Career advice

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

shifty_uk

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27 Sep 2004
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Looking for some outside views on my current career setup and options.

Very brief background:
Driven, mid-20s, successful career to date, head of design for a large international firm going through a growth spurt. Successfully managed an entire name/direction/brand overhaul. Hectic, loads of pressure but a hugely varied and critical role in an organisation that hasnt quite got the grasp of their size and management yet.

The issue:
Ridiculous hours, huge amount of pressure and finger pointing when the fan is hit. Trying to manage and inspire a team and external resources(other depts/agencies) that are disgruntled with general company-wide issues. No remuneration: not paid for sick days etc that thankfully I cant afford to have with the workload and then underpaid for my role. The company is notorious internally for this unless/until you threaten to leave so its not an isolated issue.

The prospect:
I've been made an offer by a previous director to go into a start-up with a 3 way share holding scenario. The company has been going for 12 months with solid growth and revenue projections that are more than promising. This position will match my currently salary initially.

The dilemma:
Do I stay with a company that demands the earth, keeps me under pressure but can give me job-security. Remembering, they have no real grasp on valuing employees; at least in monetary terms and recognition but CV-wise is great...I could be design director in 12 months, for example...

Or, do i take the new opportunity and help build/establish a new business, giving me the experience that comes with it; sales, client relations, finance, management, business development... All of which is the end goal for me anyway, I should be running my own company(s) by now.

TLDR: stay with safe but highly pressured, relatively undervalued job or go into a start-up where i can benefit from my OTT work ethic.
 
Even if the startup fails you gain huge experience and at your age there is plenty of time to recover your life and career. Never ever work somewhere you are not valued.
 
If you have no major financial constraints, eg house, family etc take the start up, If that goes well you will have all that experience under your built and by the sounds of it have a much higher potential for a higher wage. if it fails you can learn from mistakes still have experience and from the sounds of it your current job experience alone could help you land another role if the start up falls through. :)
 
OP said:
Or, do i take the new opportunity and help build/establish a new business, giving me the experience that comes with it; sales, client relations, finance, management, business development... All of which is the end goal for me anyway, I should be running my own company(s) by now.
Click to expand...

Yes, and for all of the reasons you mentioned in your post and all of the ones you didn't.
 
Jimbeam3678 said:
Sounds like you have made your have made your mind up already imo
Click to expand...

This is how I read it too.

It seems to me that you're asking for reasons to stay.

Personally, if I was in your boots, I'd go to the start-up. With your background even if the start-up flops, you'll walk into something else easily enough if you're flexible too.

As Mason says, you have to play the game.
 
I'd go with the startup, epecially when you're relatively young, worth takiing a risk otherwise you'll get complacent and 5-10 years forward you will be stuck where you are overworked and undervalued.
 
I think I'd be inclined to join the start up if I were in your position. As long as you're financially stable enough to weather any turn for the worse if things don't work out for the new company.
 
Life is way too short to work for awful bosses, I've had my share too. Just go, don;t look back and take control of your future. These companies are generally all the same, once undervaluing people, always undervaluing people. Its just the ethics of some of the awful people that run companies.
 
I agree with majority: at your age the startup every time. If you have dependents you haven't mentioned, maybe not, but at your age you should be stretching yourself. Your current company sounds nearly as badly managed as mine, so I'd get out if I were you.
 
start up is probably worth the risk in your 20s... though plenty of them fail

then again if you're using 'start up' to simply refer to a new company rather than one specifically aimed at very rapid growth then maybe it isn't so risky either and the fact you're getting some equity is a massive plus
 
What I would do, is speak to current employer and tell them, if you want to keep me you need to value my services. I want more money.

If they dont give you what you think your worth, then go for the start up option.

Both have pros and cons. The current job has job security, the start up job satisfaction.
 
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