There are better opportunities. I also feel that he should look at other jobs in retail. If he has the logistical basics down from the job, he should be able to easily find a MANAGER job at another company, for better pay and perks. Retail always needs good people. I think he should put out some feelers and see what a good headhunter could do for him (he should never go with one that charges HIM a fee - companies pay the fees). His schedule should allow for this. Good luck. Trust me, he doesn't even have to stay with the same "industry" - his knowledge would be valuable anywhere.