What to do? Resign or stay on?

[Drifter]

Just been offered a contract extension with a marginal increase. The renewal is for 6 months with a possible extension. I will be working on an exciting new project, pure development work, or

I have a possible opportunity for a 1 year renewable contract with a 35-40% increase, but this will be maintenance work on existing legacy systems.


Financially, I can really use option 2.

What to do.

 

[CheekyC]

Maint work on legacy is pretty crap work, esp if the tech is old.... Depends on what the company's other projects are like and whether there is a roadmap from maint to mainstream dev.

Do you have any idea what the tech stack is for the maint work?

 

[kooldude]

Take option 2 and get involved in Open Source projects to get experience on exciting stuff.

 

[BobsLawnService]

Where are you in your career? Do you need job 1 on your CV to round out your experience?

If not I'd take job 2. Exciting work is one thing, paying the bills is another.

 

[Drifter]

I have 20+ years experience in the tech they are using, so no, I dont need the job for my CV. Financially option 2 will make a huge difference in our lives, especially with a kid at varisty.

 

[BeLgaRiOn]

Then I say it is easy. Option 2.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I have 20+ years experience in the tech they are using, so no, I dont need the job for my CV. Financially option 2 will make a huge difference in our lives, especially with a kid at varisty.

That makes it a no-brainer... take Option 2...

 

[seanyp00h]

That makes it a no-brainer... take Option 2...

Agreed

 

[Drifter]

I guess so. If you want loyalty, get a dog.

 

[$m@Rt@$$]

I guess so. If you want loyalty, get a dog.

+1

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I guess so. If you want loyalty, get a dog.

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[LPCPT]

End of 2000 was in similar situation. Took the maintenance job. was crap at the beginning but after I took the initiative to enhance and change some of the crap it became exciting.
I rewrote 3 systems during my time and everybody thought I was a hero. I just wrote proper code from the crap the previous dev's wrote.
Later moved to new development work and my experience with end users help quite a lot.
Sometimes you need to go to the other side to get a different view on how users experience the work we deliver.

If I were you, then Option 2.
When you're young, you work to learn
When you're older, you work to earn.

 

[Nikita_k]

option 2

 

[Drifter]

End of 2000 was in similar situation. Took the maintenance job. was crap at the beginning but after I took the initiative to enhance and change some of the crap it became exciting.
I rewrote 3 systems during my time and everybody thought I was a hero. I just wrote proper code from the crap the previous dev's wrote.
Later moved to new development work and my experience with end users help quite a lot.
Sometimes you need to go to the other side to get a different view on how users experience the work we deliver.

If I were you, then Option 2.
When you're young, you work to learn
When you're older, you work to earn.

I like that ^^^^.....

 

[gfmalan]

I think people get into a comfy zone, nothing bad really happen, nor good money, so stay the same or move backwards slowly.

Sometimes it's better to get out of your safe zone, and attempt something new, the future would be unsure, but even the normal 8-5 permenant employment is unsure, the employee just live in fake world and give him/her the false sense of security. (Not that I say you have a 8-5 standard job)

I also quit the normal "secure" job, for a temp one, much more rewarding (financial and mental).

Like the other's said, number 2, and make a diffrence, and it would turn out rewarding. Somehow new opertunities would present them self! Go4it!

 

[Slamz]

Firstly... I also would choose option 2

Now this is offtopic and i do apologise but the post got me thinking... In our sales meeting today it was mentioned we looking for an EWSD specialist... We basically need someone who can reboot our switch because something went wrong with the password... Our company main core business is in telcoms eqiupment repairs and we have alot of legacy equipment we repair... So poster should be aware that there are more possibilties out there

 

[Drifter]

Krohl/SAPS fraud checks clean? Done

2 x References ? Done

Waiting for company to confirm interview date....

So Option 2 its going to be. Hold thumbs.

 

[Drifter]

Firstly... I also would choose option 2

Now this is offtopic and i do apologise but the post got me thinking... In our sales meeting today it was mentioned we looking for an EWSD specialist... We basically need someone who can reboot our switch because something went wrong with the password... Our company main core business is in telcoms eqiupment repairs and we have alot of legacy equipment we repair... So poster should be aware that there are more possibilties out there

Thanks. ITO legazy systems, I am referring legacy back end computer systems, like COBOL/CICS, Natural/ADABS, JCL, MVS, TSO etc. Not referring to hardware.

 

[Sly21C]

It depends how old you are. If you are fairly young and in need of experience then I'd say take option 1. You'll get 30% to 40% increase in years to come once you have experience and have worked on exciting projects.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Krohl/SAPS fraud checks clean? Done

2 x References ? Done

Waiting for company to confirm interview date....

So Option 2 its going to be. Hold thumbs.

Once you have an offer in the bag from option 2, you could always ask your current company if they want to sweeten their offer to keep you?