Career advice needed.

[MRT144]

is the money really that important?

[notyoueither]

Think about the cost of not being able to get any cushy jobs with good money in the area you call home. What's the cost of that?

You could always go to field work and live in a tent.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

If the new company is reputable and known to have been around and will be around whats wrong with asking for a raise in current company? And if current co cant give u one, then why not go to where u will be paid more money? If there is a long future with another company whats so bad as long as u give current company notice?

[Dinner]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Think about the cost of not being able to get any cushy jobs with good money in the area you call home. What's the cost of that?

You could always go to field work and live in a tent.

To ****ng true. I have to admit that my current emplyer is pretty f'ing cushy. Most of the contracts in my line of work are Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) contracts. The big companies and the old school companies get what are called cost plus contracts; that means costs are completely unlimited and no matter what the costs are the government agrees to pay them all of their costs plus a certain agreed upon percentage of costs as a profit margin. As you can imagine that contract style was largely abused but my current emplyer has several extrememly cushy cost plus contracts to suport them. This new company would be entirely firm fixed price contracts which means you would agree to perform certain work for a certain price and no matter what happens you would only get paid that price. That's better for tax payers but my experience is the government is completely incompetitant and will mostly screw contracts on firm fixed price because their project managers are idiots who aren't connected to reality and will change the basic nature of an order all the way up to the ay before delivery and expect everything to be fine.

There are pluses and minus to both companies. The first would be cushy without any threats of lay offs or having to work especially hard while the second would pay better but be far less secure.

[chequita guevara]

If you've only been there for a week they've made less of an investment into you than they will at six months. Furthermore, it will be easier for them to bring someone else in because they still have all those other interviews fresh in their heads.

If the other gig is less secure, I wouldn't jump. Not for a measley 13%. It's not enough to set aside for lean times.

[SpencerH]

It's bull**** that switching jobs too often is a 'black mark' for potential employers but that's the reality. It doesnt sound like the second new job is so much better overall so the cost/benefit of the switch suggests to me that you should stick with the job you have.

Tell the 2nd job that you'd like to take the job but you've already given a commitment to your current employer. You'll look good and it wont hurt future opportunities since you'll seem 'loyal'.

It probably wont hurt if your current employer 'hears' about the offer through the office grapevine. It may sweeten the deal at your 6 mo review.

[Japher]

If you've only been there for a week they've made less of an investment into you than they will at six months. Furthermore, it will be easier for them to bring someone else in because they still have all those other interviews fresh in their heads.

If the other gig is less secure, I wouldn't jump. Not for a measley 13%. It's not enough to set aside for lean times.

I agree with Che. If it's only the money then I wouldn't bother switching now that you've already committed, plus from what you told us of the current job it sounds really nice.

However, if you want to try and get a little something out of your current job I would suggest approaching your current boss with this issue. I would bring up the fact that the contracts for the line of work you are in is shifty and you have to look out for your bottomline. Also, I'd offer alternatives; more vacation time in lieu of increase in pay, or a gaurantee raise after the 6 months probation IF you meet some milestone.

[Pekka]

Definitely stay. Don't switch at this point. You're still young, you don't want to be switching this rapidly. It's 'only' 13%. Think long term. First of all, if they are willing to offer you 13% now, it means you are more valuable than that, plus in the long run, that 13% will multiply, so keep your employer loyality for now. Don't think it as your final stop, but just be patient, I say this is not the time to jump. Stay on course for a while. Make few contributions first, year or two, then you are perfectly entitled to switch unless they meet your value, and no one thinks you're changing places like your underwear.

It's like dating a cheater and going steady with them. It's not like they are honest with you anyway, that's how you got into her in the first place.

So... don't get a bad rep, rumour flies fast and you shuold not leave them guessing why you left. Because they will be guessing and usually the worst kind of rep is given in that seminar of jealousy.

Don't switch now. It's the wrong move. Play safe and raise your value.

[rah]

Originally posted by SpencerH
It's bull**** that switching jobs too often is a 'black mark' for potential employers but that's the reality.

I always consider it a black mark. Why should I expend all the personal effort and time to train someone that will jump at the first greener pasture. Unless the applicant has a real good reason for his jumps, I will not consider them.

BUT if you expect to stay at the company you're going to for at least three years then it won't look as bad for later opportunities. If you're going to jump, do it now, and don't wait. The opportunity may not be there later.

Unless I'm unhappy where I am 20% is usually the threashold for jumping.

[pchang]

You are young

Pick the employer who has the hottest women working there.

[Pekka]

What was the philosophy in The Office again? Never move into a neighbourhood where you are the hottest resident. Because you can only go lower there.. Brilliant.

Also, with hot chicks, you're less likely to be in a work environment with feminist ruling, meaning that there are few women who are very efficient, but they hate your guts and you'll be recieving lots of complaints, even though you did nothing wrong. And they're on a mission to prove you wrong, even though you never made any arguments or claims, and as such your life will be miserable and wasted on things that aren't necessary.

OR you can have hot chicks, not the most efficient but at least you have eye candy, plus occasional fantasy.

Fantasy > Feminism

This is simple workathics.

Plus, you also know the managers there won't be hiring for results only. So you have a chance for the big leagues if you just get along fine and know how to be one of the 'good guys'. Perfect.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by rah


I always consider it a black mark. Why should I expend all the personal effort and time to train someone that will jump at the first greener pasture. Unless the applicant has a real good reason for his jumps, I will not consider them.

BUT if you expect to stay at the company you're going to for at least three years then it won't look as bad for later opportunities. If you're going to jump, do it now, and don't wait. The opportunity may not be there later.

Unless I'm unhappy where I am 20% is usually the threashold for jumping.

If money is the only advantage, I wouldn't jump. Is the work better or more interesting- are there more opportunities for advancement


Personally I think its possible you made a mistake earlier. If you thought this company was really a possibility, you should have probably called them when you got your first offer. youn know a " no pressure gang but I liked your company and would like to work for you but I can't reject a good offer on a possibility" type call.

I think leaving after a week is very bad form. It looks like you didn't weigh your options properly in the first place


Rah-- I really like my current job ( especially the 2 Fridays off a month thing) so 20% would not do it. hell you would need a jackhammer to get me out of here

[Provost Harrison]

Yeah, it's a difficult one, but if the job you are in is alright and there is no real advantage to moving, I wouldn't do it...

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by rah


I always consider it a black mark. Why should I expend all the personal effort and time to train someone that will jump at the first greener pasture. Unless the applicant has a real good reason for his jumps, I will not consider them.

BUT if you expect to stay at the company you're going to for at least three years then it won't look as bad for later opportunities. If you're going to jump, do it now, and don't wait. The opportunity may not be there later.

Unless I'm unhappy where I am 20% is usually the threashold for jumping.

I made that comment because it seems unfair that its held against you for moving to greener pastures but its OK for a company to dump you if its in ther interests.

I see the same attitude in academia all the time between professors v post-docs or lab techs. Professors will keep their moves secret until the last minute and many have few qualms about the people who get left behind. Woe unto the productive post-doc or research track assistant-professor who wants to move though. Once the cats out of the bag that you're looking you may get the boot (and there's nothing you can do about it either).

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Mrs. Tuberski
Lots of options to weigh, such as which company has more to offer in benefits, room for advancement, and how quick u can advance.

The benifets are a wash but my current employer would have more room for advancement and career networking since they are simply a HUGE company which everyone in the industry does business with. The company making the new offer is smallish with only 40 employees.

After sleeping on this I think Rah is right. 13% isn't enough money to burn a bridge and become a job hopper.