Wolverines

OK

Those of you that have been around for a few years remember about 4 years ago when I got laid off.  Fairly big deal for me, because I had originally planned on staying with this company for a good number of years.

So, then the bar, selling cars, the move, pizzerias etc etc we come to today.

Over the last 4 years my boss from previously stated job has called me perodically to check up, most recently about a year ago, to see if i was interested in working for him in Buffalo, because they just got the contract.  I told him to get back to me with more details when the deal was finalized.  He never did.

Fast forward to this week, and I get a call from him.  He has a new project about to start in Buffalo, and wants to know if I want a position.  To make a long story short, what I did for him before, I was the "lead" Macintosh tech for the Niagara Falls School District.  I was in charge of about 1500 machines, 5000 users spread throughout 15 buildings.  I did everything from hardware to software, networks, servers, printers etc etc etc.

Anyway, I was laid off (strangely enough 2 weeks after asking for a raise) because of "budget cuts".  Longer story behind that but I suspected foul play.

I think I am just a bit confused,  and maybe a tad not confident in this.  I mean 1.  I feel I was screwed.  And 2. I havent kept up with any tech skills at all.  He said he thinks it will come in at around what I was last making there as far as pay, which would be a tad less than what I make now.

A bit more info:  I hate where I work now, the owner is an asshat and has a lower IQ than a box of rocks with 1 rock in it.  The money is OK, but the gas prices are killing me, and they're only going to go higher.

So, anyway, what would you do?  (at work on the shitty wireless network so I may have to post more later, this is kinda quick and dirty)

First and foremost I would learn to work on real computers.   

But seriously, If you hate your job I would look for employment elsewhere. Though it wouldn't be with some guy that laid you off 4 years ago and is calling you again.   I wouldn't trust some one who screwed me once not  to do it again.
 
The only way I would work for that guy again is for a huge chunk o' money, that way you can at least stick it to him for awhile till he screws you over again. 

I'm always a fan of doing what you love. I would however be weary of the old job because they did fire you before. The bottom line here is how unhappy are you at your new job, and how secure would a job with the old company be this time around? I personally would take a pay cut to do something I enjoy over something I hate.

Just my thoughts on the situation.

What they said!

With gas prices going up you should make your tricks come to you instead of you going to them. You could also work a corner.

Tell the guy if he fucks you over again you will kill him....if he says "cool" take it

Do what you like to do. It's rough going into a job where you know you are going to be miserable, especially if you work for an asshat. If anything else it's a chance to get back into something you like. It also lets you get back up to speed on anything you think you've missed. That stuff can only boost your resume. It sounds like a chance but if your old boss has kept tabs on you for this long he must respect your work and it might be worth the risk. And tell them you want a mac book pro and put vista on it. But whatever you decide to do, good luck to you!

I think its time to get out the old yellow legal pad and make a list of pro's and con's of each scenario.

As far as what I would do in this scenario, here's the key factors I would consider.

1.) If I quit my current job after giving the proper 2 week notice, how likely is the employer going to rehire me at my previous position/pay
2.) Exactly how much do I hate my current job and what exactly are those reasons.  Is it worth it to take a paycut for these reasons and move onto another opportunity.
3.) How secure is my new job going to be.  Also is there room for promotions and growth within the company.
4.) Are there benefits with the new job (insurance etc).

I'll be honest, while I would be a little worried if I left my job and they wouldn't hire me back, if I hated it enough I wouldn't care(for instance, I did leave my deskjob at calltech for $9 an hour to work retail for 6.75 and I do not regret that decision at all.)  

If you like the computer area I would go back knowing that its short term, that all this is is a steping stone to get you back in to the IT feild  Learn what you can and go out screw them over.

If moneys the issue, think of this Gas will cost more. and with you not using your car all the time you will have less wear and tear on it so that should cost less.

I would say throw it out there that you would come back to work for him if you could make the same pay as you do now.   Also a company car and company courtesan.

Also, what kind of moving are you going to have to do to situate yourself in this new/old job.

Yeah, since you just got the house, how would the move affect that?

I'm of the mentality that you should definately leave your current position if you're miserable, and especially cuz of gas and car wear.  If you feel the offered position is secure enough to get a couple weeks out of it, then I say take it and screw later if you get a sweeter offer.

Wouldnt have to move, I live in Amherst, a suburb of Buffalo, so it would mean a commute of about as much as I do now to go to work.  Big benefit there is that I wouldnt have to do as much driving once I got to work as I do now.

The reason I hate it so much is because it is impossible to teach the new owner anything, and he's just not good in the pizza business at all.  And that brings another point.  It's not that I wont be able to get another job with this guy.  It's that I firmly believe that if I leave he will most likely not be around long enough for me to go back to him.  But who knows, maybe he'll find another employee that can do the work.

I'm going to go to lunch with the previous (IT guy) boss on Monday, and this weekend go for a drink with one of his current employees that used to work there when I did, left, and went back.

We'll see what he says.

So are you doing the same work you did before?  What are you worth?  Have you done any salary anaylsis or comparison for your area?  I'ts nice he's kept in touch, but would suck if it's because he knows he can get you cheap.

Any move regarding one's livelihood is a scary prospect, and is going to have some degree of concern attached to it.

Best advice would be to ask yourself what the worst thing that could happen would be if you went to the new job and then determine how you can weather that possibility if it came to it.

Weigh that against your current situation, and you may have an answer.

In truth, less gas spent and a lower degree of frustration counts as both a raise and an increase of quality of life, in my book.

Getting current on the new apple systems and maybe upgrading your current certifications would make you marketable to mid/large sized advertising and design firms for certain.

There's some viable options in dealing with the devil you knew, if you walk into the situation wary.

Of course, your current employer could always become the victim of a flesh-eating virus and you be made the business owner...


Were it me, I would weigh those options and also ask for more money from the prospective employer.

But that's just me... While I know money doesn't buy happiness, I have come to see that it does buy comfort and piece of mind.  :P

This is the mantra I live by

Stu, if I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do is to touch it in the back.  Just sayin.

Sounds to me you are missing a consideration of this whole thing.  

A new employment is a negotiation.  You haven't signed anything yet.  

So figure what you "Have to have" and settle for no less.  If it's a monetary value then that is what it is.  If it is job security then that is on the list.  Vacatation time, sick days, holidays, health insurance, resources, capitol budget, hardware, education, certs,people to do the work for you... But this list has to be non-negotiable.

Then write a list that is "I would like to have"  and one of "I would settle for" These are the negotiable points.  I am not sure if Ohio is a right to work state or not so for the job security part of it you may want to consider putting into your employment contract something to the effect of "if you screw me again by firing me I want 6 months severance"  You may need more legal sounding terms though. :-)  Now these two list and the things on them can not be on the "Have to have list"  So if your willing to accept less money then money isn't a "have to have"

Once you get it straight for yourself then it's just a business meeting after that.  Walk away if everything on your "Have to have" list isn't satisfied.  Worst case your life is the same and the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

My 0.02
 

While I agree with the whole "do what is going to leave you happiest at the end of the day" mentality (I had to make the same choice once), there are two other points that have popped to mind:

1.  If you were to return to your Mac support gig, (which it sounds like he is willing to let you back thru the door regardless of how much you've kept up on certs and whatnot), that would be a good way to start rebuilding your own knowledge base if that is something that you would like to get back into.  Additionally, once you have a good feel for the current software and so on, you could probably get them to pay for some training or certifications.  Aside from the benefit of actually learning the stuff, if the IT job goes belly-up you can at least walk into future interviews with a list of fresh certs on your resume.

2.  I've heard you talk about the dude you work for now and how he doesn't seem to be a very shrewd businessman.  I have to wonder how long your efforts and his luck will last before he makes a catastrophic mistake and the pizza place implodes.

Sounds to me like you have a good idea though, talking to the guy who works for him now.  Good luck!

After you talk to this guy who works there now after leaving and going back, and he says everything is cool and stable, I would seriously consider it.  I would try to get as much money out of the old boss, up front, as possible.  I would also make sure if is 100% aware that you could be a bit rusty, having not worked in that type of position is quite some time, while also telling him that there isn't anything you can't learn quickly and efficiently.  If he is cool with that and willing to "cut you some slack" persay, I would definately consider it.

I can say from my personal experience, that I have left jobs I hated for less paying jobs, that didn't seem to be as secure and it worked out ok for me.  Granted that was my experience, and I have gotten very lucky thus far in my career choices, but it all has worked out well so far.  In the end, you just have to way the options and see if the risk is worth the potential reward.

Rocky's has all things that are good.  They've got Bailey's.  Do you love me?

First off, if you hate your current job, find a way to get out of it. Second, how much does your old boss want you to come back, and how much is he willing to shell out for your skills. And C, is it something that you would be willing to go back to if you can't get the pay raise/pay matching of what you do now.

Follow your heart, that's what I always do.  Or you can follow Chuck to the promised land.

(http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5374/norrisisgod.png)