Looking for some advice from my fellow PALS.
I work as an art director in the healthcare space, and I've been at my current company for five months now. I got this job after getting laid off from my previous job. Funnily enough the reason I got laid off from my previous job is because our biggest client moved to my current employer.
My current job requires about 3.5 hours of commuting a day, 10 times a month (2-3 days per week). The commute is pretty easy, but obviously long. It is kinda flexible where I can leave a bit early and make it home by 5:30 most days. I have a 15 month old so that's nice. My co-workers are all pretty good, and the job is fairly easy most of the time, which is nice but also perhaps not the best for career growth.
I was recently contacted by a company in the city I live, who I had applied and interviewed with a couple times over the last two years but things never worked out - first time they low balled me, second time they said I wasn't experienced enough. I was doing some freelance for them over the last year, and have a few good friends from past job that work there so my name was getting around, and they were happy with the services I offered and my abilities. Basically COO reached out to say "lets get to know each other, and if you're this well regarded why aren't you working here?". We chatted what I want career wise, salary, etc.
In their latest message, they basically said I can get everything I mentioned in our call - salary, role, growth - but it's only available this time. If I pass on it but apply in the future, the same offer isn't on the table.
The pro's are I'd get a $10,000 (or more) salary increase, plus the few thousand I'd save per year not having to commute along with my time. I'd probably be in a better spot for career growth, and I'd be working with some good friends again. Also being close to home will be helpful with family stuff once my kid is going to daycare and school, as my wife will have to take that 3.5 hour commute I mentioned earlier some days once she's back at work. We don't have any family where we live so we can't really rely on anyone to help with kid things should they need to be picked up early, appointments, etc. Basically it could turn into a stressful logistical issue in the future. There's not really any obvious cons I'm aware of, although they did lay off a friend of mine weeks before Christmas a couple years ago, which left a bad taste in his mouth. Slightly different scenario than what I'd be walking into but valid still. I do wanna reach out to a couple friends their to get their thoughts.
I have a hard time leaving jobs, and tend to work at places for a long time assuming things aren't terrible. Despite not working at my current job a long time, I'd feel as though I'm "letting people down" by leaving. But at the same time this is a large company, who of course would have no problem cutting me should they need to. Basically how to I convince myself to make the right decision, based on what I laid out. I think the positives are in favour of accepting this new offer, but I find it's always a touch choice to make. The area I work in is somewhat niche, and I don't want to burn any bridges. But at the same time, being closer to home with more pay and less commuting would make family life presumably easier in some regards.