I'm dithering!!!
Discussion
I work for a big (BIG) company in a very demanding role, we have recently had a change of senior management and the new regime is horrendous, my work load has easily doubled and the pressure is having a detrimental effect on my health, family and well being.
I have been looking to jump ship for a while and via an off chance conversation with one of our service providers I have a provisional offer of work elsewhere. All good so far, except.......
My current company is the usual big organisation, everything in writing to the letter of the law, periodic performance reviews, full HR intervention in everything, every little procedure timed to the second, sent out in writing and copied in triplicate.
My potential new employer is a family run organisation, very laid back, to the point I get a wave of relief over me if I even think about working with them, however it is all very informal, my "interview" involved calling in for a two hour brew where we basically ended up trading anecdotes about the industry we are in, I was however offered employment but it was on the basis of "we'll find you something, we want you to work for us" but no specifics, I have told them I want my current package at least equalling regarding pay, holidays etc which they have agreed to.
I have bumped into the owner a couple of times in the last few weeks and asked where we are up to, all I get is "its no problem, just give me a ring and we'll sort something out". The job is there, the money is the same and yet I can't bring myself to move forward. It all feels too surreal and chilled out and if I'm honest a bit too EASY, now I know its healthy to be cautious and no, i don't have anything in writing regarding the new job but I fear I have become institutionalized working for such a big company for so long (well over ten years).
Is what I have experienced normal with smaller companies? I don't expect small companies to have open days and assessment centres followed up by two and three interviews for a position but I don't feel like I've been through any sort of process at all.
So, should I man up and make the move, phone the new guys and hand my notice in on Monday or should I stay put?
I have been looking to jump ship for a while and via an off chance conversation with one of our service providers I have a provisional offer of work elsewhere. All good so far, except.......
My current company is the usual big organisation, everything in writing to the letter of the law, periodic performance reviews, full HR intervention in everything, every little procedure timed to the second, sent out in writing and copied in triplicate.
My potential new employer is a family run organisation, very laid back, to the point I get a wave of relief over me if I even think about working with them, however it is all very informal, my "interview" involved calling in for a two hour brew where we basically ended up trading anecdotes about the industry we are in, I was however offered employment but it was on the basis of "we'll find you something, we want you to work for us" but no specifics, I have told them I want my current package at least equalling regarding pay, holidays etc which they have agreed to.
I have bumped into the owner a couple of times in the last few weeks and asked where we are up to, all I get is "its no problem, just give me a ring and we'll sort something out". The job is there, the money is the same and yet I can't bring myself to move forward. It all feels too surreal and chilled out and if I'm honest a bit too EASY, now I know its healthy to be cautious and no, i don't have anything in writing regarding the new job but I fear I have become institutionalized working for such a big company for so long (well over ten years).
Is what I have experienced normal with smaller companies? I don't expect small companies to have open days and assessment centres followed up by two and three interviews for a position but I don't feel like I've been through any sort of process at all.
So, should I man up and make the move, phone the new guys and hand my notice in on Monday or should I stay put?
I wouldn't hand my notice in until I have signed, or at least seen, the new contract/offer of employment. I certainly wouldn't do it based on some laid back dude saying 'no problem, just rock up and we'll sort you out'.
Be polite about it. Send them an email, or call them, and say something along the lines of 'thank you for the offer of employment, I would be very keen to take this up. Could you please send me a formal written offer and, if possible, the contract of employment?'.
If they can't handle that, then I don't reckon they would be worth a punt- if things turned sour (and no reason to think they would at this stage) then if could be a disaster for you. Worst case scenario, you hand your notice in, and they then say 'oh, we don't have enough work to take you on'.
Be polite about it. Send them an email, or call them, and say something along the lines of 'thank you for the offer of employment, I would be very keen to take this up. Could you please send me a formal written offer and, if possible, the contract of employment?'.
If they can't handle that, then I don't reckon they would be worth a punt- if things turned sour (and no reason to think they would at this stage) then if could be a disaster for you. Worst case scenario, you hand your notice in, and they then say 'oh, we don't have enough work to take you on'.
It's a bit less formal than my interviews for small companies. But not much. And they already know you.
I would make the move as soon as you can. Get your name on the contract with the new guys, then hand in your notice. But I'd choose the smaller company any day of the week if all else is even.
I would make the move as soon as you can. Get your name on the contract with the new guys, then hand in your notice. But I'd choose the smaller company any day of the week if all else is even.
TwoHats said:
.... "we'll find you something, we want you to work for us" but no specifics, I have told them I want my current package at least equalling regarding pay, holidays etc which they have agreed to.
Just how small is the new company? You sound like you're on a hefty package, and don't forget you can add at the very least 25% to your gross as the cost of employing you (employer NI, pension etc). Can they conjure up that money from nowhere? Will you be bringing value of several multiples of your cost to the company?I'd say the biggest snag with the small companies that I've experienced is a lot of promised stuff never happens, and they tend to try to do stuff on the cheap all the time.
Depending on your job, there's a lot of kudos working for a large, well know company. You don't have to explain who they are all the time.
Deva Link said:
Just how small is the new company? You sound like you're on a hefty package, and don't forget you can add at the very least 25% to your gross as the cost of employing you (employer NI, pension etc). Can they conjure up that money from nowhere? Will you be bringing value of several multiples of your cost to the company?
I'd say the biggest snag with the small companies that I've experienced is a lot of promised stuff never happens, and they tend to try to do stuff on the cheap all the time.
Depending on your job, there's a lot of kudos working for a large, well know company. You don't have to explain who they are all the time.
I'm not talking a little corner shop here, they are a sizeable operation in their own right, just family owned and really down to earth. Its just the company I currently work for is massive.I'd say the biggest snag with the small companies that I've experienced is a lot of promised stuff never happens, and they tend to try to do stuff on the cheap all the time.
Depending on your job, there's a lot of kudos working for a large, well know company. You don't have to explain who they are all the time.
They can certainly afford me, I also know a number of people who have worked or do work for them. One of the guys who used to work under me is now with them and one of the guys who is currently under me started his career with them. Both speak highly of them.
As regards the working for a large well known company, yes very true about the not needing to explain who you are, there is an element of clicking my fingers and things happen, I just don't think I want it any more. Maybe I've just peaked a bit early in life ambition wise but there is more to life than the kudos of a good job, I want my job to be something I do when I'm not living my life, not my life being something I try and do when I'm not working.
The only concern I would have is the "we'll find you something to do" bit.
What if they don't ? you'll be out of a job.
Not saying this is the case, but it would concern me that they don't have a role/project for you to step in to. Are they just laid back and can see you have talents to help their company or are they not really on top of their planning / resourcing ? Difficult to tell.
What if they don't ? you'll be out of a job.
Not saying this is the case, but it would concern me that they don't have a role/project for you to step in to. Are they just laid back and can see you have talents to help their company or are they not really on top of their planning / resourcing ? Difficult to tell.
Crafty_ said:
Are they just laid back and can see you have talents to help their company
This basically. From my background my experience will be an asset to them.I wouldn't be going in there like work experience, milling around trying to be useful, its just that they don't have a specific vacancy that I've applied for. Its a case of deciding where I would be most effective within the company. We discussed a couple of potential roles, all of which I would be more than happy to do.
TwoHats said:
I have told them I want my current package at least equalling regarding pay, holidays etc which they have agreed to.
...It all feels too surreal and chilled out and if I'm honest a bit too EASY,
Two issues I see here. First; rule of thumb is to only move for 20% improvement in remuneration package (this represents compensation for risk and any associated costs with a move). Second; if it doesn't feel right, then you may have to trust your instincts....It all feels too surreal and chilled out and if I'm honest a bit too EASY,
As to your current predicament; I'd certainly recommend speaking to your line manager about how things are at the moment. If you're a valued employee in a employee-friendly company, you should be listened too and action taken to help you. Good luck!
I'm fairly high up at my location and what constitutes as my "line manager" is a major part of my problem. Add to this that he is golfing buddy to both the general manager and HR manager and there is nowhere to run. And trust me, looking after employees is a long long way down my company's list of priorities, despite their outgoing happy clappy image.
I would stay put. Go back to the potential employer and say, i am seriously looking to move from where I am. I'd really like to come and work for you, but I am also starting to have to look elsewhere. Not trying to push you into a decision, just being up front and hope we can get something formalised in the next week if we can?
And start looking for another job as well
And start looking for another job as well
Dont underestimate how difficult being a non family member in a family business can be.
In my day job I am in this situation. We have all the annoyances and aggravation of big company rules and regulations but without the big company benefits of decent holidays/sick pay/pension/career progression.
In my day job I am in this situation. We have all the annoyances and aggravation of big company rules and regulations but without the big company benefits of decent holidays/sick pay/pension/career progression.
Assuming the smaller company can offer good money, I would let the owner/family know "send me a contract and I am yours!"
Don't forget when you move that they can ditch you within two years for no reason other than "it is not working out" - I would want to know how long I could last for a few unemployed months and that I could get another job pronto in case they turn out to be horrible to work for (or if they give you the boot).
In your current position I assume you have been there for years and can not be got rid of easily. As your job can not get much worse, perhaps you can safely let them know at your next review that you are struggling with the demands. Do you have a suggestion box where you could deposit your complaints with anonymity? You might also pick the most appropriate director and let them know of the problem. Putting it in the context of how it might cause a problem for the company down the line might give it more clout.
Don't forget when you move that they can ditch you within two years for no reason other than "it is not working out" - I would want to know how long I could last for a few unemployed months and that I could get another job pronto in case they turn out to be horrible to work for (or if they give you the boot).
In your current position I assume you have been there for years and can not be got rid of easily. As your job can not get much worse, perhaps you can safely let them know at your next review that you are struggling with the demands. Do you have a suggestion box where you could deposit your complaints with anonymity? You might also pick the most appropriate director and let them know of the problem. Putting it in the context of how it might cause a problem for the company down the line might give it more clout.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff