Job Decision, need help

[npatel1050]

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Up until November I was managing a retail chain pharmacy that did 1000/week. Moderately busy, but ok. Close to home, bad area, but staff is great. 150k at 91 hours every 2 weeks. Since then, we've acquired another pharmacy's patients and now we're pushing close to 1500/week. I'm getting my ass kicked every day.

I told my PDM I can't manage this store and it's too much for me. PDM is willing to put me in a store that does about 700-800/week. Low key store, nice area, even CLOSER to home. About 130k at 82 hours every 2 weeks

I got an offer with a startup med comms company that will give me 80k. Much better lifestyle than retail (but then again, nearly every job is), decent vacation and lots of room to grow. But I'm torn with what to do. I have no financial responsibility, but taking a cut like that sucks... I know eventually I'll be back in the 6 figures, but debating on if I should leave the safety of my current job. I can always go back to retail, but I may never get a store like this again...

Completely torn, I'm so tempted to stay, but I can't help think I'm trapping myself by staying. Please help

 

[bacillus1]

Also keep in mind the startup has poor job security. Along with the pay cut, keep the retail job if you are OK with the new store.

 

[npatel1050]

Also keep in mind the startup has poor job security. Along with the pay cut, keep the retail job if you are OK with the new store.

Well, they've grown from 5 to almost 30 employees in the past 2.5 years, I doubt it will shut down overnight. I'm not so concerned about that. The main draw of this job is get some experience outside of retail that will differentiate me from all the other retail pharmacists

 

[panasoniku]

I took the a similar paycut as yours to do something related to pharmacy. With the startup you may have more growth potential ($ and package). I'd take it. I still work retail once or twice a month to keep in the system, check to see if they can do that for you.

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

Will they give you stock or some sort of ownership stake?

 

[Sine Cura]

Man, what kind of company actually lets a pharmacy manager move to s slower store because he thinks 1500/week is too busy? A company I would never leave (as someone with no ambition)

 

[Got Em]

Please provide the details of your start up offer. What exactly are the hours? Do you get stocks as one of the first 30 employees? What other benefits?

If you're working less overall hours, can't you just do some side retail pharmacy shifts?

What is your goal in life? If you're happy with just doing retail shifts for life, by all means, take the slower store. If you're looking for other experiences or have an entrepreneurial spirit, go for the start up.

 

[Elle928]

interesting situation. I think at the end of the day it just depends what you want out of your career. If you can see yourself in retail for the long run, then stay. If you know for a fact that you want to get out of retail, then leave. I say that because almost any job you find thats not retail will come with a significant paycut. Its up to you whether you want to take that paycut now, when you have no financial responsibilities, or 5 -10 years from now, when you might have a spouse, kids, mortgage, etc to worry about, and it wont be as easily/even do-able.

 

[wagrxm2000]

What do you think will happen when the next recession occurs, will they make it? If they do cuts, who would be first, you?

 

[Lnsean]

Honestly, I say go for the start-up and take your life/career to different levels that you'll never have a chance to realize if you stay where you are. Opportunity doesn't come around everyday. I feel, even with the saturation, that if you had a good track record at your current retail gig, they would take you back if the start-up didn't work out. In other words, you can always go back to retail but not the other way around. I work for Walgreens and we've had many people come and go and i've seen a few come back after pursuing other things that didn't work out. As long as you left on good terms and had a good reputation, any DM will take you back.