Working dilemma...

Vince · 12 Oct 2011 at 16:27

Picture the scene, you have a job that you love and have been at for 7 years, you get decent pay and a yearly pay increase, bonus etc , you love the flexibility and the people and are pretty content if not a bit comfortable.

You open your email one morning to see an email from an ex HR Director offering you a roll at another very large and well established company with an excellent package and almost double the salary, what’s more is that the job is tailored for you in that it matches your competencies perfectly.

This is what has happened to me and not for the first time this year, last time this was a client trying to poach me and although at the time I was interested my current contract (which has some clever terms for clients trying to poach staff) put them off as it would have meant them paying 20k odd finder fees. Anyway, although we still stay in touch the deal fell through and my current employer offered me a 30% pay increase to cover the salary increase I would have got moving, this was February and I happily accepted and stayed.

This time it’s not so cut and dry, the company is not a client so it’s a straight leave and start a new roll as there is no clause in either contract with regards to this. The salary increase is substantial enough that I know my current company simply cannot match it and even though I have been more than happy I now know that in the eyes of others I am still worth considerably more, however I see it as a possible risk leaving a company that I love for unknown grounds.

Anybody been in the situation? What did you do? Did it work out?

Vince · 12 Oct 2011 at 17:04

So far its pretty much what I was expecting and to be honest what my gut is telling me.

The job involves managing the introduction of a new document management system and supporting / developing the systems to support a large company of patent attorneys. Now document management is my forte, I have developed, delivered and trained staff on countless SharePoint platforms ranging right from WSS2 right up to the most recent 2010, as well as others for a law firm that I used to do contract work with on behalf of my current employer.

I have also worked very closely with the HR Director and in the past we got on very well… She will also be the one selecting the applicants and interviewing for the roll. It looks to me like the roll will involve some challenges but essentially I will be working under their current IT Manager. So essentially my job title, if anything, won’t be as good.

Other than that it looks to have a decent amount of progression which is something I don’t really have in my current role. Basically I don’t know why but I feel a little weary about the whole thing. Probably because I am so comfortable here.

Vince · 12 Oct 2011 at 17:23

Morbius said:
Go and ask HR if they'd like to make you a counter offer.

At the moment I report to one of our FD's and the Chairman, these will be the guys to make an offer. I think what I am going to do is take a tour around the new employers offices and see what I think, this should allow me to see what the department is like and make a much more informed decision. I also think it might be a good idea to keep quiet until I have been up there to take a look - I may go and not like what I see in which case telling these guys may be counter productive?

Vince · 13 Oct 2011 at 12:57

Right, going in to meet these guys next week to have a look around, meet a few of the managers and discuss their projects. Sounds like it could be an exciting role that could lead onto much more. Thanks for the nudge and reassurance guys, I think you are right... It is time to move out of my comfort zone and attack a new role and some new projects.

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 10:13

So I did it. Handed in my resignation today.

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 10:20

hopefully it will the only down side appears to be that I am going to be without pay for a good few months and just before christmas as well.

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 10:22

alx said:
Guessing you liked what you saw when you took a look around?

Congrats, hope it all goes well .

I did indeed, the process that they put me through was long and drawn out, I ended up doing lots of interviews and last weekend was spent creating a 3 year plan to present to them at 7am monday morning. Even though they approached me they made me work for it.

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 12:18

alx said:
How come?

Long story short, my contract holds me to ransom. Mainly to do with travel arrangements into town. Basically I have to pay them back the cost of 1 year season ticket which is 3k. So I pay that and then have to work a month in hand with the new employer.

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 12:42

alx said:
It may be a bit late, but is it worth asking your current company to cover some of the cost? Maybe as a one off 'golden hello' or similar?

Try the sympathy vote.

I am going to have a chat and see what I can arrange, getting a loan to cover me over the 3 months would be another option if my savings doesn't cover the costs, which to be fair it should.

I am going to offer them my time over christmas anyway (normally I take 3 or 4 weeks off) to see if I can bridge the gap a little.

Either way when the pay packets start rolling in paying off any debt I have build up over the period shouldn't be a problem.

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 13:02

godinman said:
Go on then, how much are they paying you?

Is it ok to just say I will be in the 40% tax bracket?

Vince · 9 Nov 2011 at 13:10

Raymond Lin said:
Sounds like you have hit the ceiling at your current place and new job with a higher ceiling is on the table.

Easy choice?

Never an easy choice mate, I love this place. But a choice that I had to make to progress and move along. Your right though it should have been an easy choice.