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hello fishes,
need some advice.
my current ctc is 16 with 5.6 years of experience. I was a contract hire and parent company wants to hire me.
company is service based company.
my current title is senior analyst but they want to make me manager.
they are skipping tech lead and team lead positions.
they are ready to change 5 days working from earlier 6 days working.
they are asking me my expectations.
we are on client location and there is no one above us. Also team is not technically sound.FSS
Me too, kid

Received an offer as Engagement Director from Salesforce (CSG, pre sales, L9). Great benefits package, 40% increase in total comp and better WLB.
I do love the people in my practice and current client, but career trajectory has stalled after taking parental leave earlier this year and (yet another) change in leadership.
Realistically, making to Director is 2-3 years away and will require sacrificing time with my family that I am not prepared to give up.
Should I stay or should I go?
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Larger agencies can be easier to schedule/take time off for.
My agency is smallish, we are about 27 or so on staff (9 on the creative side, some of which are developers), large enough to easily take time off when needed, my husband works at a very small agency, 5 people - he can’t do as much last minute time off as I can, at all.
Babies/kids require a LOT of last minute time off for all sorts of sicknesses. I took about 6 weeks off this year spread out over 6 months as my (oldest) daughter was diagnosed with cancer. I don’t want to feel like I’m putting everyone in a bind when I need to take time off, I don’t want that hanging over my head.
I’ve been off for so long that I have no idea what I want. I really don’t. And the last time I worked, it was a notorious famous agency where there was no work/ life balance at all. My two offers:
1) medium established agency of 140 people. Really nice, open boss who has kids herself and makes sure she leaves on time for daycare pickup. Downside is the talent is a bit weak so creative output isn’t where it should be (she knows and wants to change). Perhaps a bit process driven.
2) Tiny startup with a famous creative name. Boss is nice and also a mom. Currently under ten people work there. Lots of variety and creative output is channel neutral. Bags of autonomy. Downside is lots of pitching. Would I miss the comfort of infrastructure?
Both offer equivalent pay and benefits and good commutes. I remain really ambitious and I love the work, but I’m also scared of going back to a world where agencies are making no money so everyone is worked to the bone. What are some general things that perhaps I’m not thinking about that you found when you returned to work?
#1.
Have you worked at a super small agency before? You are in the weeds no matter what level. I would much rather “deal” with average talent than having to flex up down across so much I don’t get to actually work in my wheelhouse.
From my experience, smaller agencies = more work and dabbling into areas you aren’t incredibly familiar with. Which, then, causes stress and anxiety. I say go for #1