Received a larger job offer, now what? 39

[CivilTom]

I have been working at job 1 for a month now however I interviewed at a lot of places before starting job 1, and so I just received a call from a different firm. Job 2 is offering a 16% greater salary. My plan is the following: approach current employer and say " hey boss I recently received a large offer from a company I interviewed with a month ago before starting here, although I'm not greedy i could really use the extra money company 2 is offering, would you be able to match their offer?" Is this a good or bad idea? Do you recommend Another route?

 

[ajack1]

I would be pretty annoyed if someone did that to me.

Just turn it around and ask how you would feel if they came up to you and said, look I know we offered you this job a month ago but the guy we really wanted has now changed their mind and is prepared to move here but for 16% less than we are paying you, would you mind taking a 16% pay cut as we could really do with cutting overheads in these difficult times.

Of course there is always an argument to get everything you can and screw everyone else and it can be argued that is the best business model, but I remain a firm believer that my word is actually worth something. That is how I treat employees and customers and that is how I expect them to treat me.

You can probably guess what my answer would be and what sort of reference you would get.

 

[SomptingGuy]

If you really would move, carry out your plan and realise the consequences. If your current employer just says "goodbye", move on. Your CV will show you as a hopper.

- Steve

 

[TenPenny]

It's kinda like meeting some other woman on your honeymoon. At some point, you have to accept that you've made a bit of a commitment to the other party. I'd not be impressed if a new employee pulled this. After a year, you could at least say that you feel the job doesn't suit you, but after a month, unless there's a serious issue, leaving for 16% is pretty cheesy.

 

[Terminus0]

Too late you've made a commitment.

 

[MintJulep]

Just go ahead and take the better offer, say so long to current employer.

You need to look out for yourself, because no one else will.

 

[Latexman]

What does this incremental 16% add up to if invested every month over the rest of your career at, say, 7.5%? I bet it's around $1,000,000.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[mechengdude]

I agree with some of what has been posted so far.

Do not go to your present employer and ask for a pay increase after one month.

If you believe that job #2 is a better fit for you partly because there is a pay increase then make arrangements and switch jobs.

Unless you have signed a contract, do not beleive that you have made a "commitment". If the situation was reversed and company #1 lost a huge part of thier business for whatever reason, they will not keep you on board. They will let you go anytime the money dictates.

Good luck.

 

[Forensic74]

Take the new job, it will show the old employer that they're not paying enough. This is how the industry's average salaries increase, better for all of us.

Obviously you wont work at your current company ever again.

 

[controlsdude]

If its one of those places that gaurentees employment, then its look out for yourself situation.

I would not even mention this to the employer about your offer, just setting yourself up to be fired at worst. At the least as being a job hopper and not very committed to this job. Don't give your employer any reason to think your not committed to this job.

But if you want to move on arrange it with the other employer, turn in your notice, dont say where your going, then leave go to next employer. Look out for yourself.

 

[kylesito]

Are both of these companies local or in the same market? I hope if you decide to take it they are not. There is no way you won't burn a bridge in this situation. I don't care if you tell your current company where you are going or not....it's a small world out there and your reputation stays with you no matter what. And I think a situation like this will ding your reputation no matter how its executed.

For instance, how will the new employer react when they found out you were only with a company for one month? Should they trust you? Is this really the first thing you want them to learn about you and your work ethic? Looking down the road, how will you ever convince a future employer you aren't a flight risk and you are worth them investing in you?

I get the whole argument about looking out for yourself. But there is a argument to be made to about opportunities opening up when you establish the type of employee you are. This just seems likea big risk to be throwing out there in the name of looking out for yourself.

If the company you are with currently is a bad situation...maybe. But given both jobs being equal with equal opportunites....I think you are wiser to stick it out with the current company than risk the alternative.

Just a thought...why would the new company wait over a month longer to make an offer to you anyway...seems to me like they made offers to other people and then got to you. I would be leery of that situation panning out.



PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[SNORGY]

You have to decide what drives you: your word or your remuneration.

My word drives me...and I am not as financially well off as others whose remuneration drives them.

But what I *am* is smarter, better and more respected. It takes a while for that to catch up to you, but it does eventually, and its worth investing in the wait.

 

[CivilTom]

I currently work with a small company..The new offer is from a large fortune 500 company. They arent calling me as a last resort, their process just takes a bit longer and I was aware of that at the time. They mentioned at the interview that they would contact me in 4-5 weeks. However Job 1 gave me an offer soon after. Lets switch the scenario. Because I already have a position at job 1...should I counter job 2 with a suprsingly large number just to see if I could get it. I mean its worth a shot, right? And if they do offer a greater amount of over 20% of my current wages...this would be a no brainer.

 

[SomptingGuy]

As they say: "Sh1t or get off the pot."

- Steve

 

[frv]

Take this into consideration: fortune 500 companies tend to (but not always) hire and lay off with ease. As soon as the economy may have any sign of trouble, the first area they will cut costs is in personnel. A smaller company may (but, again, not necessarily) try to weather a storm with the few employees they have.

 

[EnergyMix]

We've had people do that here -- they've hired on, worked for a month or so, received a better offer and left. Shrug.

Don't bother going to your boss asking for a raise. Instead decide whether you want to take the other offer.
If you do, then let your company know that you've received a better offer and that you'll be leaving in X number of weeks. They haven't invested a great deal of time in you yet, they'll get over you pretty quickly and you'll both move on.

 

[DHambley]

CivilTom,
Do you LIKE your one-month job? I find it surprising that pay is the only criteria I'm reading from you. I've quit jobs paying 50% more than I make now because I don't give my skills to jerks. Job satisfaction is much more important, for me at least. If you don't really like your present boss and you're being treated badly then, for sure, quit.

 

[GearsNsparks]

You can't make everybody happy. Your employer will do whats best for them. You should do whats best for you. Perhaps working at the fortune 500 company is more secure/pays a bit more out the gates, but you might be able to do more interesting work, have more responsibility, and grow more as an engineer at the small firm. I'd imagine that you are better of at whichever company allows you to grow best as an engineer/person. Take the position you want most and don't worry so much about it.

 

[IRstuff]

Just because large companies are amoral S*Bs does not give you the right to be one yourself. Much of your decision making will depend on how big or same your job market is. If your F500 company is across the street from your current company, then torching bridges to your current company is a big deal. There is a finite probability that you might work for or in a company with coworkers from the current company in the future. If you develop a reputation as a job hopper, that's a difficult mantle to discard. Note that this one month will need to be accounted for in your resume for future jobs; how will you explain a 1-month stint?

We used to have a tech that jumped ship for about 10% increase in salary; a while later, he was on the market again and we passed, even though he was actually a pretty good technician, but we couldn't afford the instability and associated drama.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[DRWeig]

I'm siding with the folks telling you to abandon your plan. No good can come of asking a one-month company to match an outside offer.

If you want the higher paying job, resign with proper notice. You don't need to tell anyone why, but it might be kind to explain to your boss (if he asks) that you are leaving for much higher pay. He may or may not try to match it, but I certainly wouldn't offer a match if a new fellow or lady came asking. I might raise the range for that position when looking for a new hire, though.

I guess I've been burned by corporations over the years, but never by a small company that was run by its founders. I've seen the corporate bosses lay good people off without even knowing their names. In that game, I look at it like this: On payday, they hand me some money for the previous two weeks or month or whatever. At that point, the company and I are even. They owe me nothing, I owe them nothing. All debts are paid. Loyalty to those who are not loyal in return is not something I can do.

Now I work for an absolutely superb boss who always seems to see things my way, and always agrees with me. I see him first thing each morning when I look in the mirror to have a shave. I hope you can get there someday.

Meantime, no matter what your sense of loyalty vs me-first is (and either is OK with me), my advice is the same as I just stuck in another thread. Leave all that job garbage in the parking lot when you go home after work. It'll still be there in the morning. The time in between is your gift to enjoy, so make the most of it.

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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