Take a risk or risk dishonesty?

[baddabing]

I'm half way through a 6 month probation period at a new job but for various reasons, I'm not very happy with it. It's bearable and I need to stay in a job from a financial point of view.

I've been approached by someone I've worked with in the past with an offer of a new job. Obviously this is great, but they're a small company and we had similar discussions before I left my old job, which ended up coming to nothing because they told me quite honestly that an expected contract didn't come in. Now it has, hence them coming back to me. It's taken them 3 weeks to email me a formal offer and contract (when they guy said it would be within a couple of days) though that did include Easter/holidays.

There are a couple of things which need to be amended in the contract (minor things we've already agreed on by email) so it'll probably be a few days at least before I get the final contract and can sign it. Unfortunately tomorrow at existing job, I have a one-to-one scheduled with my boss and I should be handing in/discussing my development plan with him.

I'm not particularly busy in existing job so can't plead any reason to reschedule the 1-2-1 as far as I can see, and on the other hand, I'm a bit loathe to hand my notice in without a signed final contract for the new job at least. It doesn't feel right to go through the 1-2-1/development plan motions and then likely hand in my notice a day or two later either.

Which is the least of the evils? Or is there an obvious solution I'm missing? All ideas gratefully received!

[LordEmsworth]

I think you are taking the idea of your development meeting far too seriously. What's the problem with "going through the motions" of thinking about what you want out of your career and having a discussion about it? The development plan is surely about you - not the company - so stays the same wherever you work; just some of the "hows" you might fudge/cover up.

Worst case scenario is that your boss comes up with loads of ways to help you develop and makes you want to stay. Best case scenario is there's nothing available, in which case when you resign you can say "actually there's no development opportunities for me here".

Do it, try to get some benefit from a conversation with a more senior person about you, your skills and what you want; and take your plan with you to new company.

[baddabing]

Thanks Lord Emsworth. You're right about me taking the meeting too seriously - it's just unfortunate timing, I suppose.

The two roles are quite different and the development plan at the current place is expected to be quite specific to my current role e.g. the training suggested to go in it doesn't relate to the new job, and the other points we've discussed previously are essentially about developing my industry knowledge (which is a new industry to me, while the prospective job would be back in my old industry).

If the prospective job comes off, it's too good an opportunity not to take, so there's absolutely no way I'd stay in the current role instead. That's why I feel a bit crappy about 'going through the motions' because I've mentally left already. Which is stupid, because the prospective job may yet not happen.