Yeah, I know it's goofy to ask this of people I don't know. But I am being eaten up inside and need some insight on what I should think about in the long run. Anyway, background is that I live in Miami and have worked at my company for 5+ years. I have a Bachelor's in IT, former Navy, 5 technical certifications, and have been in IT almost 10 years. My job in Miami is going stale and I have looked for a transfer within my company. Recently, I was offered a position in Cocoa Beach, Florida...3 hours away from Miami. Not too bad. I grew up there and think it would be great to get back to the beach. I won't make more money but it is a nice change.

Now, I tell my folks in Miami about it as they knew it, but they KIND OF offered my a position in Bogota, Colombia. I say kind of because I am sure they have to go through the proper procedures. Now, I am in Bogota right now and have been for a month. The job is face paced and I really like it. The pro's of this job, which not a salary increase, I will get per diem which equal's a large chunk of change, plus 15% differential, plus, my house and car paid for here. Total of just the monetary benefits would be about 40% more of what I make now, not including the housing and car. I would be here for a year.

Two problems. Unaccompanied. My wife and kids would stay in Miami. I can come back sometimes but not too often. I am not worried about her bailing on me so that's not a problem. She is 9 years older than me and doesn't have time to blink with her job let alone leave me. Second is with the recruiter I am working with for Cocoa Beach, I will totally burn that bridge as I was offered another position a few month's ago outside of Miami....Iraq, and turned him down as the pay wasn't good enough. So, I am sure he will never help me again.

Cocoa Beach Pro's:
Close to my parent's
3 hour drive to my wife and kids
freedom to drive around, call all the time, etc.

Cocoa Beach Con's:
No pay increase
3 hour drive to my wife and kids
30 living with my mom and dad!

Colombia Pro's:
High paced job
3 hour flight to my wife and kids
Lot's of money extra to be here
ability to sell one car and save more money

Colombia cons:
3 hour flight to my wife and kids
Not as much freedom
Read the news to see the rest!!!

Basically, I would never make the money in the states and this is an opportunity to. As well as be a part of something larger than what I do on a regular basis.

Any wise old people on here? Any people with opinions who have made similar decisions? I would like to hear them.

By the way, don't ask my job...I can't get into detail.

Kris

 

The distance from family would be a deal killer for me personally. But I think you need to visit with your family and all get on the same page and do what is best for you and your family.

There is more to life than just bringing home a big pay check...

 

Yeah...I come back to the states April 12...So we are going to talk about things. The permanent position here would go into effect until July or so.

Also, I forgot to mention, the wife is under contract at her job so won't be able to move with me anywhere for a year anyway.

 

Having taken jobs that keep me from seeing my family, I wouldn't take any job where I can't see my family regularly. 10 years from know the money is not nearly as imprtant as the time with your children as they only grow up once. I learned a valuable lesson from my father who passed on at 53, you don't know how long you ever have and when it is your time you don't want to have the hindsight of saying "I wish I spent more time with my family"

 

I'd have to say stick with your family, especially for your kids' sake. The time lost now, you'll never get back. Good luck with your decision.

 

How young are your kids? Missing out on some of their childhood is a big con.

I'm a DoD contractor myself (very similar background to you) and I can relate. I sometimes tease my wife about taking one of those jobs in Iraq or Afghanistan for a year, just for the money. But we would have to be really hard up for me to really do it.

If your willing to even seriously consider jobs in environments like Iraq and Colombia then why not also consider jobs elsewhere in the US? Maybe not as much money but safer and less worry for your family.

 

Thank the Lord! Someone else in the same enviornment! Not that everyone elses opinion is worthless but at least you understand more. It isn't a hurting for money thing. It is just a good opportunity around for many reasons. I personally turned down Baghdad because of the whole dying thing and NEVER seeing my kids for that year. my youngest is 19 months. I have looked in the US but the big jobs are in DC and well, I am sure you have been there and it is turd just with house prices and traffic. But the wife and I talked and I tried to say we would be set after a year and if she came down here then.

As for the kidnapping, while I am the epitome of gringo here, I am light skinned, wear flipflops when I am out with jeans and t-shirts, I am also 6' 230lbs and covered in tattoo's. I am not a bad ass by any means...Ask my daughter, I turn to mush around her! But I am intimidating enough to hold my own...in addition, I don't stray from the safer areas and say...Visit an ATM in some dank barrio at 2 am. As for bombings, there has only been one this past month about 100 miles away. Things have slowed considerably.

 

@claymore
I'm sure Fit4Kris is well aware of the dangers.

@fit4kris
Yeah, DC probably has the biggest concentration of jobs that we're talking about but there are definitely lots of similar jobs across the US. One of the things the company I work for does is develop mission planning software (not what I do though) and some of our positions involve supporting the system in the field. So we have people throughout the US and overseas that work with the outfits that use our software and sometimes they deploy with them. There are other small and large companies out there that fill similar needs all over the US for DoD.

It really comes down to what you and your family are comfortable with. An immediate short term job at high potential risk but with high financial and personal reward, or a potential job with lower risk and maybe lower financial and personal reward. I doubt that helps in making your decision but you shouldn't let strangers influence such a big decision anyway

Personally, that type of job would have to offer me a LOT of money for me to take it.

 

Ok...Here is the deal. My "interview" is tomorrow. Sorry for the delay in posting. I came back last month and have been getting back to normal.

Anyway, to address some issues. I interview tomorrow...paperwork type of thing and I actually took the OTHER job but they changed the requirements at the last minute and I would have regressed 5 years in work. So no thanks.

Wife gives it a go AS LONG AS I AM BACK IN A YEAR! Of course I will be here for the big things. Anniversaries, bday, etc. The danger, well my FP is fairly good. I left my hotel 6 times in a month last time i was there. That was to the movies twice, to a bar, and then to a my friends house a couple of times. I understand Claymore working in the field, you read a lot. I haven't let my guard down but I have been going there for 2 years now and feel relatively comfortable. Although I am vigilant when assessing my surroundings.

The wife cannot go with me anywhere I move and I am not ready to give up some of the things I have to go private right now. So my choices are: DC, Iraq, Qatar, or Colombia. The latter makes the most sense as DC I would not make money because we would have to have two houses...Iraq and Qatar, I don't want to die.

The reason I am not jumping ship is apparently my military experience, my BS in IT, my 6 technical certs, or anything else is not wanted. I don't have the coveted MCSE although I am working on it. Maybe that will broaden my horizons.

We will see what happens tomorrow. If I go, it will be in July. I have an install there in June for a few days then after that, I will pack out. We will see what happens.

Thanks for the comments, and Claymore, I was offered a job in the Philippines but declined. It was a year tour there, 4 cities, couldn't tell me 3 of them until I was on board, wear military gear, flak, kevlar, etc...and NEVER leave the building. PLUS the pay was barely reaching $100K for being in a prison type environment. They said the region was HOT with bad guys and I figured that wouldn't be an option.

While in Colombia though, I stay in Bogota, the approved zones. I don't meander out into the country...so bear with me...It is rather safe on a day to day basis. There are days that are worse then others though.

Kris

 

IMO, I would always try to be with my family. I wouldnt want to be out of country or away from them for longer than 1 month a year. That's just me though. I travel for work now and its not easy being married. If I had kids, I would probably not travel at all or get another job where I wouldnt have to travel unless its a weekend thing.

Yeah the money is good and you may even put your career up a few notches, but I am sure if it was up to your family they still wouldnt want you to go because they would miss you a whole lot. I know nowadays they have video conferencing etc, but still it isnt the same then being physically around.

Anyway, what kind of installs do you do? IT Infrastructure? PM me if you want to tell me more.

BTW, my Colombian friend told me that if you stay in the main cities and dont go the coast you SHOULD be ok. He also said that kidnappings do happen and it does not only affect tourists. On the other hand, my brother-in-law was just there but they provided him with two body guards at all times. He said it wasn't too bad. He has only been robbed in the USA lol.

 

Ultimately, the final decision will be yours, and yours alone. Just be sure that you've looked at it from all angles, taken under consideration all the pro's and cons...and if there is the SLIGHTEST bit of doubt about your choice, then follow your conscience. Lots of times, the little nagging doubts are the one thing that we ignore, only to find out that they were prodding us in the right direction. I pray that God will bless you and your family!

 

Qatar is my second choice if this falls through. The only thing keeping me towards Col is the fact that the tickets are cheap to come back and it is only a 3 hour plane ride. I have flown to the mid east and I HATE FLYING...13 hours is BLAH. And I am sure you know...The money is NUTS...the benes would be there and if I did, I would be debt free and the kids would have college in the bag. That's why I couldn't understand why the Baghdad pay was lower than Qatar. Oh well.

As for the types of installs, usually it is a lot of support and whatnot but this is infrastructure yes. Lot's of fun stuff going on but still...like I said, until the ideal job comes along that keeps me here, I am taking a look at all of the options right now.