I’ve worked at my current job 5+ years. The last 3 have been exceeding difficult, jaded and not inline with the corporate “culture”. Biggest issue I have is the corporate culture of buy, squeeze, drop. Whatever makes profits today.
Recently got an offer at a different company, a startup. Initial offer on pay is about 1% more than current base pay. But the 401k match is much less, no bonus structure, though there are stock options (with a long vesting period).
I’m torn. I feel the current company runs like a startup still, even though they were bought by corporate 10yrs ago. So the new culture might be very similar, but with an actual potential of windfall if it gets to ipo.
I have a lot of freedom in the current position, hours as I set them (all onsite), with minimal pushback or oversite. I average 5hrs overtime a week, though would say my workload could be done in 15hrs/week at full tilt. Super stagnant and most work is reactive, “fixing” problems, that’ll likely be the exact same problem in less than a year again. Unlikely to have near the same freedom in the new position.
Offered position is in a field I’m very interested in, and could lead to extreme specialization, but I do not know the long term growth possibilities beyond it being extremely niche.
Offer at new position is initially $1/hr more than the recruiter claimed was the top of the budgeted. And I haven’t pushed on it (yet? Hesitant on knowing if/how far to push that with an offer already extended)
I feel so burned out at the current job, but getting an offer elsewhere has rehighlighted a lot of the benefits at the current place.
What would you do? Do I take it? Do I push more at the new place for a better base? Do I leverage the offer for more $$ at the current place?
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You can ask for more at the new gig. If they offer more, give the current co an opportunity to match.
Changing jobs should get you a 10% pay bump or so ideally… not $1/hr more. If it’s a startup then the stock options are basically lottery tickets so I wouldn’t expect much.
If the new co is in a field that speaks to you then it could be worth it for a change of pace. Your current gig may want to hire you back in the future.
There’s no one right answer, unfortunately. Hope this helps anyway.
PS - what’s your skillset? I’m out here with zero jobs
Extremely broad Skillset. High vacuum, Millwright, Machinist, Electrical/controls, Maintenance/repair,
Pretty much a master of nothing but can do almost anything adequately.
Every job pays you twice. Once in your salary and benefits, and once in experience. It sounds like you have a fairly cushy but stagnant job now, and you already want out.
The real question is, is that the correct place to go?
Gonna depend on your life situation and appetite for risk. If you’re the sole breadwinner of a family of 4, go with whatever option will most likely provide stability for them.
If you’ve got the luxury of a sugar daddy/momma that doesn’t mind carrying some additional weight while you develop your career it may be worthwhile to take advantage of a promising opportunity.
If you’re single with no worldly attachments then don’t let your dreams be memes 🎲🎲
Besides, if you leave your company on good terms they’ll usually be glad to have you back if things don’t pan out and they’ve got a slot open
Job hop every 2 to 5 years unless you don’t think you could do much better.
If you think the new job has the potential to be more fulfilling and you are willing to take the gamble they work out in the future. I would say do it.
I took a job at my first start-up three years ago, where I actually took a pay cut. Partly because I didn’t see my role still being around much longer (I was right), and I was ready to finally try a privately owned company. So sick of the big corporate culture.
It has paid off so far. I have had many opportunities to advance and try different aspects of engineering and maintenance, including management. I also make +$25k more now than I did before changing jobs, and now work remotely.
Though the biggest thing for me has been being able to be proud of what I do and feel like I am making a difference. I worked in engineering mostly supporting oil and gas for over a decade, and am finally working in renewables and upcycling on some pretty cool technology I actually believe in.
I had also stayed in jobs that I grew to hate too long and literally almost died from it.
I would still ask for something more in the offer though. It sounds a bit too lateral of a move for taking the risk.
I can’t really speak on whether this job is better than the current one, but there is something to say about recognizing when time is nearing to depart. Just 3 days ago I walked away from a 6-figure job (that I was at for a decade) because it became untenable. That was the push factor. Thankfully, there was also a pull factor: the idea of taking the time to spend with family and refocus on the new goals. This of course comes from a privileged position, I get that, but I began to prepare for this exit awhile back. All that is to say, don’t let convenience hold you from doing what’s important to you.
Well described. I wonder what is stopping you from asking to take on a new project to proactively address the issues at your current place? I imagine it’s management.
Pretty good objective conditions there. Startups are risky. Don’t factor a big payout at all in your decision.
Don’t push the current place, but push the recruiter like a mad man because that will give you a signal to how the new place is thinking or what their strategy and management style is.
Could also half-ass it at the current job
Good luck!
The classic quiet quitting/minimum work is fantastic would advise.
I love hearing about when it backfires and people get promoted. I guess calm and steadiness and knowing your worth and not threatening other peoples’ jobs is the reason. Being a hardworking always switched on anxious gadfly can be irritating to others I think.
