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AIBU?

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Original poster

To leave a job after 5 months for an £8,000 pay rise?

63 replies

Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 10:16

And either 1 or 2 days in the office rather than 3, and potentially more flexible hours.

Going from around 33k to around 41k, if I were to get the job.
I need all the money I can get, have debt to pay, a wedding to pay for, and I need to pay for property maintenance/renovations.

Would you do it? I know I'll get labelled as a job hopper. There is overtime in my role but it can get reduced or taken away at any time which has previously happened to me (Civil Service) so I can't rely on it.

OP posts:
Jc2001 · 23/02/2026 19:54

Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 10:16

And either 1 or 2 days in the office rather than 3, and potentially more flexible hours.

Going from around 33k to around 41k, if I were to get the job.
I need all the money I can get, have debt to pay, a wedding to pay for, and I need to pay for property maintenance/renovations.

Would you do it? I know I'll get labelled as a job hopper. There is overtime in my role but it can get reduced or taken away at any time which has previously happened to me (Civil Service) so I can't rely on it.

As someone who has just been made redundant after putting everything I had into my job, my advice is look after your own interests and don't be deluded into thinking that companies have any loyalty to you.

Take the new job and don't look back.

Conundrummum123 · 23/02/2026 19:51

Yes all day every day.

if you died tomorrow the job ad would be up in 2 weeks. Your work place does not care about you.

its very easily explained and more money in your pocket

viques · 23/02/2026 19:23

If you think job hopping can damage your career then take a look at the wiki entry for Dame Antonia Romeo, just appointed the first ever female Cabinet Secretary. She has had masses of jobs, hasn’t stayed more than a couple of years in any of them and has had time out for pregnancies as well.

ByUniqueViper · 23/02/2026 19:17

Do you even need to ask. Its a no trainer!

Cuttheshurtains · 23/02/2026 16:33

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 23/02/2026 14:43

Id not leave a civil service pension for that amount

@Snoopdogg567 is moving to local govt though. The pension benefits are very similar in Civil Service and LGPS

Easterchicken · 23/02/2026 15:59

There's zero shame in changing roles and progressing

As a civil servant I wanna know what role this is with 1/2 office days and over time. Sign me up

BauhausOfEliott · 23/02/2026 15:01

Unless your CV is already crammed with a dozen other jobs where you left very rapidly, you won't be labelled a job-hopper.

Original poster
Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 14:57

That's fine, but the pension 30 years away will not pay for my cost of living today.

OP posts:
ByQuaintAzureWasp · 23/02/2026 14:43

Id not leave a civil service pension for that amount

MajorProcrastination · 23/02/2026 14:18

More flexibility and more money? No brainer, make the move if you like the new job. It's annoying for the place you've only been at for 5 months but make it really clear that you're moving on for the salary and flexibility. If they want to keep people for longer they need make it more attractive to stay.

Original poster
Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 12:20

If I got this job I would be earning more than my line manager but without management responsibility. The training was months long and I've barely started in the role, I know they won't be happy and I'm nervous about it.

OP posts:
catipuss · 23/02/2026 12:15

The reverse is also true if you stay a long time you get taken advantage of, they think you won't leave and promote people around you that they think might if they don't. If you want to keep progressing in your career you often have to keep moving even if you would in many ways prefer to stay.

Saffronyy · 23/02/2026 12:09

Yes I would. It’s fine unless you job hop everyb6 months. Days of loyalty gone I agree 100%

Berrybluessey · 23/02/2026 12:00

NellieJean · 23/02/2026 11:38

Absolutely you are just a “human resource”. The days of loyalty either way are long gone.

Show quote history

Agree.
Loyalty is long gone.
Follow the money and benefits and be proud of it.
You owe any employer nothing beyond a fair days work, no more than that.

Cuttheshurtains · 23/02/2026 11:57

FakeTwix · 23/02/2026 11:30

What do you consider short?

I haven't ever stayed anywhere more than 3-4 years....

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Lots of less than 6 months stints would definitely worry me

RedPony1 · 23/02/2026 11:49

FakeTwix · 23/02/2026 11:30

What do you consider short?

I haven't ever stayed anywhere more than 3-4 years....

Show quote history

i don't stay anywhere more than 2-2.5 years normally and that's looked upon favorably in my role - i always move to a different industry to gain experience in a different sector. It's seen as an enhancement to my knowledge not being stuck somewhere too long.

JHound · 23/02/2026 11:38

Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 10:16

And either 1 or 2 days in the office rather than 3, and potentially more flexible hours.

Going from around 33k to around 41k, if I were to get the job.
I need all the money I can get, have debt to pay, a wedding to pay for, and I need to pay for property maintenance/renovations.

Would you do it? I know I'll get labelled as a job hopper. There is overtime in my role but it can get reduced or taken away at any time which has previously happened to me (Civil Service) so I can't rely on it.

Nothing wrong with job hopping as long as not too frequent. It's only an issue when looking but it sounds like you have another role. And it is not just £8k more but more flexibility.

Don't feel guilty. If your current job realised your role was redundant after 5 months then they would let go off you without a moment's hesitation.

NellieJean · 23/02/2026 11:38

Justheretoscroll1 · 23/02/2026 10:18

Always put yourself first when it comes to work. They wouldn’t think twice about making you redundant if they didn’t need you. Go for the money

Absolutely you are just a “human resource”. The days of loyalty either way are long gone.

Original poster
Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 11:35

I have a colleague who admitted he jumps ship every 2 years and doesn't feel it's impacted him.
I would be looking to stay as long as possible, if a situation occurred in which I could get a 50k+ job then I can't deny i would want to move on again but I doubt that will happen.
I haven't heard about LG restructure but I will certainly look into that and take it into account..

OP posts:
EasternStandard · 23/02/2026 11:32

Yes go for it. Try as much as possible to consider whether you’ll be happy to stay there for a few years.

FakeTwix · 23/02/2026 11:30

Cuttheshurtains · 23/02/2026 10:23

I think the main thing to consider is to be really sure that you will then stick it out in the new place for a decent amount of time. It also depends on what your previous job history looks like I think

When I am recruiting I do get pretty wary of people who have lots of short stints on their CV. But I do also understand that sometimes there.are good reasons to move on swiftly

What do you consider short?

I haven't ever stayed anywhere more than 3-4 years....

TheCurious0range · 23/02/2026 11:24

Snoopdogg567 · 23/02/2026 10:20

If a job doesn't want me because I've left another job ONCE after 5 months then that isn't an employer I'd want. It's more common these days to change, new job would be local authority.

Is there mayoral devolution/local government restructure coming to your area? There is mine and they're still be 'efficiencies ' so I wouldn't jump to LA now. It's coming to most areas in the next 5 years, just check out the situation where you are. I have partnerships colleagues who've worked LA for years who are very jittery

Marmalade71 · 23/02/2026 10:29

That’s a significant pay rise, even after tax. Unless the rest of your career is littered with short hops, frankly it’s worth the slight instability issue.
Just do your utmost to stay 3-4 years at the new place.

Timeshavechangedcertainly · 23/02/2026 10:26

I would 100% do it, I have done it constantly and tripled my earnings in 5yrs. I would be more careful now, the job market has changed, but ONE move is easy to gloss over

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 23/02/2026 10:24

“Job hopping” once is ok I’d say, everyone is allowed to make mistakes, or be tempted by a better offer. Just don’t get a string of them.