A Work Dilemma
Author
Discussion

Mikeyboy

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

266 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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So After 18 months of having to do something else rather than my normal career path in Headhunting I ended up in small firm (just 3 of us)where I was to build out a new practice from scratch.
I like it here (atmosphere, ability to just get on with it etc) and have done pretty well but a couple of months ago the proprietor ran out of cash to pay my monthly wages.
So with 18months of cruddy CV and just 6 months in this place I thought I'll bite the bullet and work commission only.
Now someone has come out of the woodwork and offered me a job. They aren't a great firm and I may have to give up some ongoing work but they do have better clients and they will pay me a wage.

So what do I do?
Hang on here and wait for my deals to complete and collect the fees in 6 months or take the offer?

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

248 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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If at first you don't suck seed.

DrTre

12,957 posts

263 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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girls just wanna have fun

Mikeyboy

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

266 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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dibbers006 said:
HTH

wink
erm no, unless you're saying hang around and wait.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

248 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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Shot through the heart, and you're to blame, honey you give love, a bad name...

iggletiggle

1,380 posts

216 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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welcome to the jungle ...

am I getting it right yet .. ?

andyjo1982

5,209 posts

241 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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You can take a horse to water...

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

263 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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If the chap you work for can't even guarantee your wages- it seems insane to stay there assuming he'll pay you in 6 months time.

DrTre

12,957 posts

263 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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workin' nine to five, what a way to make a livin'

DrTre

12,957 posts

263 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
blindswelledrat said:
If the chap you work for can't even guarantee your wages- it seems insane to stay there assuming he'll pay you in 6 months time.
Naah, think he means, if he goes solo then he gets paid 6 months down the line once a placement he recommends is taken on.

Edited by DrTre on Friday 9th July 16:58

Mikeyboy

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

266 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
blindswelledrat said:
If the chap you work for can't even guarantee your wages- it seems insane to stay there assuming he'll pay you in 6 months time.
Thats what I'm thinking. If the other house was actually a great name it would be a no brainer but I just don't want to move again to a cruddy firm where I have to start all over again and have yet another short term job on my CV.

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

263 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
I read it, that he is working for the same bloke but just on a commission basis?
It would be unusual to describe setting your up on your own as "working commision only"

Republik

4,525 posts

221 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
10 Pence Short said:
Shot through the heart, and you're to blame, honey you give love, a bad name...
Argh! I'm going to be singing that all weekend now.

Dupont666

22,944 posts

223 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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'The best things in life are free'

Mikeyboy

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

266 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
DrTre said:
blindswelledrat said:
If the chap you work for can't even guarantee your wages- it seems insane to stay there assuming he'll pay you in 6 months time.
Naah, think he means, if he goes solo then he gets paid 6 months down the line once a placement he recommends is taken on.

Edited by DrTre on Friday 9th July 16:58
Yes I did mean paid on succesful placement etc but not on my own, within the firm but he's not wrong either. If the company is so short of cash he can't gaurantee me my wages after just 6 months (then why did he hire someone to build a new business?) What other problems will arise in 6 months that mean he can't pay me my commission?

Edited by Mikeyboy on Friday 9th July 17:04

Mikeyboy

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

266 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
Dupont666 said:
'The best things in life are free'
I hate that song....

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

263 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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Its definitely a bad sign.
I don't know how he is financed, but he must have borrowed against the debtor book (not paying emplyees is definitely the last thing a struggling company ever does).
SO he would
1)Borrow as much as possible against his debtor ledger (60%?)
2)Not pay tax/vat bills
3)Not pay himself
4)Not pay anything at all
5)Not pay employees/bust

THus whatever happens- he is in a dire financial position.

Mikeyboy

Original Poster:

5,018 posts

266 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
Well this is the odd thing.
We have researcher who is still getting a wage and a promotion, and he is about to go out and buy himself a Q7 or Merc equivalent and spends 4k a month on rent and travel. No change of lifestyle for either of them.
I was only given 6 months to build a business from scratch with no client list and because I was one week out on my first fee I got cut/put onto commission only and still had to cover my costs and wages out of my first fee.
Oh did I mention I'm the only one who's made a fee this year.

CVP

2,799 posts

306 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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From the situation you describe witht he extra info I'd certainly ask why the other person is being paid a wage and you are not. If no suitable answer is forthcoming then move on.

Either you have been done over or the other person has some hold over the owner or is mate or relative etc. If you have been done over once then you can be sure the owner will try it again with something else. I would have concerns in a small company where one member of staff is paid and another on commission if doing similar roles, it would make me question the financing of the business.

If you have built part of the practice single handed clients may wish to maintain the personal link to you and come with you so your hard work may not have been in vain.

Cock Womble 7

29,908 posts

261 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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Mikeyboy said:
Dupont666 said:
'The best things in life are free'
I hate that song....
Even the Flying Lizards' version?