Should I accept this job offer? How can I get them to sweeten it?
December 16, 2006 4:40 PM Subscribe
Should I consider a job offer after only a month at a pretty good job? If so, how can I get them to sweeten their offer?
My current employer is a giant cable TV company, the potential job being offered is at a medium-sized architecture firm.
I've been at my current job just over a month. Before that I did a year of short-term contract jobs, IT related. I'll be training for my current job for a couple more months. After that I expect the job to become boring--my technical level is more advanced than the job requires. However the money and benefits are good given my education and experience.
The job I've been offered I actually interviewed for back in September. I got a polite letter saying I didn't get the job and which implied I came in second.
Out of the clear blue sky I got a call last week from them asking if I was still available. I said not really but would consider a serious offer. (they really caught me off guard)
I got the offer on Friday. The money is somewhat better. The benefits are not--a 90 day wait for insurance (vs no wait at my current job), and only $300 of educational reimbursement per year ($5000 at my current job).
Some other pros of my current job: free cable, free broadband, free home telephone. 8-minute commute. Won't be stressful. Job security. Benefits that obscenely generous.
Long-term potential for significant advancement. Generous employee discounts on computers, travel, cars, etc.
Cons: Job will be boring. And _closely_ supervised. Crummy office building. 3 of the 5 guys hired at the same time as me have already left. Long wait for advancement.
Pros of the new job: More money (about 20% more). More entreprenurial firm. Opulent office building. Catered lunch every workday. Good, if not great, benefits. A more technically challenging job. More potential for advancement over the short-to-medium term. Get to travel to Chicago, Atlanta, San Fran on a fairly regular basis (I live in a midwestern college town).
Cons: Almost no educational benefits. Have to wait 3 months for most benefits. 35-minute commute. Would have to dump my job after only a month. Nowhere to go after medium-term advancement. More stress. Not as secure. Might have to move to avoid commute. Job is in a boring, conservative town.
What do y'all think? How do I (tactfully) get them to sweeten the offer?
My current employer is a giant cable TV company, the potential job being offered is at a medium-sized architecture firm.
I've been at my current job just over a month. Before that I did a year of short-term contract jobs, IT related. I'll be training for my current job for a couple more months. After that I expect the job to become boring--my technical level is more advanced than the job requires. However the money and benefits are good given my education and experience.
The job I've been offered I actually interviewed for back in September. I got a polite letter saying I didn't get the job and which implied I came in second.
Out of the clear blue sky I got a call last week from them asking if I was still available. I said not really but would consider a serious offer. (they really caught me off guard)
I got the offer on Friday. The money is somewhat better. The benefits are not--a 90 day wait for insurance (vs no wait at my current job), and only $300 of educational reimbursement per year ($5000 at my current job).
Some other pros of my current job: free cable, free broadband, free home telephone. 8-minute commute. Won't be stressful. Job security. Benefits that obscenely generous.
Long-term potential for significant advancement. Generous employee discounts on computers, travel, cars, etc.
Cons: Job will be boring. And _closely_ supervised. Crummy office building. 3 of the 5 guys hired at the same time as me have already left. Long wait for advancement.
Pros of the new job: More money (about 20% more). More entreprenurial firm. Opulent office building. Catered lunch every workday. Good, if not great, benefits. A more technically challenging job. More potential for advancement over the short-to-medium term. Get to travel to Chicago, Atlanta, San Fran on a fairly regular basis (I live in a midwestern college town).
Cons: Almost no educational benefits. Have to wait 3 months for most benefits. 35-minute commute. Would have to dump my job after only a month. Nowhere to go after medium-term advancement. More stress. Not as secure. Might have to move to avoid commute. Job is in a boring, conservative town.
What do y'all think? How do I (tactfully) get them to sweeten the offer?
A more technically challenging job.
I think the answer depends on a variety of factors:
1) Age: Are you at a point in your life/career where you want to be challenged at work, or do you have other interests that you deem as important, if not moreso.
2) Money: Is this important to you, or are you content as is?
3) Education: $5000 seems like a lot of money now as an educational benefit, but what's the educational benefit of being challenged at work everyday, learning new skills, and parlaying them in the future for a far better return on initial investment?
4) Benefits: Are you sick right now? Are you prone to get ill without cause? 90 days sounds like a lot (and for something as critical as benefits, I think it is), but it'll go by extremely quickly if the work is good and you acclimate well in your new environment.
Here's my take: you sound young, and bored. A job like the one at the cable company will come around again because your skills were good enough that they landed you the job in the first place. Give this new job a shot and give it your all. The worst thing that happens is that you find out what you're truly worth (if you're as smart as you think you are), and if you are, then you'll be propelled to bigger and better things in no time. The cable company job sounds like a government job, where you'll have job security, but that's all. Life's a crapshoot...always shoot for the moon.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:12 PM on December 16, 2006
I think the answer depends on a variety of factors:
1) Age: Are you at a point in your life/career where you want to be challenged at work, or do you have other interests that you deem as important, if not moreso.
2) Money: Is this important to you, or are you content as is?
3) Education: $5000 seems like a lot of money now as an educational benefit, but what's the educational benefit of being challenged at work everyday, learning new skills, and parlaying them in the future for a far better return on initial investment?
4) Benefits: Are you sick right now? Are you prone to get ill without cause? 90 days sounds like a lot (and for something as critical as benefits, I think it is), but it'll go by extremely quickly if the work is good and you acclimate well in your new environment.
Here's my take: you sound young, and bored. A job like the one at the cable company will come around again because your skills were good enough that they landed you the job in the first place. Give this new job a shot and give it your all. The worst thing that happens is that you find out what you're truly worth (if you're as smart as you think you are), and if you are, then you'll be propelled to bigger and better things in no time. The cable company job sounds like a government job, where you'll have job security, but that's all. Life's a crapshoot...always shoot for the moon.
posted by SeizeTheDay at 5:12 PM on December 16, 2006
After many decades in the workforce, I no longer think loyalty is an issue with employers or employees. Sad fact. Based on what you wrote about the 2 jobs, the one you have sounds better to me. Better tuition plan seems a big bonus. Shorter commute too. Think about your commute time as part of any job. The new job has travel. Oh boy... what a treat THAT is now-a-days! Good luck deciding.
posted by toucano at 5:14 PM on December 16, 2006
posted by toucano at 5:14 PM on December 16, 2006
For me, taking the job would be a no-brainer. More money and more interesting? Game over.
posted by unSane at 5:20 PM on December 16, 2006
posted by unSane at 5:20 PM on December 16, 2006
Sounds to me like you should tell your current employer what happened, and ask them if they'll make it easy for you to stay, by matching the offer of the company trying to lure you away. That's what I would do.
posted by bingo at 5:29 PM on December 16, 2006
posted by bingo at 5:29 PM on December 16, 2006
New job sounds like a better risk/reward mix, based on what others are assuming about your age.
In general, security is a tender trap. Your current job has inertia going for it, but if you don't use that educational benefit, you'll soon find yourself entrenched.
If you are young, it makes more sense to go for growth. A 35 minute commute sounds sucky, but it's pretty normal. It also means lots of opportunity for in-car learning, NPR, etc.
If you want to tweak them for sweeteners, tell them how important that educational benefit is and what your plans are (you do have plans, right?) to use it and ask if they can increase it somewhat... maybe 1500-2000. If they want you, that's cheap.
Have fun! You have an attractive set of alternatives.
posted by FauxScot at 6:15 PM on December 16, 2006
In general, security is a tender trap. Your current job has inertia going for it, but if you don't use that educational benefit, you'll soon find yourself entrenched.
If you are young, it makes more sense to go for growth. A 35 minute commute sounds sucky, but it's pretty normal. It also means lots of opportunity for in-car learning, NPR, etc.
If you want to tweak them for sweeteners, tell them how important that educational benefit is and what your plans are (you do have plans, right?) to use it and ask if they can increase it somewhat... maybe 1500-2000. If they want you, that's cheap.
Have fun! You have an attractive set of alternatives.
posted by FauxScot at 6:15 PM on December 16, 2006
Do you have to drive the commute? Are there other alternatives, like cycling? Many commutes are (counter-intuitively) faster by bike (like mine, both in Toronto and previously in London, England).
If so, there's a massive health benefit to cycling, even if you don't do it year round. There may well be good non-road alternatives for bikes. Anything up to 10 miles each way is doable even for someone who isn't a very keen cyclist.
As others have said, security is a tender trap.
posted by unSane at 6:21 PM on December 16, 2006
If so, there's a massive health benefit to cycling, even if you don't do it year round. There may well be good non-road alternatives for bikes. Anything up to 10 miles each way is doable even for someone who isn't a very keen cyclist.
As others have said, security is a tender trap.
posted by unSane at 6:21 PM on December 16, 2006
So, I would imagine that the person who was originally hired at the architectual firm must have quit. I wonderwhy they quit?
The "catered lunches" = "working through lunch" argument is another negative
I'm sure tht a major cable company may have other positions opening in the future where your skills (and loyalty as well as experience) could have major payoffs.
An architecture firm may eventually decide that farming out their IT work may be a more economically viable option.
I'd stick with the current job and begin to expand upon your social, hobby, and educational life.
posted by cinemafiend at 6:38 PM on December 16, 2006
The "catered lunches" = "working through lunch" argument is another negative
I'm sure tht a major cable company may have other positions opening in the future where your skills (and loyalty as well as experience) could have major payoffs.
An architecture firm may eventually decide that farming out their IT work may be a more economically viable option.
I'd stick with the current job and begin to expand upon your social, hobby, and educational life.
posted by cinemafiend at 6:38 PM on December 16, 2006
"3 of the 5 guys hired at the same time as me have already left."
Let me guess, Adelphia or Time Warner cable?
Ditch the cable gig. Being stuck in a dead end job like that will just leave you sitting there wishing you would have taken the other job. Besides, they could up and can you at any moment.
posted by drstein at 6:40 PM on December 16, 2006
Let me guess, Adelphia or Time Warner cable?
Ditch the cable gig. Being stuck in a dead end job like that will just leave you sitting there wishing you would have taken the other job. Besides, they could up and can you at any moment.
posted by drstein at 6:40 PM on December 16, 2006
Make your choice entirely on your current career goals. Choose whatever will give you the credentials which will look best on your resume.
"Loyalty" is a con. Any employer these days will fire you in a heartbeat if they're convinced they no longer need you. You must do whatever's best for aerotive.
[FWIW, 22 years in the workforce, passed-over for a dozen layoffs, never got tagged.]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:49 PM on December 16, 2006
"Loyalty" is a con. Any employer these days will fire you in a heartbeat if they're convinced they no longer need you. You must do whatever's best for aerotive.
[FWIW, 22 years in the workforce, passed-over for a dozen layoffs, never got tagged.]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:49 PM on December 16, 2006
If the new job really wants you, they'll be flexible on the benefits. Ask for the health coverage to start immediately and for them to match the education. I guarantee that they'll either agree to both, or will meet you half-way.
Go with the new job. Unless you're using the cable job just to take classes and improve your skills, it sounds like a dead end.
posted by Eddie Mars at 6:58 PM on December 16, 2006
Go with the new job. Unless you're using the cable job just to take classes and improve your skills, it sounds like a dead end.
posted by Eddie Mars at 6:58 PM on December 16, 2006
the new job. sounds like the very reason for the job benefits at your current job is due to the fact that it is a dead end job at a boring company.
posted by Izzmeister at 7:05 PM on December 16, 2006
posted by Izzmeister at 7:05 PM on December 16, 2006
If the new job can't be convinced to give you immediate benefits, you could ask the new job to pay for three months of your COBRA benefit payments for your current job as a signing bonus.
posted by ShooBoo at 9:51 PM on December 16, 2006
posted by ShooBoo at 9:51 PM on December 16, 2006
*guffaws* SeizeTheDay is suggesting that you seize the day job?
if your career/education/life plans are for gaining practical experience, then i would nth the advice to take the job with the higher mix of risk/rewards. if you can land the stable secure job with your present set of skills, then i wouldn't worry about finding a similar job later. especially if there is a high turnover, as you noted. and pursue all those hobbies/projects/books that you've been too busy to do.
if your career/education/life plans are more academic in nature, then i would say to stay with the stable job and use every penny of the education allowance. and enjoy the ridiculously short commute.
my opinion? take the risk job, get mad 133t skillz, then after saving/investing enough for a comfortable cushion/nestegg, and before getting burnt out with the higher stress job switch to a lower stress job. then bask in your extensive knowledge/experience and ease of solving every problem that the secure job can throw at you.
how to possibly sweeten the job offer? again, i agree with informing them of the already sweet benefits your current job offers. ask about telecommuting if the commute seriously bothers you. also, if you're significantly worried about the risk of losing the job, then save a sizable portion of your income to quickly build up an i-lost-my-job-but-i-still-need-food fund (~6 months worth of paychecks), which is always a good idea for anyone.
posted by philomathoholic at 2:54 AM on December 17, 2006
if your career/education/life plans are for gaining practical experience, then i would nth the advice to take the job with the higher mix of risk/rewards. if you can land the stable secure job with your present set of skills, then i wouldn't worry about finding a similar job later. especially if there is a high turnover, as you noted. and pursue all those hobbies/projects/books that you've been too busy to do.
if your career/education/life plans are more academic in nature, then i would say to stay with the stable job and use every penny of the education allowance. and enjoy the ridiculously short commute.
my opinion? take the risk job, get mad 133t skillz, then after saving/investing enough for a comfortable cushion/nestegg, and before getting burnt out with the higher stress job switch to a lower stress job. then bask in your extensive knowledge/experience and ease of solving every problem that the secure job can throw at you.
how to possibly sweeten the job offer? again, i agree with informing them of the already sweet benefits your current job offers. ask about telecommuting if the commute seriously bothers you. also, if you're significantly worried about the risk of losing the job, then save a sizable portion of your income to quickly build up an i-lost-my-job-but-i-still-need-food fund (~6 months worth of paychecks), which is always a good idea for anyone.
posted by philomathoholic at 2:54 AM on December 17, 2006
Eddie Mars has it. Exactly. Get the insurance to begin immediately, as an essential element of you taking the job. As a "reach," try to get them to match the education funding, but don't hold out if they don't give that to you. Remember, the new job gives you 20% more salary. I know the educational reimbursement is nice, but seriously, if you're traveling to Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta, you won't have the time / flexibility you'd need to take most classes.
posted by Alt F4 at 4:52 AM on December 17, 2006
posted by Alt F4 at 4:52 AM on December 17, 2006
Wait, there are people who don't work through lunch?! Wow.
posted by Grod at 3:45 PM on December 17, 2006
posted by Grod at 3:45 PM on December 17, 2006
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posted by solid-one-love at 4:59 PM on December 16, 2006