Career path advice needed
Early-career environmental professional in Canada looking for advice because I feel completely stuck between two paths.
Current role:
- Environmental policy role in public sector (almost 2 years, first career position and only relevant experience)
- Permanent, flexible location, supportive manager/team
- Completing a master’s part-time
- Good work-life balance
- I honestly don’t feel challenged anymore (have asked for new work/files which I will be getting soon) and worry I’m not building transferable skills/value despite being a strong performer
New offer:
- Environmental planner position in same organization
- More direct project work
- Seems far more transferable to consulting/private sector/other levels of government/ other provinces/internationally
- Recognizable title outside government
- Feels like a rare chance to break into planning without a planning degree/designation- I’m scared I may never get another offer like this since it’s internal
- Boss for this position is less flexible and I have been told not great to work with
Downsides:
- Slightly lower salary ceiling (110 less than current position)
- No hybrid/flexibility
- Worse work-life balance while finishing my master’s
- Leaving an exceptionally supportive manager who said she wants to help me get where I want to go
- Some people view it as a step down/more junior
Complication:
- I’m interviewing for a more senior role soon. It would pay more and show progression, but I worry it still wouldn’t broaden my skills much or help me outside government long-term. I also think I’m probably too junior to get it at this time and my manager is just giving me some interview experience.
Biggest fear:
Despite having a permanent government role + graduate degree in progress, I’m not getting many outside interviews. I’m scared I’m overestimating my future opportunities and that staying in niche policy/government work too long could trap me because it’s comfortable.
Long-term, I’d like the option to move provinces or abroad to be with my partner which is another reason planning appeals to me.
Would you prioritize:
- transferable skills + marketability
or
- flexibility + supportive environment + better immediate quality of life?
Could I get into something similar in the future once my relevant course based masters in environmental science is done? Based on how little interviews I get, I feel I have to take this even if it’s not the best fit right now.
Thank you for your insights!