Will a future employer help me

April 27, 2009 8:23 PM

How likely is it that my next employer would pay for me to reimburse my current employer for training expenses?

My current employer is strongly encouraging me to get my Microsoft Systems Engineer (or Vista/7/Server 08 equivalent) certification. In fact, in order to get promoted, I pretty much have to do it. Company policy for such training is that they will pay for it, but I am indebted to the company for the expense for three years following the training. If I choose to leave the company, I must reimburse them a prorated amount. Given how expensive certification courses are, the amount could be in the thousands, even after a year or two. Given that it's substantially more money and I'm pretty much required to do it, I see this as a little different than this recent question.

I've tried independent study, but it's really not the same. Also, I generally don't have the software on-hand to work with, nor the time to commit to training while still doing my job. Removing myself from the office to take the course seems like a better strategy. I'm not exactly enamored with the company right now, but I don't have a foot out the door yet. I feel like I should go ahead and do the training, but I don't like the idea of being trapped in this job.

Assuming I decided to leave and were to be offered a position elsewhere, what is the likelihood that a future employer would cover this expense? What has your experience been on either side of this situation? Should this issue be brought up in an interview, in salary negotiations or when?

posted by anonymous to work & money (6 comments total)

Directly pay? Not likely - I'm sure you can ask for higher compensation as a result of getting the certification though. It does sound like you're not really interested in getting the certification so why bother?
posted by wongcorgi at 8:33 PM on April 27

I have a friend who was in the same position, but with college tuition to the tune of $10,000. He was able to negotiate that into a hiring bonus. It all depends how badly the new company wants you.
posted by indyz at 9:47 PM on April 27

When offered next job: "I'm interested, but I have to pay a $3000 penalty if I leave my current position prematurely. Will you offset that?"
posted by rokusan at 1:25 AM on April 28 [2 favorites]

I would never bring this up with a future employer. Instead, I would change my salary requirements, like this:

1. Today you make $X per year.

2. Sign up for, take, and pass the course.

3. Start setting aside the payback money. You will not lose it, but you will need the cash in a single bundle at some point.

4. (Time passes, and you have decided to leave and you are in salary negotiations with a new employer.)

5. New employer asks for your salary requirements. You answer, "Y". Y equals (but don't tell them this) X plus the cost of the course, plus an uptick for experience.

6. Former employer asks for payback. They will take it out of the last paycheck. Use the money you saved in Step 3 to pay the bills, since you don't have that paycheck.

7. Make Y (X plus cost of course, plus uptick) every year with new employer. The first year, pay yourself back the bundle you saved in Step 3 and payed out in Step 6. Every additional year, it's just part of your salary.
posted by Houstonian at 4:29 AM on April 28

You might be able to negotiate with your current company to zero your tuition debt when you quit. For example, you could give four weeks notice (rather than two) if they forgive the tuition debt.
posted by sexymofo at 4:43 AM on April 28

Further to what sexymofo said - when I left my last job they owed me n vacation time, so that off-set the tuition that I owed them for leaving within a year. Maybe that would help.
posted by getawaysticks at 6:20 AM on April 28