Job Offer - underwhelming offer but big opportunity

[Felicity28]

Hey,

I'm looking for objective opinions on a job offer, and will try to keep this easy to read:

I feel a bit conflicted about this situation

ABOUT ME
Age: 41
Career: Technical cybersecurity consultant (specialist niche)
Experience: about 12 years in my area

Applications have been really hard with lots of ghosting, rejections, and dead-end interviews over the past 6–9 months. I don't think it's a reflection on my ability but more just because itsa tough market

CURRENT ROLE
Salary: Very high for the UK market - and a bit over six figures
Bonus: 15% target, though historically unpaid due to repeated company acquisitions
Been here about 3.5 years

The role has gone stale. There have been ongoing organisational changes for about six months and the work has become quite easy as a result.

I don't feel engaged or attached to the company... if it collapsed tomorrow, I wouldn't care

THE OFFER

Company: A very large global technology company - think the tier of Meta, Amazon, Google etc
Base salary: About £8k lower than my current base
Shares: Vesting over 4 years (25% per year). After tax, roughly £8k/year - which just about brings total compensation back in line with what I earn now
Bonus: 15% target

NEGOTIATION

I pushed back with a justified counteroffer requesting a stronger package. The outcome:

• Base increased by approximately £1k
• Shares very slightly increased, but not by much
• Sign-on bonus declined outright

Their reasoning was that I'm already near the top of the pay band for the role level, and apparently above two recent hires at the same level. Going further would require levelling up the role, which they said creates internal complications.

MY THOUGHTS

I know large corporates operate within strict pay bands, but the negotiation outcome still feels underwhelming. Their lack of meaningful movement grates a bit on me and my former colleague who works there say they just don't pay well, or give good increases in general

Reasons to accept:

• The company name alone would be a significant CV elevation — even 1–2 years could open doors that aren't currently available to me
• Big learning opportunities in a specialist area
• It would get me out of a role that has become uninspiring
• The work would likely be more challenging and engaging

Reasons I'm hesitant:

• It's a step down in guaranteed cash, with the shortfall only partially offset by RSUs
• More pressure, higher stakes work, likely longer hours
• The negotiation left me feeling frustrated and underwhelmed
• Leaving a stable, well-paid role is a genuine risk

any thoughts here?

I told them I would come back to them by midday on Monday.

Thank you

[simon_harris]

would this be a spring board to bigger better paid roles, more visibility in your field and look good on the CV and be full of networking potential?

[Felicity28]

simon_harris said:

would this be a spring board to bigger better paid roles, more visibility in your field and look good on the CV and be full of networking potential?

Yes it would - that's one of the big things that appeals.

One minute I think:
- I can stay here, bored but coasting. HOWEVER - it's changing loads, so it's not going to stay like this, better or worse, it's changing.
- Why would I take the harder, more stressful role

Other minute I think:
- I am bored and just want to leave
- It's a big opportunity and a really big name that most would snatch their hand of

[guyvert1]

I would say its almost a no brainer to take new role. You're bored where you are, prob. hit salary cap etc. New role, new everything, can be exciting esp. with a big tech company, as you mentioned, even after a year or two , if its not for you, your CV will have a golden ticket on there so finding another role shouldn't prove that difficult.

In PH terms I'd say its the equiv. of having a 911 Turbo that does the job well, but you've had it a while and want something a little more exciting/better pedigree, so you consider the GT3...

[Panamax]

guyvert1 said:

I would say its almost a no brainer to take new role.

^^ This

[rog007]

There’s a lot going on here as your experience is showing.

But in summary, some in your position wouldn’t take the new role if they are already resentful about the compensation.

That feeling can poison the experience.

But if the frustration fades and the career upside excites you, it’s a strong move.

Good luck!

[ATG]

A few k difference in package right now isn't a big deal if you're looking to keep working for another ten to twenty years and are looking to take on bigger roles. If that's your planned trajectory, then the key concern is the likelihood that your role will evolve and the opportunities for promotion. If instead you're looking to broadly keep doing what you're doing now, then a salary cut is a bigger problem.

Personally, I tend to go for opportunities rather than immediate cash, and run my personal finances conservatively so I'm never beholden to the next pay cheque.

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

I would say take the new role. A flagship company on a CV can do wonders in the long term and you're already checked out from your current employer.
Unless the cash is going to be material to your mortgage or school fees I think it's a no-brainer to take the new offer.

[parabolica]

Mr_Megalomaniac said:

I would say take the new role. A flagship company on a CV can do wonders in the long term and you're already checked out from your current employer.
Unless the cash is going to be material to your mortgage or school fees I think it's a no-brainer to take the new offer.

This is what I was thinking; you don't mention in the OP about outside considerations so unless there is a dire need to maintain your current net income, there only seems to be upside to taking the role.

Don't let the negotiations leave a sour taste; a-tier companies have the pick of the bunch and unless you are a unicorn, they would likely move on to the next candidate who is willing to take those terms without a thought; its just the way it is.

[Felicity28]

Thanks all - that's really valuable. I am definitely NOT a unicorn. I also have no real desperate need for the extra money so I am very fortunate to be in that position.

I am wondering whether I should make one more final push before accepting as I said I'd give a final decision Monday. I'm on good terms with the recruitment person who I spoke to twice on video calls and she understands where I'm coming from

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

Just a mention about the RSU's - the thing to remember is that they do take time for that money to come through. I'm sure you're aware of this already but just in case, in the end of the first year you would then get one quarter of the total (I'm assuming that's the vest over 4 years, which is common).
Assuming that you then get an award at the end of the first year, then at the end of the second year you would get two lots of 1/4 and so on.
If you were then to leave you would lose anything that has not vested, i.e 1/2 of the year 1 award and 3/4 of the year 2 award.

In terms of the new role, it doesn't sound like you have much to lose by taking it. At that salary point the few thousand pounds in difference is really neither here nor there and could easily be offset by things like commuting costs or working from home etc.

If you have a friend who already works there at a similar level, he or she could give you much better advice about what it's really like to work there and whether you think you would like it.

[Felicity28]

TriumphStag3.0V8 said:

Just a mention about the RSU's - the thing to remember is that they do take time for that money to come through. I'm sure you're aware of this already but just in case, in the end of the first year you would then get one quarter of the total (I'm assuming that's the vest over 4 years, which is common).
Assuming that you then get an award at the end of the first year, then at the end of the second year you would get two lots of 1/4 and so on.
If you were then to leave you would lose anything that has not vested, i.e 1/2 of the year 1 award and 3/4 of the year 2 award.

In terms of the new role, it doesn't sound like you have much to lose by taking it. At that salary point the few thousand pounds in difference is really neither here nor there and could easily be offset by things like commuting costs or working from home etc.

If you have a friend who already works there at a similar level, he or she could give you much better advice about what it's really like to work there and whether you think you would like it.

Thanks - that is helpful, especially about the RSU vesting and the delay involved. They also give some refreshers annually which are performance based, and a 10% discount if you want to purchase them yourself.

Thankfully both jobs are remote so it should be almost no change.

My friend said the hours can be long but then when I asked him about this he said "sometimes there are calls at 6:30pm" which really isn't extreme. The only slight danger sign is my Director is on the West coast of the US, so when it's 5pm here, it's 10am for them.

It's a job which is reactive a lot of the time. E.g. client has unexpected big issue and that can then mean long hours, weekend, etc. It's not predictable but other work is generally less like that, such as general client delivery work, non-urgent stuff, research etc.

[RDMcG]

I had this experience. Great senior role reporting to CEO of a large company , lots of safety but slightly bored and nowhere to go.
Fewer staff reporting to me in a higher risk company but growth potential. Strong reputation for chewing up people too. However could be great if well run.
Pension less attractive but stock options much better , marginal salary increase.
I was 48 years old .
I took it because I really bet on the growth prospects. My salary was OK but the options paid off in a big way.

I would say go for it .

[98elise]

Panamax said:

guyvert1 said:

I would say its almost a no brainer to take new role.

^^ This

Agreed.

[bucksmanuk]

Heading towards the role that improves the CV and the opportunities, rather than hurting the immediate financial recompense - has always served me well...

[The Grouch]

Felicity28 said:

Thanks all - that's really valuable. I am definitely NOT a unicorn. I also have no real desperate need for the extra money so I am very fortunate to be in that position.

I am wondering whether I should make one more final push before accepting as I said I'd give a final decision Monday. I'm on good terms with the recruitment person who I spoke to twice on video calls and she understands where I'm coming from

A final push might (!) get an extra £1k or so out of them, but is it worth it? I wouldn't want to start at a new company with them potentially thinking that the salary is my main focus. Not suggesting you are or that they are even thinking that. I don't think it's worth trying again.

The opportunities this opens up are far more valuable than a few £k in salary (of which half goes to the inland revenue anyway). Think longer term.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

I would look at it this way...it sometimes helps.

How much would you pay for a training course that massively bolsters your CV to the point where it opens doors the future?

You're already thinking stay 2 years and then look elsewhere. I'd look at it as an essentially free CV builder, with the added bonus that the work is more interesting.

I chair an international committee, which essentially costs me money as it's unpaid. I do it because it's really interesting, which also has the added bonus of looking good on the CV.

[Antony Moxey]

guyvert1 said:

I would say its almost a no brainer to take new role. You're bored where you are, prob. hit salary cap etc. New role, new everything, can be exciting esp. with a big tech company, as you mentioned, even after a year or two , if its not for you, your CV will have a golden ticket on there so finding another role shouldn't prove that difficult.

In PH terms I'd say its the equiv. of having a 911 Turbo that does the job well, but you've had it a while and want something a little more exciting/better pedigree, so you consider the GT3...

It isn't. It's the equivalent of having a 911 Turbo and trading it in for a Boxster while being told you'll have the potential for a GT3 in future. Unless that future is guaranteed and not just smoke being blown up your arse then why take the salary hit for something that might not happen?

[davek_964]

How do employer pension contributions compare between the two companies?

I'm old enough that I weigh that up when comparing compensation.

[rog007]

The Grouch said:

Felicity28 said:

Thanks all - that's really valuable. I am definitely NOT a unicorn. I also have no real desperate need for the extra money so I am very fortunate to be in that position.

I am wondering whether I should make one more final push before accepting as I said I'd give a final decision Monday. I'm on good terms with the recruitment person who I spoke to twice on video calls and she understands where I'm coming from

A final push might (!) get an extra £1k or so out of them, but is it worth it? I wouldn't want to start at a new company with them potentially thinking that the salary is my main focus. Not suggesting you are or that they are even thinking that. I don't think it's worth trying again.

The opportunities this opens up are far more valuable than a few £k in salary (of which half goes to the inland revenue anyway). Think longer term.

Your reaction is valid F28, but structurally, this is how big tech works as has already been acknowledged.

When they say you’re near the top of the band, that usually means:

- They cannot move the base much
- Internal equity rules block it
- Sign-on bonuses are often used but not always

What actually matters more is that they didn’t walk away from the offer; if they were concerned about fit, they could have.

The small increase suggests they wanted to acknowledge the push but had limited room.

This is very common in companies at that scale.