Job dilemma

[lifedecisionsarehard]

Hi all

I’ve been offered my dream job. Without being too outing it’s a brilliant firm and is one of the top firms within my field. The job comes with a pay rise (£5k) and great progression and benefits (PMI, car scheme, great maternity etc). It will also look great on my CV.

My current job is fine. They are a mostly a nice bunch ( a few difficult personalities) but when I handed in my notice a few months back was invited to a meeting to talk about what I would like to change to get me to stay. It’s a small place and my voice is heard and some changes have already been implemented. I have now (2 and half months after tendering my notice) been offered a promotion and £12k payrise. Also a promise of being very high up at a very young age.

The firm has also undergone a review of benefits and these will be improving.

The current role is very easy, stable and I decided to leave following a difficult communication period which has now been resolved, but was also headhunted for this exciting more complicated challenging role.

Financially I am very lucky to be secure - I don’t need the extra £x net the payrise would offer me in my current job.

I have no children and I am only 25...

Am I being ridiculous for taking less money and more of a challenge? I want to be the best in my field and I think this is new job will help me get there.

Absolutely the right decision IMO. Be brave, take the option which scares you a bit.

Lots of luck

£5k is not a very good payrise for your new job considering it's much more responsibility, and now it's effectively a £7k paycut, that certainly would give me pause for thought. What's the scope for future payrises in new job? I know it's bad form having already accepted but I think I might be tempted to use this as leverage to see if you can get a little more from new firm, even if not to match what your current role is offering but maybe to meet you halfway or to guarantee a future payrise if you pass probation or similar? But ultimately if you don't need the money and you are sure new job is the better long term option then there's nothing stopping you?

Thank you both for taking the time to respond.

@maxelly - at the time £5k was reasonable given that I was already paid market rate. I don’t think I’m worth the money I’m being offered by my current firm - but that could be imposter syndrome!

In the new job I am restricted by banding (not experience this before) and I’m being taken on at the top of the band for my level (assistant manager). The next promotion band starts at the salary I’m being offered in my current firm. It is a possibility I could be promoted within 6 months. I have no probation period which is great - but I agree that would have been good to argue for more.

I’m glad it would also make you pause to think, as I worried I was being money-hungry by it catching my attention - but I don’t want to squander my future for monies sake…

OP which of the two options would make you more employable when you go for the job after this? If the new role gives you more senior experience now and is in a more prestigious business then this will likely bring you more rewards later.

Hmm. If £5k takes you to the top of the band for the new role are you sure it's as good an opportunity as you think? How long would you expect to stay in the role with no payrise ?

@ChiaraRimini almost certainly the new role. Thank you, I need to concentrate on how lucky I am to have the opportunity and the opportunities it will present now and in the future … rather than panicking I might be out of my comfort zone. It’s tricky when I’ve been in my comfort zone for several years

I want to be the best in my field and I think this is new job will help me get there.

Then take it. I'm of a similar age and this is my current approach, I'll take whatever opportunity is most beneficial to my career prospects, not my bank account. There's plenty of time to earn money, but for now I won't be settling down as long as I don't have a family to provide stability for.

@TrophyWinner I think so, it’s a little different to what I do now. At the moment I do 20% complex work and 80% more basic. The new role is 100% of the complex side.

I’m not sure how long I would stay without a promotion - I (stupidly) hadn’t really considered that. I’ve always been lucky to be promoted at what felt like the right intervals. Perhaps I’ve taken it for granted I’ll be promoted in my new role …

@EileenGC thank you, that’s great to hear!