Jump ship, or stay?
Discussion
Could do with a little guidance over what you lot would do in my situation.
Been at my current company for nearly 4 years (I'm mid-30's), it was the first rung in a new career. Over that 4 years I've learnt a lot and taken on a fair few more responsibilities, doing far more than my initial role that I was taken on for.
The next rung up on the ladder is a natural progression from my role - everyone at the company who has started in my role goes this route, so in a way promotion to this next role is (almost) guaranteed. However...
About 18 months ago we got bought out by a much larger company, and prior to this I was soon to be coming up to moving into this next role. When the new owners took over, that was put on hold, and is still on hold to this day. I've asked about progression, and have been told 'it will happen' but with no set time or date - the first 6 months of this year was mentioned, however I believe (information is VERY hard to get hold of) that it is waiting for a new team/department structure to be put in place, which is in turn waiting for a new system to be rolled out. Said system has been put back many, many times and I don't even know when it's due to be rolled out. Sometime this year is all I can reasonably say. I was offered a bit of sweetener of putting me on the on-call shift which is worth about £3k pa before tax in November, but nothing has come of this either... So you get the idea, getting ANY information about progression is just hitting a brick wall at the moment, and has been for months. And yes, my main priority for progression is money, but other things are important too - as I've mentioned, I'm the wrong side of 35, and I started at the company on 20k, in the time I've been there we've had one pay rise of 5% (which was fought for tooth and nail, if it hadn't been we wouldn't have gotten it - you guessed it, the new company didn't want to give it to us) which makes my current salary £21k.
Now, I've thought about moving to a new role, and tbh I probably wouldn't have too much trouble finding one, but (and it's a big but!) I'd realistically have to move sideways with maybe a 2-3k payrise, if I was very lucky, as my current pay is very very good for the industry and my particular role. Normally my job (what I started as) would pay around £16-18k. However I'd be starting again at another company, and would probably have to wait another 2 years or so before moving up at the new company, so thwarting my aim for progression.
I like my job and the people I work with at my current company, it's a very cushy set up we have. We all work hard and we're very good at what we do, we don't lose customers and the guys here generally stay for years. But... I'm not seeing any progress for my efforts and it's hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel.
Now, for the twist. Moving to a new role might see me on £22-23k maximum, realistically - so a 10% pay rise at most. When (if!) I move up to the next role at my current job it would mean (including the on call shift) I'd be on around £30k, so a 40% pay rise.
Money isn't everything but you can see my reasons for wanting to move up! That's with a 'normal' on call shift too, it can go much higher than that (£500 on an average shift, £1-1.5k on a good shift, one every 2 months).
Trying to get a reasonable answer as to when I might move up is virtually impossible, the 'first 6 months of this year' answer was extracted with a lot of effort and I can see that it was probably just given as an answer to stop me asking and to keep the carrot dangling in front my mouth, as was the on call shift offer. I'm fully expecting nothing to come of that gesture.
So, what would you do? Move on to a job paying 2k more where I could potentially be stuck in that role for another 2 years (you can't tell truthfully how much progression there's going to be until you're in the job, despite all the promises at interviews), or:
Stay in my current role hoping that the promotion comes in the next 6-9 months. But always knowing that I could be in exactly the same situation a year, 18 months from now, knocking on 38 and having been in the same (entry level role) for 5 years...
Thoughts?
Been at my current company for nearly 4 years (I'm mid-30's), it was the first rung in a new career. Over that 4 years I've learnt a lot and taken on a fair few more responsibilities, doing far more than my initial role that I was taken on for.
The next rung up on the ladder is a natural progression from my role - everyone at the company who has started in my role goes this route, so in a way promotion to this next role is (almost) guaranteed. However...
About 18 months ago we got bought out by a much larger company, and prior to this I was soon to be coming up to moving into this next role. When the new owners took over, that was put on hold, and is still on hold to this day. I've asked about progression, and have been told 'it will happen' but with no set time or date - the first 6 months of this year was mentioned, however I believe (information is VERY hard to get hold of) that it is waiting for a new team/department structure to be put in place, which is in turn waiting for a new system to be rolled out. Said system has been put back many, many times and I don't even know when it's due to be rolled out. Sometime this year is all I can reasonably say. I was offered a bit of sweetener of putting me on the on-call shift which is worth about £3k pa before tax in November, but nothing has come of this either... So you get the idea, getting ANY information about progression is just hitting a brick wall at the moment, and has been for months. And yes, my main priority for progression is money, but other things are important too - as I've mentioned, I'm the wrong side of 35, and I started at the company on 20k, in the time I've been there we've had one pay rise of 5% (which was fought for tooth and nail, if it hadn't been we wouldn't have gotten it - you guessed it, the new company didn't want to give it to us) which makes my current salary £21k.
Now, I've thought about moving to a new role, and tbh I probably wouldn't have too much trouble finding one, but (and it's a big but!) I'd realistically have to move sideways with maybe a 2-3k payrise, if I was very lucky, as my current pay is very very good for the industry and my particular role. Normally my job (what I started as) would pay around £16-18k. However I'd be starting again at another company, and would probably have to wait another 2 years or so before moving up at the new company, so thwarting my aim for progression.
I like my job and the people I work with at my current company, it's a very cushy set up we have. We all work hard and we're very good at what we do, we don't lose customers and the guys here generally stay for years. But... I'm not seeing any progress for my efforts and it's hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel.
Now, for the twist. Moving to a new role might see me on £22-23k maximum, realistically - so a 10% pay rise at most. When (if!) I move up to the next role at my current job it would mean (including the on call shift) I'd be on around £30k, so a 40% pay rise.
Money isn't everything but you can see my reasons for wanting to move up! That's with a 'normal' on call shift too, it can go much higher than that (£500 on an average shift, £1-1.5k on a good shift, one every 2 months).Trying to get a reasonable answer as to when I might move up is virtually impossible, the 'first 6 months of this year' answer was extracted with a lot of effort and I can see that it was probably just given as an answer to stop me asking and to keep the carrot dangling in front my mouth, as was the on call shift offer. I'm fully expecting nothing to come of that gesture.
So, what would you do? Move on to a job paying 2k more where I could potentially be stuck in that role for another 2 years (you can't tell truthfully how much progression there's going to be until you're in the job, despite all the promises at interviews), or:
Stay in my current role hoping that the promotion comes in the next 6-9 months. But always knowing that I could be in exactly the same situation a year, 18 months from now, knocking on 38 and having been in the same (entry level role) for 5 years...
Thoughts?AbzST64 said:
I'm in not a too dissimilar situation to yourself, i'm 34.
In my current role day to day work is fine etc but i want to progress and they know this and has been noted the past year or so BUT as yet nothing. I'm more than capable for a senior role but they are now saying they need to create a new role for me to move into which isn't straight forward...! But the company and the people are great and i have no issues at all apart from the progression.
Now i have been offered a senior role somewhere else...15k payrise, car allowance (approx £5k year) and minimum 15% bonus year...! But with the new company it'll be leading a team of 4, very possible longer working hours (have a young family), more stress, not as flexible working hours i currently have etc etc whereas i know it wouldn't be like that at my current place if i got the senior role.
Lots to think about, the grass isn't always greener!
In your situation I'd be trying to use the fact that you've got a very decent offer on the table to get your current company to commit to something, on the basis that you'd like to stay - if they can't then I'd be saying bye!!In my current role day to day work is fine etc but i want to progress and they know this and has been noted the past year or so BUT as yet nothing. I'm more than capable for a senior role but they are now saying they need to create a new role for me to move into which isn't straight forward...! But the company and the people are great and i have no issues at all apart from the progression.
Now i have been offered a senior role somewhere else...15k payrise, car allowance (approx £5k year) and minimum 15% bonus year...! But with the new company it'll be leading a team of 4, very possible longer working hours (have a young family), more stress, not as flexible working hours i currently have etc etc whereas i know it wouldn't be like that at my current place if i got the senior role.
Lots to think about, the grass isn't always greener!
craigjm said:
Possible jam tomorrow or look for another job? No brainer to me
What is 'Jam'? You've used this in 2 replies but I honestly have no idea what it stands for? 'jam tomorrow' - just about managing? Jump around madly?
Thanks for the replies - it would be a lot simpler if I could say that I would be able to find something at a couple of grand a year more. However looking at roles that are out there, a very good percentage are paying the same (or less) that what I'm currently on. I'm currently "1st line support" - I say that however the lines are not defined here, and my next role would effectively be 2nd line support.
Just to be clear, truthfully the ONLY reason I'm even thinking about moving is money. Apart from some minor niggles (and the lack of progression in the last year) I have no complaints about my job - I like the people I work with, the atmosphere is better than any place I've worked at before, I have not had a single day where I've felt the dread of having to go to work. Yes it's hard work and we're busy but it's a bloody great place to work. I do not WANT to leave... I just want more money.
So - looking at it purely from a monetary perspective, would you move to a new role with an unknown new company, with zero extra money, doing the 2nd line support role (involving a lot more complexity and responsibility than what I'm doing now) with the knowledge that realistically I'd have to move jobs again in 2-3 years time to get an extra £5k a year? So with finding a role (taking 6 months) it would mean probably 3.5 years from now and I'd be on £26-28k.
Or - give it another year in my current role, where yes - I could be in the same situation I am now (i.e. on the same money) but I would be no worse off in terms of job satisfaction? But, there would be a high probability that I could be another £5-7k better off?
That may smack as getting too comfy, and a lot of you have said "4 years in the same job?!!!?? That's faaaar too long" - however at my place 4 years is nothing, people join and they stay, and for good reason. If I moved on to a role doing more, with more stress, worse colleagues, for a worse company, for the same money - I'm be pretty pissed off.
Obviously I can look for something decent with a decent pay rise in the meantime, but honestly I don't see me being able to find a role that will pay another 2-3k and as it will be the next level up from what I'm currently doing I'll be up against more experienced candidates.
So, further thoughts?
Just to be clear, truthfully the ONLY reason I'm even thinking about moving is money. Apart from some minor niggles (and the lack of progression in the last year) I have no complaints about my job - I like the people I work with, the atmosphere is better than any place I've worked at before, I have not had a single day where I've felt the dread of having to go to work. Yes it's hard work and we're busy but it's a bloody great place to work. I do not WANT to leave... I just want more money.
So - looking at it purely from a monetary perspective, would you move to a new role with an unknown new company, with zero extra money, doing the 2nd line support role (involving a lot more complexity and responsibility than what I'm doing now) with the knowledge that realistically I'd have to move jobs again in 2-3 years time to get an extra £5k a year? So with finding a role (taking 6 months) it would mean probably 3.5 years from now and I'd be on £26-28k.
Or - give it another year in my current role, where yes - I could be in the same situation I am now (i.e. on the same money) but I would be no worse off in terms of job satisfaction? But, there would be a high probability that I could be another £5-7k better off?
That may smack as getting too comfy, and a lot of you have said "4 years in the same job?!!!?? That's faaaar too long" - however at my place 4 years is nothing, people join and they stay, and for good reason. If I moved on to a role doing more, with more stress, worse colleagues, for a worse company, for the same money - I'm be pretty pissed off.
Obviously I can look for something decent with a decent pay rise in the meantime, but honestly I don't see me being able to find a role that will pay another 2-3k and as it will be the next level up from what I'm currently doing I'll be up against more experienced candidates.
So, further thoughts?
So, as an update to this - I did take on board everyone's thoughts - and kept my eye out for something decent to pop up.
Short story - I start my new job in exactly 4 weeks
Found something with a 5 mile round trip commute vs the 35 miles I'm currently doing, a bit more money but not masses - however I'll have a pay review after 6 months (yes, got it all in writing!). A very similar company and they seem to be expanding pretty fast as they wanted 2x my new role and have just taken on 2x apprentices too. I'll miss the guys I work with, but I think my leaving has just 'unsettled the ship' somewhat and I can honestly see 1 or 2 more people leaving in the next few months.
Overall I'm happy - I get a bit more money, a lot more experience, a far better commute and I'm finally seeing some movement after being stuck in a rut basically doing the same thing for the past couple of years.
In the last 6 months (and in fact, since working here) I've applied for 2 jobs, had 2 interviews and got offered 1 of the jobs, so i'm happy with that.
Short story - I start my new job in exactly 4 weeks
Found something with a 5 mile round trip commute vs the 35 miles I'm currently doing, a bit more money but not masses - however I'll have a pay review after 6 months (yes, got it all in writing!). A very similar company and they seem to be expanding pretty fast as they wanted 2x my new role and have just taken on 2x apprentices too. I'll miss the guys I work with, but I think my leaving has just 'unsettled the ship' somewhat and I can honestly see 1 or 2 more people leaving in the next few months.
Overall I'm happy - I get a bit more money, a lot more experience, a far better commute and I'm finally seeing some movement after being stuck in a rut basically doing the same thing for the past couple of years.
In the last 6 months (and in fact, since working here) I've applied for 2 jobs, had 2 interviews and got offered 1 of the jobs, so i'm happy with that.
Tall_Paul said:
So, as an update to this - I did take on board everyone's thoughts - and kept my eye out for something decent to pop up.
Short story - I start my new job in exactly 4 weeks
Found something with a 5 mile round trip commute vs the 35 miles I'm currently doing, a bit more money but not masses - however I'll have a pay review after 6 months (yes, got it all in writing!). A very similar company and they seem to be expanding pretty fast as they wanted 2x my new role and have just taken on 2x apprentices too. I'll miss the guys I work with, but I think my leaving has just 'unsettled the ship' somewhat and I can honestly see 1 or 2 more people leaving in the next few months.
Overall I'm happy - I get a bit more money, a lot more experience, a far better commute and I'm finally seeing some movement after being stuck in a rut basically doing the same thing for the past couple of years.
In the last 6 months (and in fact, since working here) I've applied for 2 jobs, had 2 interviews and got offered 1 of the jobs, so i'm happy with that.
Just thought I'd put another update on this as it may help someone else in the same or similar boat...Short story - I start my new job in exactly 4 weeks
Found something with a 5 mile round trip commute vs the 35 miles I'm currently doing, a bit more money but not masses - however I'll have a pay review after 6 months (yes, got it all in writing!). A very similar company and they seem to be expanding pretty fast as they wanted 2x my new role and have just taken on 2x apprentices too. I'll miss the guys I work with, but I think my leaving has just 'unsettled the ship' somewhat and I can honestly see 1 or 2 more people leaving in the next few months.
Overall I'm happy - I get a bit more money, a lot more experience, a far better commute and I'm finally seeing some movement after being stuck in a rut basically doing the same thing for the past couple of years.
In the last 6 months (and in fact, since working here) I've applied for 2 jobs, had 2 interviews and got offered 1 of the jobs, so i'm happy with that.
18 months on, what's happened then?
Well, the new job role was certainly an experience, and I don't regret moving one bit - I gained a heap of experience in that role, I was there for a year. Never did get my 6 month pay review, which basically sums up their high lack of organisation/documentation/processes...
Around Christmas I started looking for something else and didn't apply for a single role but had telephone interviews every week, and 5 face to face interviews in a month. 7 months ago, I moved to a new role in Desktop Support for a large company, 1600+ people and with an IT department of a few hundred. A bit of a sideways move in job role, but a massive jump in money, and with vastly better progression opportunities. In the 18 months or so from the initial move that I started this thread about, as of now my salary has increased by £12k. I've just put in an internal application (blessed by my manager, he's expecting me to move up pretty quickly) for an low level Infrastructure IaC role, which I think would be another £2-5K on top, if I get it. My experience/skills are far in excess of what they need tbh.
So, yeah. The right move.
I could be looking at nearly doubling my salary within 2 years of moving...95JO said:
Best of luck for your interview, I hope you get it - I'm a Sr DevOps Engineer so I can approve of an IaC role, a lot of progression opportunities available in this area!
Cheers - we have both traditional on prem infra roles and the IaC focused roles which involve agile/sprints etc, I would have been waiting for an on prem role to come up but this could be a very good opportunity, and as you say plenty of room for progression! And completely agree about having to move sometimes, I'm planning to move up internally here at least once as there's lots of room to move to other teams, then if I need to move to progress further I'll happily do so.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff