Stick with Lotus Notes or pick up new skill?

Q. I am facing a dilemma over whether I should stay in my current specialization as a Lotus Notes application specialist, or take up a new job which requires me to learn other technologies like Java and .NET.

While I still have the passion for Lotus Notes, the new job catches my interest, because it gives me a chance to diversify and learn other technologies. However, switching would mean that I will lose touch with Lotus Notes.

I am not sure if I should switch jobs. The opportunity for career advancement looks good both ways, with the new one paying slightly more. In my current job, I have already advanced up to the level of project management, but I will have to take a step back in the new one since I do not have experience in the technologies that they are currently using. However, the new one does present the potential to advance up to project management in future.

I hear that my current team will be restructured soon, and I might be part of a new team in my present company and that will give me a chance to learn Websphere, which is an equally exciting challenge as presented in the new job offer. Should I stay and keep my specialization in Lotus Notes while learning Websphere? Or should I take up the new job to learn the more commonly used Java and .NET? Any advice will be much appreciated.

Career advice from Thomas Choong, director of enterprise applications vendor Elipva:
A. Going beyond Lotus Notes is definitely a plus as it will broaden your horizons and knowledge in other established and widely used technologies. Whether it is Java, .Net or Websphere, they are all relevant, but perhaps also more appealing from the wider industry perspective.

The opportunity to get into project management in the new position is also a definite plus, as it is a generic skill that is more portable and applicable to your IT career. Hence, whether you stay or go should not be dependent on just the financial return at this juncture (since the pay increase will be marginal) but on the real opportunity and promise by the company to learn a new skill and to upgrade yourself. But bear in mind that sometimes, such promises do not materialize until much later. Therefore, your confidence in the promises made by the new hirer is a factor you should consider.