Find my tribe or climb the ladder?

May 30, 2018 1:00 PM

After a deeply frustrating tenure at my current job, today I received offers from two other companies. I'm torn between the workplace where I think I'd fit in best socially, and the one which has the most potential to move me down my chosen career path but whose politics risk being similar to the environment I'm in now. All other things being equal, what should I be prioritising as I move into the next part of my working life?

This and this were me. To make a long story short, I took the advice in the thread on frustration re: shifting job duties, and started looking elsewhere. Four months later I have an offer from a company in the same (relatively niche) sector--a direct competitor of my current employer, with a much stronger/more prestigious brand image--where I would have (on paper?? still wary after my current experience) duties much more closely related to my urban planning/policy degree and a much higher level of responsibility than my current role. A little unexpectedly, I have also received an offer from a small-ish tech company, where I would be a project manager for products/clients in my current field.

The compensation packages on offer are roughly similar, with the usual benefits/flexibility tradeoff between the Large Prestigious Competitor and Small Tech Consultancy. Both commutes would be a substantial improvement on my current one. I've met both potential supervisors and they seem to be forthright, non-unhinged people whom I would be able to respect as professionals. Theoretically there'd be no wrong decision, just a tradeoff, right? (The recent 'tell me good things about corporate jobs' Ask has been a big help in sorting through my thoughts on this.)

Well...as you would be able to see in my Ask from 2015, my entry into French office life was a rough one. I've been able to learn and achieve some decent stuff in spite of this, and have mostly become inured to the worst pangs of "listening-to-everyone-else-laughing-from-the-break-room". But it's exhausting. (For the record, I HAVE made friends with coworkers at this company--all of whom have quit.)

Obviously my interviews at Big Corporate place were fine, hence the offer. But my interviews and other interactions with the tech company have been like tiny oases of normalcy in an otherwise bafflingly fraught professional world. The people are kind, unpretentious, geeky and straightforward, as I guess is to be expected in the field. Of course there is no real way to know how things go in the Big Corporate Competitor office, beyond what I've observed while physically being there (mostly upbeat, people saying"hi"in the hallways etc). It could be perfectly decent and collegial. But it's bound to be a lot closer to my current situation in regards to office politics than a young 35-person tech company would be.

I'm confident that I've gained enough skills and understanding to avoid a *total* repeat of the debacle that has been my first "professional" job, but I' m so worn down by negotiating this emotional minefield that I am currently extremely tempted to just say "screw it" and take the PM job, and risk not being able to get back on the planning & policy route (where job opportunities are rarer), just to be somewhere I feel actively wanted rather than merely tolerated. Is this as insane and pathetic as it sounds to me? Big Corporate Competitor would mean bankable experience, a significant step up in responsibility and potentially much higher visibility; in short, provided I'm successful, I will be much better placed for the kinds of roles I want later (upper-level decision-making or consultancy in my field). But is it worth giving up a definite shot at not dreading going to work every day? If I do go with Big Competitor, is there any way not to burn the bridge with Small Tech Consultancy?

Thanks in advance for any input anyone would care to give, and thanks again those whose advice on my last post led me to start my job search!

posted by peakes to Work & Money (10 answers total)

Always take the job that you think will make you less miserable. The purpose of a career isn't to advance, it's to provide you with the opportunity for a happy and satisfying life. If you take a job with an environment that makes you unhappy, you're going to spend a lot of hours of your finite and un-repeatable life feeling unhappy—even if you perfectly compartmentalize your work and non-work lives, which is impossible anyway. Plus, opportunity to advance is really hard to predict—who really knows what these companies will want from you in five years' time? It's frequently touted in job ads and interviews, but it's often a mirage.

Take the job where you think you will be happier, absolutely 100%.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:32 PM on May 30, 2018 [18 favorites]

Best answer: I always try to follow the culture (and always try to hire for culture if I'm in a position to hire others). You may have more opportunities for advancement in the other job, but will you be able to stand the environment long enough to take advantage of those? Will those advancements bring you further and further into a culture you don't like and away from your own values?

I learned this the hard way--climbed a career ladder in similar companies for 10 years before realizing I didn't want to be on those particular rungs at all. Much happier now that I've made the jump to companies that are more aligned with my vibe. Save yourself the stress!
posted by assenav at 1:55 PM on May 30, 2018 [5 favorites]

Best answer: if you don't fit in culturally they'll be unlikely to offer you the best opportunities anyway.
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:02 PM on May 30, 2018 [6 favorites]

Fourthing the culture fit. When I first started my career after college, my workplace was not a great fit for my personality. I rose quickly and had a fabulous time jet setting around and being all important-like, but my life was very lonely, and when I was in my home office it was just...ugh. Thankfully, as time has gone on, our internal culture has changed. I have friends at work now, and I am much happier. Point being, career success is only part of the picture. It's pretty crappy when you don't have friends at work to enjoy it with.

Also, I think that if you are with your people, you'll do better work, and rise up regardless of the opportunities you may be sacrificing by going that way.
posted by Dr_Janeway at 3:21 PM on May 30, 2018

You have no way of really judging what the cultural fit is like at either place, but especially at the bigger corporate firm.

I get that it's nice to work with people you fit in with, but at the end of the day, a job is a job, not a social group. Take the opportunity that will allow you to develop your career in the direction you envision it growing. Take the job that will give you the best exposure to the industry that you want to be a part of. Take the job that will allow you to advance your skills and your experience and the offers you the best potential for future raises and promotions (if that's the career path you want).
posted by sardonyx at 3:35 PM on May 30, 2018 [4 favorites]

Best answer: I do regret not throwing my hat in the ring when there was an opportunity to manage my team. I didn't go for it because at the time I was as burned out as you sound. It was an emotional decision that impacted me for about 5 years. I wish I had just pushed myself a little. You don't know exactly how this company will be just by a short interview.

Then I joined a company with a much better culture fit and got promoted in 8 months. Because I was happy and bringing my A game. Sometimes there's just a window of opportunity.

I remember Cheryl Sandberg's advice: choose the company that is in flux with lots of opportunity to make an impact. It's a career snakes and ladders, not a career ladder.

Also, I mean if policy is your dream, then do policy. Do policy at Corporate Job for 2 years and then find Policy at Culture Fit Corporate.

But also consider if policy will more often have this type of culture just by nature of the job. In which case do you really want a career in policy?

I don't have any answers to your questions I'm just giving some other nuance to help make your decision.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 4:01 PM on May 30, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Pay your dues first getting into the niche subject area that you want. Then create or filter for the culture.

At one time in my life, my best cultural fit was with hemp- and patchouli-wearing people who "wake up with the sun, man," but I'm pretty glad I don't work at the local health-food coop right now.
posted by salvia at 4:06 PM on May 30, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: What do you want your life to look like in 25 years? Take the job that aligns with your personal goals. I think it's really hard to gauge the culture from outside. Go in to either job with confidence.
posted by theora55 at 4:53 PM on May 30, 2018 [2 favorites]

Another vote for the culture fit. If you're happy and fit in well, you're more likely to perform at your best, and the career and promotion opportunities will follow.
posted by rpfields at 6:14 PM on May 30, 2018

Best answer: Ok - I read your previous post and come from this as someone who works in a niche policy-related field. 2 things: First, don't make assumptions that a corporate environment is automatically not going to be a cultural fit. This is often dictated by the team you work with, your direct stakeholders, and immediate management. In policy spaces, it is perfectly possible to find those teams that are a great fit. From personal experience, I've worked in multiple corporate environments (Banks) and have had both good and bad fit. Sometimes, the same role / team on paper has a different mandate, level of respect, level of collegiality which makes a real difference on a day-to-day basis.

Secondly, within the policy space, it gets more and more difficult to get into the space at a level commensurate to your years of experience if you don't work in policy. For example, if you work for 5 years in a project management role, I expect that it wouldn't be easy to get a role with the same seniority in policy. When hiring for policy roles, there is also a tendency to expect applicants to demonstrate an inclination for the role and past experience in similar roles helps (as it would for any other type of role). At some point, it may actually be too late to move into policy, depending on how specialist the skillset is. This may not bother you, but do keep that in mind.

All in all, this is a tough decision to make, so good luck! If you have further questions, feel free to PM me.
posted by apcmwh at 2:22 PM on May 31, 2018 [1 favorite]