Potential New Job - What To Do?

[TDan]

I have been working at my current employer for 4 years now, started voluntarily post degree and have worked my way into a good position but have been feeling slightly disillusioned with the business over the last 6 months or so...

This was mainly to do with the salary as i feel i am not really recognised for what i do (although i'm sure everyone feels that way!), currently mid £20k's with a company car at 24 but regularly meeting, working with, and reporting to, senior management in a FTSE top 10 company and having interim responsibility for P&L of a £10m+ annual turnover part of said business.

I had a little look around a few weeks ago and secured an interview with another FTSE 100 company today, it went very very well and i was told i would be informed of their decision later today or tomorrow, the question is i really dont know what to do should i secure a position!

I'm obviously feeling a tad scared of jumping in at the deep end in a new company with no contacts and being back at the bottom rung of the ladder but i feel there is good development opportunities there in a number of sectors, but then again i could stay where i am and look back in the future and regret making a move!

All in all, i just dont know what to do! What would your decision be? Field is consultancy FWIW...

Edited by TDan on Tuesday 9th April 13:26

[randlemarcus]

When you get the offer, weigh it up according to the pro and con list you will have already drawn up, and go from there.

PS As a broad rule, consultancy skills improve when you move

[sunoco69]

Quit, buy some saddle's and become a hippie! BONG!


Failing that take a risk and go for it. you wont get anywhere in life without taking the odd risk.

[StevieBee]

TDan said:

This was mainly to do with the salary as i feel i am not really recognised for what i do

In my experience, there is often a chasm between what someone 'believes' they are worth and what the market is prepared to pay.

I would suggest you consider how you would feel if you were given a £10k pay rise tomorrow. Would this cure your despondency towards your employer or would it simply ease the pain a touch.

It's worth thinking on this as even if you go for a new job with more money, you may end up feeling the same way in a year's time, just earning more money and there will come a point where you hit the level of market value and yet still feel the way you do at present.

[TDan]

StevieBee said:

In my experience, there is often a chasm between what someone 'believes' they are worth and what the market is prepared to pay.

I would suggest you consider how you would feel if you were given a £10k pay rise tomorrow. Would this cure your despondency towards your employer or would it simply ease the pain a touch.

It's worth thinking on this as even if you go for a new job with more money, you may end up feeling the same way in a year's time, just earning more money and there will come a point where you hit the level of market value and yet still feel the way you do at present.

Completely understand what your saying, and that is the dilemma, am I just being despondent because my heads been turned...

I feel I know the business I am in currently very well and have spent a long time learning and doing but others are constantly being brought in over my head and I am being discouraged from pursuing these opportunities, only to be told when I have raised this that I'm seen as a more senior member of the team than those on higher salaries and would I like to line manage them, and also that my salary is well below what it should be for what I'm doing.

The business policy is capped at a low single figure % rise per annum, this has been given to me but it will take circa 8 years of consecutive rises to get to the next lowest earner in the team...

I don't want it to seem like all I care about is the salary but everyone has a mortgage to pay, I just don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face as the saying goes!

[yajeed]

TDan said:

Completely understand what your saying, and that is the dilemma, am I just being despondent because my heads been turned...

I feel I know the business I am in currently very well and have spent a long time learning and doing but others are constantly being brought in over my head and I am being discouraged from pursuing these opportunities, only to be told when I have raised this that I'm seen as a more senior member of the team than those on higher salaries and would I like to line manage them, and also that my salary is well below what it should be for what I'm doing.

The business policy is capped at a low single figure % rise per annum, this has been given to me but it will take circa 8 years of consecutive rises to get to the next lowest earner in the team...

I don't want it to seem like all I care about is the salary but everyone has a mortgage to pay, I just don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face as the saying goes!

With very limited information, I'd certainly advocate making the move. You sound intelligent, driven and mature to a level that is uncommon for people I've encountered on that kind of salary*.

Jump and the chances are you'll land on your feet IMHO.

• In my industry. A basic IT first line guy with little experience would be paid substantially higher than that.

[harveybobbles]

So.. did you get offered it? Did you accept?

[TDan]

Well I didn't hear anything back on Thursday so gave the hiring manager a call on Friday and it went straight to voicemail, I left a message and fingers crossed I hear something back early next week...

After mulling over it for a while I think if an offer is made and its in line with expectations then I will go for it, I've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain! Will update this as and when I get some feedback...

[TDan]

Well, i have been verbally offered the role, the company are just going through HR and i should see the formal offer this week!

Indications are that the role will be more on the fee earning side (currently o/h), with less travel, closer to home, and a 35% salary increase...

Subject to thrashing out the details of the formal offer i think i'd be stupid not to give it a go as its a sector i'm very interested in and like the idea of being on the other side of the coin in terms of Client interaction and PMing etc...

Any last minute thoughts?!

[yajeed]

TDan said:

Well, i have been verbally offered the role, the company are just going through HR and i should see the formal offer this week!

Indications are that the role will be more on the fee earning side (currently o/h), with less travel, closer to home, and a 35% salary increase...

Subject to thrashing out the details of the formal offer i think i'd be stupid not to give it a go as its a sector i'm very interested in and like the idea of being on the other side of the coin in terms of Client interaction and PMing etc...

Any last minute thoughts?!

Nope - go for it. However, don't do anything rash until you have a formal offer in writing.

There's a high probability that your current employer will give you a counteroffer. It's sensible to think about whether that is something you will entertain.

[TDan]

Yes i was certainly aware that i should not resign before i have a concrete offer but thanks for the heads up guys!

I think i would still side with the new role should a counter offer be made, i'm interested in seeing actual projects get delivered rather than just parachuting in to troubleshoot and then off out again and this role delivers that.

I'm very conscious that i want to leave my current role on as good terms as possible because they have brought me on so much, just trying to figure out the best way to do so!