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Career Management

I've been with my current company for a little less than 6 years. Last August, I left them for a different company, but came back at the beginning of this year. The other company wasn't the right fit for me, and my current company worked hard to get me back.

A recruiter called with a potential offer, and I'm not sure if the 18-month rule applies to my situation. Since I've been there 6 years less the 4 months at the other job does it matter? Or will potential companies view it as jumping ship too soon?

I enjoy my current job, what I do, people, etc. I believe there are good career opportunities within the company. However, the potential offer is at least 20,000 more than I'm currently making, and I don't think I could get that kind of money for at least a year at my current company. If it was only 10 I wouldn't consider it, but 20 is a bit too much to bat my eyes at.

-Beth

HMac's picture
Submitted by HMac on Friday October 3rd, 2008 9:10 am

[quote="malvord"]I enjoy my current job, what I do, people, etc. I believe there are good career opportunities within the company. However, the potential offer is at least 20,000 more than I'm currently making, and I don't think I could get that kind of money for at least a year at my current company.[/quote]

Hi Beth - great question.

I'm curious. If I were sitting over a coffee with you, I'd ask you:

Why did you leave the first time?
What [i]didn't [/i]you find at the place you went to?
What are you searching for? Is it really out there?

My concern would be that you're always going to be succeptible to the siren song from another employer. On the other hand, if you're dead sure you know why you left in the first place, it didn't work out at the second place, and you believe it will really work out at the third place, then it's possible to understand that you made a poor choice, were lucky enough to land on your feet, and learned from the mistake.

I'd also add that there's no coming back to the first place after this one - if you leave again, you're done.

Finally - the reason I copied your quote above - if you really do like where you are, and you're confident it will take only one year to get the same money you're being offered by changing, then why not wait a year?

-Hugh

malvord's picture
Submitted by malvord on Friday October 3rd, 2008 4:08 pm

Hugh,

Thanks for the feedback. To answer your questions:

- I left because the opportunity seemed too good to pass up. I wasn't working well with my manager, and since I had been at the company for quite awhile, I thought it seemed like a good time to move on. The company was (is) also going through financial difficulties, and I wanted to go to a company with a bit more financial stability.
- The job I took at the place I went to wasn't quite what was "sold" to me. It was mainly clerical work, not a lot of "doing", and there was absolutely no support from management. Also, the benefits described in the interview weren't what the company actually offered.
- I want to make sure that I show forward progression in my career path. I like learning new tasks, new procedures, new ways to do something, and you definitely learn that in a new job. I also don't want to stay in a job too long because I'm comfortable with it. I want to make sure that I learn something new after a few years, and I believe a change in position would do that.

After thinking about this for a few days I decided to stay where I am. I do enjoy what I do, etc. After talking to my manager, I think he and I are on the same page in terms of career advancement. I also learned that it will be difficult to get the money in a year, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Thanks for the advice.

-Beth

thaGUma's picture
Submitted by thaGUma on Friday October 3rd, 2008 8:05 pm

[quote]I do enjoy what I do, etc.[/quote] Stay where you are unless your next promotion is GOD. Money is nothing compared to satisfaction.

HMac's picture
Submitted by HMac on Saturday October 4th, 2008 12:46 pm

Hi Beth - thanks for the additional information. When it eventually comes time to explain your short move, you have it nailed. Anybody worth working for will hear that and understand - because nobody's got a direct linear career progression any more.

Glad this forum is helping you think it through. Hope you'll post some more.

Good luck!

-Hugh

ktnbs's picture
Submitted by ktnbs on Tuesday March 31st, 2009 3:56 pm

I promoted into my current position here at XYZ at the end of last August, 2008 after 7 years in the previous position. (about three years too long)

It is important to note that this is with a Federal Govt. agency in acquisition management and I have 25 years with.

I hit the ground running here upon arrival and it became apparent that I was clearly more advanced in depth and breadth than most of my peers and those above me in the department.  Though a promotion, it was also a significant step backwards in the quality of the organization in terms of how well it is run, its production, efficiency, and harmony within the work group.  I am not the boss here and in fact supervise no one whilst I work under exceedingly less  than skillful managers.  And, thanks to years of MT, I do not try and change the bosses, so I say or volunteer very little except when it is appropriate and with care.  I do my job well within my own world and try to assist others with my skills as best I can without being preachy as many folks here are pretty clueless.

I recently applied for a lateral position in another office of the same agency in a different town and state.  My reasons are frankly  mainly  to get away from this situation because I know from experience, I don't tolerate this degree of dysfunction being out of my control very well let alone for long periods and there seems no light at the end of this tunnel at XYZ.  In a sense, I am too old for this kind of crap.

The position I applied for is at ABC which has a good reputation.  In my field and agency, XYZ where I am at now, is considered the weakest managed which I can attest to in spades, now  after 7 months.  ABC is also in a community more to my liking.  But outside of being a lateral, the position at ABC is also Supervisory in its official title which is not something I have done in some years.  That appeals to me and in a very true sense, a successful stint at a supervisory position would position me for further promotions better than not which is important considering the limited number of years I have left.

I indicated on the application to ABC to "not contact my present supervisor" as I find the situation of openingly wanting to transfer so soon rather awkward and would rather get the job confirmed, if offered, then just leave.  I am not the first to do so in XYZ, as the turnover rate is high because of obvious reasons.

Should the subject come up at some point and I am asked point blank why am I leaving or wanting to leave so "soon",  my answer will focus on the positive, the attainment of supervisory position in conjunction, by the way, with a more amenable community and avoid any mention of my disatisfaction with the management.....but, it would be sure tempting to address it!