i work for a very prominent family in the community /area in the restaurant business, right now I'm only a rounds chef , but i got a position as a head chef in a restaurant. The problem is i love my job the people and everything about it but the pay, the new job will pay better but it wont be as great as the old one, and i have a feeling that if i leave that its going to finish me and i wont be able to progress in the field later in life cause of that family. I just need to know what should i do , am i making the right choice

you make it sound like they are the MOB or something..

look at it this way.. if you aren't getting the money or advancement opportunities you need, then move on to something where you can.

if that job sucks, fine... deal with it until you gain the knowledge and experience you need to advance to another place.

If they are that prominent, you can tell future employees " yes... i worked for the Gambino family... " and they will be afraid of you and give you whatever position you want...

ok im kidding... chances are whatever "prominence" this "family" has, it's local prominence, and their name will do JACK for you if you move out of that community..

if you REALLY want to advance you're going to have to move to a bigger city most likely anyway. unless you're in NYC or Hollywood. then you can't really go up from there i don't think.

there is 2 parts though.. if you love your job and love the people around you, it's going to be hard to find that again. its kind of like leaving a girlfriend for the potential that the next girlfriend will be better. 99% of the time you left something good even though she didn't give you -everything- you thought you wanted...

so, you can keep the low pay and stay where you love where you feel secure, and NOT be able to pay your bills, or you can move where the money takes you..

tell the family your dilemma and see if their able to offer you more money. then tell them you have to leave if not...

the only way you'll ever make REAL money in the industry you're in is to be an executive chef at some 5 star restaurant, or to own your own restaurant...

but.. aside from that, if you're willing to work for less pay, then you'll have to cut your expenses, learn how to budget your money, and live well within your means. especially if you plan on saving for retirement any time soon... yeah.... retirement.. most people don't START thinking about that until their INTO their 40's or 50's. it's HARD to retire at 65 if you've only been saving for 15 years.. and its even HARDER to find work at 65.. and... i don't know how old you are now, but.. social security won't be here for most of us.. they've been alluding to that for years now. so... i'd say learn howto budget your money, learn how not to over spend, learn how to live within your means, and learn how to SAVE starting RIGHT NOW.... regardless of what job you take. THOSE things, while are in your long term future, at very important to start on -NOW-

good luck either way