>I just got a job offer this morning. I have been getting really sick of the Dilbert-ness of my current job. I have talked to my manager and my manager's manager about it, so I have tried to address the issues.
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>The new place is a small local manufacturing facility. They have a 7-8 developer shop. I would be coming in as a Developer 1 for about 8% less than I am making now. They said after 6 months if I meet performance expectations (which I am confident I can) they would promote me to a Developer 2, and my salary would increase to about what I make now. I think I would fit in better at the new place because I have always really enjoyed manufacturing, and it seems like a somewhat laid back place. I interviewed with half the department and they seem like geeks, instead of the business stiffs I work for now. All of their systems are written in .NET, so I wouldn't have to struggle with the integrations between subpar vendored systems.
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>The benefits wouldn't be as good as my current job, but not by much. I think there would be a lot more potential at the new place. I am about ready to friggin lose my mind at my current place. Once jagoff told me I should start to learn Java and I was ready to fight him (not literally, but in my mind I had him up in a helicopter whirl).
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>What say you? I'm having a hard time getting around the money thing for the first few months. Even if it were just a miniscule amount more than I make now it would have given me a warm fuzzy that at least I am headed in the right direction money wise. However, I really do think that in 2-3 years I would be making more there than I would be here. They are a C# and Oracle shop, and I am a VB and SQL Server guy, but I'm fairly confident I can make the switch without too much trouble.
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>Anyway, I should probably just be happy that I have a job because I know some folks on here aren't as lucky.

I can tell by the way you describe it that you want to take the job. So take it. You'll be starting out a bit lower financially than where you are now, but not enough so to offset the advantages of working someplace you like and getting away from someplace you don't like.

As far as the salary, you might ask them to up the offer a little. That's tricky because some companies will do that without batting a eye while others have more of a take it or leave it attitude. If there is a recruiter involved, ask his or her advice. I can't tell you because I don't know the company. I can tell you that you will seldom have as much leverage as when they are trying to hire you.

If you do make the switch, be sure to leave your current position with complete professionalism. You want them to be referenceable, which is only one reason you should never, ever burn bridges. So hold off on letting your boss know you think he's a jagoff ;-)

Good luck, whatever you decide.