Career advice please
I currently work at a very large publicly traded logistics company in a non finance position. I'm making $50k plus bonus annually. I work 60 hours a week minimum but often more. This company only hires from within and has a "keep what you kill" mentality. So the opportunities for me to move up are pretty good. BUT I work A LOT. The name looks legit on the resume and I manage about 30 people.
Recently I was contacted for a position as an Economist at their firm(my undergrad is in Econ). I'm thinking about going through with the interview and maybe taking the job if I get an offer. Bad side is, my quarterly bonus will go away and I will take a $9k pay cut. Good side is I will rarely work more than 40 hours a week and after 3 years though I’ll be making around $77k and have opportunities to go do other finance related things if I want.
I think making the jump to the Economist role might be better for me long-term because I will get my MBA/PHD paid for 100%, and I can probably make a jump to working at a central bank after 2-3 years. Then if I wanted to go from central banking to the private sector (I have no desire to work on Wall Street specifically) I could do that too. I'm 24 now so I don't wanna make the wrong choice and end up paying for it, time is too valuable.
So should I stay with my current job or try to get the Economist job?
TL/DR: I’m thinking about leaving my current job to become an Economist making less money BUT it is more related to my finance job goals. Should I take it?
Thanks guys