[K_Sunshine5]

Hi A71,

(Warning: this is kind of long but please bear with me!) So I have a predicament and would appreciate any opinions and advice from y’all. Here’s the scenario:

I started a government job almost 2 months ago. It wasn’t my first choice of job but I took it to get my foot in the door. It pays ok and has a good career ladder over the next couple years. I am also enjoying the people I work with. The agency hired about 250 people in the last 6 months so there are a lot of newbies like me. The cons are that I’m really bored so far and I don’t know if the skill set I get from this position will help my future career. My supervisor told me to be patient with getting work but I look at my co-workers that have been there for a couple years and they look pretty bored too. There’s not a constant flow of work since it relies on purchases for the ships, planes, and helicopters. My job will be to track purchases through the Navy ERP system. I have completed about 90% of my training but haven’t had any hands on work to do yet.

Recently, I got called for a phone interview for another government job I had applied to before I accepted the offer for the job I’m in now (the government is pretty slow when it comes to hiring so I applied in March and am just now getting an interview). The phone interview went really well and I am going in for a face-to-face next week. It is 2 grades above the grade I am in now so it would equal a $10,000 raise. It is also the job I wanted to begin with and is something I have experience in and am very interested in. Since I am a newly licensed CPA, I will be needing to complete my required CPE within a year and this job pays for all of it. The CPE is actually a requirement of the job whether you are a CPA or not so the employees can keep up with all the new rules and regulations in the industry. In my current job, the CPA designation is not a requirement at all (heck, a master’s degree isn’t a requirement either but I have that too) so my agency wouldn’t help with CPE which means I would have to pay for it all on my own.

So my question: should I stay in my current job or switch to the new job? Since I have only been with my job for a couple months, I would feel like a huge jerk leaving and I really do like the people I work with. I feel like my biggest concern would be leaving my current job and being miserable at the new one and regretting my decision but I feel like the other job would be better for the career path that I have in mind and obviously the salary bump would be pretty nice too.

What are your thoughts on this? I may have left some details out so if you want more information or specifics, just let me know. Thanks so much in advance for your input 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Kimboroni]

It looks like kind of a no-brainer– the new job is the job that you originally wanted, it pays more, they pay for your CPE, it has a better career path, etc. As far as the risk of being miserable there, you should be able to get a reasonably good idea if it would be a good fit for you as you continue in the interview process.

Don't feel like a jerk for leaving– they are already hiring tons of people right now, so what's one more?

I hope you get it!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[K_Sunshine5]

Thanks for your input, Kimboroni! I'm thinking the same thing but having a job on my resume that I only stayed at for a couple months will be an annoyance for jobs I apply to in the future. I have a good reason for taking the new job though since I really want to be able to use my knowledge and education in my job. If I do get the offer, I really dread going to my supervisor and telling her I want to leave. I hate dealing with stuff like that but I guess that's business. Doesn't take the suckiness out of it though lol.

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[M.O.D.]

There is no need to put all jobs on your resume, especially if they were temporary.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[K_Sunshine5]

M.O.D., then how would I explain the gap in jobs?

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Anonymous]

You know what you need to do. Tough or not, the move will be better for your future. I would put your current job on your resume and just explain that the job wasn't what you thought it would be. Be honest and tell them what you told us. Good luck and keep us posted. You deserve to be happy.

[pikachu]

Take the new job if you can. Regarding the gap, as long as it's not a consistent thing, or if you're young, most employers understand.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[K_Sunshine5]

Thanks, Casa and pikachu! I will keep you posted on if I get an offer. I have a face to face with the new agency next Friday 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[How many letters do you need]

I think you should follow your instincts, but be aware of the risks. I've hopped around a little myself and not every hop turned out for the best (although I don't regret the path I've taken). This job will hardly be noticed down the road if this next one has some time on it. If you go commit to 3+ years at this new agency no matter what. You do that and this job means nothing. With that, though, realize that it could get much worse than what you have now. Some of the worst working environments I've ever had don't reveal themselves until it's too late. You can have a shit boss…terrible coworkers awful work load (too heavy or just as light as you have now). My advice: Try your best to figure these things out in the interview process and if you see all green lights then go go go go! Good luck!

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[K_Sunshine5]

Thanks, How Many! I will definitely use your advice. Hopefully I can get a good handle on how things are when I go in for a face-to-face on Friday 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Tncincy]

Look at it like this…the opportunity presented it's self to you after applying before you accepted the current job. Who doesn't need more money. Here is the opportunity you wanted….I would take it and just explain to the others. You had no way of knowing the other job would make an offer. So go to the interview, do what you do, get the job and go. If it don't work out do what the rest of us are doing….looking. You can't go wrong going for better. And GOOD LUCK !!!!!

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[K_Sunshine5]

Thanks, tncincy! Guess we'll see what happens in the next couple weeks 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Tux]

Go for the new job! Even if you leave this 2 month job on your resume, you can always explain that you weren't actively looking, but you got called on a job, it was more money and more responsibility, so it was too good of an opportunity to turn down.

If anyone would judge you for that, they're crazy!

Go for it, but of course, in the future, try to stay at one place for 1 year before moving on – unless it's for something that ‘s just too good to pass up.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[K_Sunshine5]

Thank you, Tux! I like your explanation of the job I would be leaving after a couple months. It's the truth and to the point and would hopefully be a good explanation 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[K_Sunshine5]

Update: my start date for the new job is September 8! I told my current supervisor everything yesterday and her first reaction was “ya gotta go where the money is!” and completely understands and supports my decision. She's pretty great. All that worrying for nothing lol!

Thanks everyone for your advice and support! I'm definitely excited for this great opportunity 🙂

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[ijustwant76]

A two month gap is nothing. No one will even notice. And when you leave out months, it's even easily. (e.g. 1st job 2013-2014, leave out 2nd job, 3rd job 2014-2017).

I'd make the jump. You already know your current job is boring, boring, boring.

BTW, government jobs are pretty boring, but the retirement benefits are good. Since the job is “easy”, there's time for kids and a manageable work/life balance.

[Author]

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