Fork in the road

[powersoff]

If you had 2 companies offering you different positions at about the same compensation.
Company A was in a strong financial position and a market leader and you would have more of a field role.
Company B is in a weaker position financially.But they are asking you to come and be a leader(Management) on there way to greener grass.
Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Ron]

I'll beat The Tick to his usual question....

What do you want to do? If management, then go that route. If technical, take the field.

If you're ambitious and want advancement, management is the typical route...but you have to be willing to step aside on the technical issues and you have to be willing to make difficult management decisions that won't necessarily make you popular.

 

[TheTick]

Thanks, Ron. Now all I got left to say is take the job with the best looking receptionist.

 

[DerPumpeMeister]

It certainly depends on what you enjoy doing. Personally, I like the challenge and the responsibility and would take the management position. There is something exciting about seeing the impact of your hard work. Also, it is nice to know that you can be a part of that success.

That said, the good-looking receptionist route isn't bad either.

http://www.EngineeringGuideBook.com

 

[IRstuff]

> Is perceived financial strength REALLY THAT IMPORTANT? How well does one know the financial strength of anything, anyway?

> What do you really want to do with your life? Do you want to engineer, or do you want to manage? Do you even know? If not, perhaps this is the chance to find out. Not everyone is cut out to be a manager.

> What greener grass? I think that's a bit of myth, unless you're just the type of person that likes climbing corporate ladders. Over the past 20 years or so, middle management has been severely decimated, particularly in engineering oriented companies. Just bear in mind that there is only one CEO, or division general manager, and you have, at best, a 1/10 chance of getting promoted to that level. Now, you might get into at least a bonus position, but don't expect to be wallowing in money just by taking that first step. And note, if you are not a travelling kind of person, moving up the corporate ladder might be exceedingly difficult.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[FreddyNurk]

Actually, IRstuff, I read that differently to your interpretation of importance of financial strength. I'd suggest that the question comes with the consideration of the likelyhood of jumping to a new job and the company collapses due to whatever business reasons (bad management, sudden drop in sales and so on).

Having been through one company spontaneously contracting and observing another go to the wall due to poor management and staffing decisions, its certainly something that plays on your mind.

Thats not to say that all the other considerations raised aren't relevant, as indeed they are, and they're obviously likely to have a large bearing on relevant career direction.

I don't have too much advice as to which way to go, as I can't judge as to the relative benefits of either. As for perceived risk in heading to the smaller company, a lot of it hinges on whats observed in current management and how much hinges on the new role being a success. Theres no point in signing up to be a new leader in the company if they're in the business of manufacturing ice trays for cold safes.

Bear in mind lastly, that there is no guarantee of a 'safe' job in industry. Even GM has struck significant trouble, so size of a company is no indicator of financial stability.

 

[IRstuff]

No, I understood that. I'm just saying that many companies are good at hiding their actual weaknesses, ala Enron. And on the other hand, many companies do well in bankruptcy, and can come back and make a recovery, like Chrysler, in the past, and GM currently.

A "weaker financial position" is awfully vague; that could mean that it's in receivership, or just that it's not as profitable as company A. As Enron patently demonstrated, profitability is often rigged. I assume that company B is not so far gone as to be in receivership; you should run for exits if that's the case. Many drug companies go through feast/famine cycles synchronized with their drug patent terms, and a seemingly profitable drug company can suddenly be in the doldrums if its patents run out and their bet-on-the-come new drug fails FDA testing.

In any case, until one gets into the "mahogany row" offices, you'll not really know the state of the company until it whacks you in the face, most of the time.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[bridgebuster]

As the others have said, do you want a technical track or a management track?

However, what did you mean by "weaker position financially"?

Does that mean you may have to hold your paycheck for a few weeks? The company may not be paying the health insurance regularly? Yor 401k contributions aren't getting to the bank? If that's the case: RUN AWAY as fast as you can. I went through that in the early '90's. If you're single with no obligations it may be worth the risk but if you have a family to support think twice.

 

[powersoff]

My perceived "weaker position financially" is they do not have a 401k match. They used to but not anymore.

 

[IRstuff]

I guess I wouldn't have used that particular phrase, as compared with "they have poorer benefits." That's a slightly different cast, so it boils down to how much is the pay differential, if any, and how much the match is worth it to you.

401Ks can vary quite a bit. Northrop's was extremely sweet, since they had match, in addition to allowing post-tax contributions beyond the the pre-tax limit. There was a few years where I was putting in nearly 20% of may salary.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[rmw]

So the decision boils down to three decisions to me; a money decision - do you want more benefits or not, and a career decision - do you want to manage or to do technical work, and a lifestyle decision - do you want to travel (assuming that field work connotes travel) or not.

How are your people skills? That should have a lot to do with your decision. If you don't have any, don't take the management position.

What are your lifestyle constraints. That should bear on your decision too. If you have a spouse (or SO) that can't stomach the travel, don't take the field position.

If you don't have any lifestyle constraints, does the field work pay over time? If it does, that may make the money decision easier. Most field work pays some type of premium or overtime. If it doesn't, then to me that is the company with the "weaker financial position".

rmw

 

[a2mfk]

401k matching is not really an indication of anything in and of itself. They may be a smaller company where such a program in their mind is not cost effective. They may feel with salary and bonuses and other perks they are doing enough for their employees. Its a total picture. Despite my wife having a crazy match program this upcoming year from her mega-corp company, I feel her pay is way too low for her work effort. My 50 person company matches up to 3% but I think they are restricted by the program or tax law, and I am very happy with my overall compensation package and max my end out....

So don't base your career decision on a 3-6% difference in pay (401k match)... Now 10-20% is more substantial. I moved to a town I had no interest in about a year or so ago for a unique opportunity and a 30%+ increase in pay, and lots more stability for now at least. Now my wife and I really like it here, we are looking at houses, and will likely stay a minimum of 5 years.

My general career advice is money at a job only buys so much happiness, so look for something you don't mind doing 40+ hours a week since this is a significant chunk of your life. If the money is in the ballpark for that position, then chances are you will be the happiest with that balance. And because it may sound hypocritical given what I said above, I enjoy many aspects of my new job other than my paycheck.

 

[TheTick]

"When you get to a fork in the road, take it."

 

[stanweld]

Whereas either direction of the fork is preferable to the road you are travelling, take one or the other. Because your job satisfaction will be highly dependent on your immediate supervisor and his immediate supervisor, I recommend that you speak to both, from each company, to better gauge your future and make your decision.

 

[a2mfk]

Well done once again Tick.

"I try to think, but nothin happens!"
-3 stooges