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[career advice] staying stagnant or taking the leap?
work_sick0
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
Alt account here, as my co-workers are PAers
I have been at my current job for about eight years, the company is quite small, six full time employees including the president. For reference, we work on the creative side of the advertising market. The pay is decent, though closer to average for the job title, but that's part of the problem: since the company is so small, there is no more room for me to move vertically in the hierarchy, i get a 2% raise every year and while I expected the company to grow by now by getting new clients, the management is quite lazy and we're pretty stagnant, though making good money with our big clients. My boss has asked me to accompany him to London for a business trip this fall, and I find that pretty cool, so he booked a non refundable trip for us.
Now I've been casually looking for a new job for about a year, and was approached by an old colleague about an interesting job this week. It is likely higher pay, more responsibility and a larger more innovative company. I want to apply and interview, but a part of me feels terrible about the upcoming business trip. As well, my boss relies on me likely 200% more than the other employees due to my skill set and hard work ethic, so my leaving, especially in this busy period would cause a huge hole in the workload and training a new employee to take over would likely take a while. The other employees are not client facing so can't really take over most of my workload either.
I think the main issue is because we are such a small casual company, I would think they would take me leaving very personal, as well as worrisome to complete their current projects for 2016. I don't want to miss this opportunity though either, but am afraid to make the leap to a more buttoned up shirt and tie establishment.
If I go through with the application and get called into an interview and get an offer, are there ways to negotiate start dates up to 30 days after the interview? This would at least help start the transition to a replacement. And then, what do I do about the trip? That's about a $2000 expense they lose on. Maybe I just need a sounding board, I'm so stressed about making a decision, I don't like causing problems. I just don't know what to do.
I have been at my current job for about eight years, the company is quite small, six full time employees including the president. For reference, we work on the creative side of the advertising market. The pay is decent, though closer to average for the job title, but that's part of the problem: since the company is so small, there is no more room for me to move vertically in the hierarchy, i get a 2% raise every year and while I expected the company to grow by now by getting new clients, the management is quite lazy and we're pretty stagnant, though making good money with our big clients. My boss has asked me to accompany him to London for a business trip this fall, and I find that pretty cool, so he booked a non refundable trip for us.
Now I've been casually looking for a new job for about a year, and was approached by an old colleague about an interesting job this week. It is likely higher pay, more responsibility and a larger more innovative company. I want to apply and interview, but a part of me feels terrible about the upcoming business trip. As well, my boss relies on me likely 200% more than the other employees due to my skill set and hard work ethic, so my leaving, especially in this busy period would cause a huge hole in the workload and training a new employee to take over would likely take a while. The other employees are not client facing so can't really take over most of my workload either.
I think the main issue is because we are such a small casual company, I would think they would take me leaving very personal, as well as worrisome to complete their current projects for 2016. I don't want to miss this opportunity though either, but am afraid to make the leap to a more buttoned up shirt and tie establishment.
If I go through with the application and get called into an interview and get an offer, are there ways to negotiate start dates up to 30 days after the interview? This would at least help start the transition to a replacement. And then, what do I do about the trip? That's about a $2000 expense they lose on. Maybe I just need a sounding board, I'm so stressed about making a decision, I don't like causing problems. I just don't know what to do.
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I was able to negotiate a start date two months after my offer. You don't need to bring it up immediately - I would try an avoid mentioning it until they really want you, but if they directly ask you when you could start, I would say something like "I am unavailable until X date, please tell me if that is workable."
Also don't forget to not mention interviewing with another company to anyone at your current company. Only notify the company when you have your job offer and are able to give notice. The best part about not telling anyone is if this new opportunity falls through, you get the benefits of having reached out for a new opportunity and still having a job.
Also, don't feel bad about wanting to leave. With a 6 person company or a 1000 person company, there will never really be a good time. You need to do whats good for you. It might feel bad for them at first, but if they are your friends they will understand. If they are not your friends, then you don't need too feel to bad either.
Sounds like a good excuse to ask for a raise. Which you should do, after you have your WRITTEN, SIGNED job offer. I understand that not everyone in your situation would be comfortable to demand a raise or walk out, especially in a small close knit company. Plus you seem to know the place well enough to know the financial viability of giving you a raise.
Small companies don't really have that advancement potential that larger ones can have, but large companies try to blunt the ability of an employee to negotiate. Small companies you can just walk to the vp or president and ask for more money.