Hi Tom.

Which would you say is the bigger driver for you from the potential move – the lack of interesting opportunities to continue to progress/grow in your current company or the pay-rise?

It is not necessarily the number of employers on your CV that matters but being able to show that you are continually progressing, gaining new skills and additional responsibilities in each new role.  It sounds like you have done this well to work through the ranks so far but are now hitting the classic brick-wall of mid-management? As you know, contract positions pay higher because of the financial risk involved – often if they then want to hire you on permanently it will be a reduced rate, so worth bearing in mind if you are not looking to stay contracting long-term. It’s also pretty well known that joining a new company is the best way to get a promotion/pay-rise if you are now stuck at your current place and it’s not unusual at all in the early days to move around to do so.

Often, it’s worth talking to your current employer first about the new opportunity and pay-rise on offer, as you will be surprised how often it gives employers the prod needed to realise you are still ambitious/ready for more. The more concrete you can be about what you want the better those conversations go. Steer clear of the obvious “I just want to be better paid”, you can say the same thing by describing what additional responsibilities you want to take on and it comes across as looking to be a leader, not just asking for a grade promotion.

As someone who used to have a 2 1/2 hr commute each way for over 15 years – I can safely say it does get very tiring. But it can also be worth it for sure if there are no better opportunities nearby and you are not interested in moving/renting near the new job and renting out your current house, if all went well.

Hope helps.