Complicated work situation, advice sought

[whatleytom]

Hi all,

Currently I live in Swindon and work for a company there. I've worked there for four years and had three different jobs, all promotions from the one prior. My latest promotion came just over a week ago, after having been on a development plan. (Originally this was 6months, but I was promoted after just 2)

All well and good, but for a little while now I've wanted to move to London. I'm still fairly young but at this point either need to buy a house in Swindon, or take the opportunity to do something different.

I already have one job offer on the table in London. However several weeks ago I applied to an internal vacancy based in London. I have an interview for that this Wednesday. I would prefer this role out of the two.

Now I haven't been forthcoming about this with my manager as I was unsure on whether I was going to go for the job, however I've decided it's what I want so I talked to the current manager today about the interview.

Now I am the most experienced team member by some margin, other than myself there is next to no experience. For a long while the team has been understaffed, should be 3/4. While I have been on development plan has just been 2 of us. So my leaving would be pretty bad for the team, and department.

They asked me to withdraw my application, as essentially they believe I owe them for having been promoted. And asked me to think about this due to the recent recruitment situation. They asked me to take this as a compliment as the team is being built around me.

I explained I wanted to move jobs largely due to location reasons, but was a little bit gobsmacked to be asked to withdraw my application, and am fairly sure I won't be.

While I'm thankful for the development opportunity given to me I don't feel like I should be made to feel guilt over leaving the team understaffed and completely without experience. As far as I'm aware this is not my responsibility.

Either way, if I'm unsuccessful with the internal app, I will take the other job so will be leaving. But at this point they are unaware of this. They would feel less pain with the internal app, due to a longer notice period.

I guess I'm just asking others what they think of the situation and what they would do.

[whatleytom]

rossi1001 said:

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

.......In fact, I would say that this is already illustrated in your company's reaction. Ok, I understand that you leaving will cause them a problem, but their reaction was to immediately think of themselves, in a rather harsh, selfish manner, attempting to make you feel guilty.

Any upstanding company would at best try to be positive, understand your personal reasons for leaving, tell you that you'll be missed, and wish you good luck on your journey and life. Or at worst, try to offer you a better deal to stay, instead of sniping at you. (Although these types of counter-offers rarely work out in the end).

I say go for it, good luck, and don't look back.

Great advice above. The immediate reaction of your company was pretty harsh and selfish. My previous company was like this and my notice period was hellish. Directors telling me the new company was crap, dishing out personal anecdotes and abuse about my new CEO and all sorts. Truly pathetic.

However the first company I left couldn't thank me enough, wished me all the best and gave me a great send off, and this is how it should be! Though I think it's sadly probably pretty rare these days.

Definitely do NOT pull out and good luck!

Thanks for the advice guys, had another meeting today with said manager. I went in expecting to have a further fight on my hands when I told them I would be continuing with the application. However he had done a complete U-turn and could now see things from my point of view. In the end even offered any help I needed to prepare for the interview and wished me luck, so not all bad. Just have to hope the interview goes well on Wednesday. Only issue is now the timing will be very tight between either having to give notice for the job I have been offered, and finding out the outcome from this interview!