To leave a job I love purely for money

[CashBunny]

I’m in a job I love, perfect for me. I like my colleagues, my managers - the work - everything is great. I’m also well thought of and respected because my way of working is unique and brings a different perspective to things. My pay is already good for the area - middle /high end of what’s typical.

However, something has come up that pays much more - enough that I can get the mortgage we need to move somewhere that would be completely suitable (current place has compromises but liveable - though no possibility to extend. this is a hugely expensive area). It’s also a step up in title to something very senior and not a leap into the unknown as it’s with a company I’ve worked in before (I’ve been headhunted).

I have talked to my manager and senior directors about the dilemma. Because I’m different to most in what I do I’m effectively doing a very similar job here now - complete autonomy but we don’t have fine grained titles. Everyone is under the same heading despite huge differences in experience and for want of a better word, seniority.

They all want me to stay, and have tried their hardest (I know exactly what’s gone on) to get a pay match, but HR are blocking it because their research says I’m fairly compensated. In some ways, yes I probably am around ‘market’ but we all know that some employees are worth more and their special skills are just that - very special. It’s infuriated my manager but they aren’t budging at the moment. It keeps getting escalated so there might be a chance of a change but....

....I need to give an answer to the other firm very soon. I like them too, would be fine with working there and the challenges but I really feel like this is the best match to my skills I’ve ever had, and have unfinished business. I just love the role and the scope.

But I have to think what’s right for my family. If I chuck in my resignation and then they finally counter, I’m going - it shouldn’t take that and I will commit to the other job. Is there any way to force this issue? Am I making a mistake to move purely for cash?

I should add (sorry I know that was long) but budget is not an issue. It’s a policy one.

Do it. Don't look back!

Go. One change in boss and it could all go tits up where you are. Take the money and run.

Do it. I’d pick money all the way.

Wait until you can't wait any longer and then accept the new position if your old work hasn't made you the offer you would like. If they do it after you accepted the new offer you can always consider pulling out off the new job but you would need to judge this carefully. Sometimes you just need to leave for something to change. I am leaving my job for a better paid role and they are now likely to offer my replacement a higher salary than I had. No way would they have agreed to pay me this money. But now I am leaving my boss can kick a major fuss how much skills and experience they are loosing with me and that they need a better salary to attract an equivalent candidate. Sometimes that's just how it is and it sucks. I wouldn't consider staying though because my new offer is a lot better on many levels and they simply can't match this.

Go for it. If they wanted to pay you more they will find a way.
Your new job may have the same lovely environment. Worth a jump if it will have a nice impact on your home life.

Take the money. Now.

How much more does it pay?

Are you really confident that you will enjoy the new role as much, will you like your new colleagues and management and the culture of the new organisation?

I have a job I love, colleagues I love, great organisational culture, good manager, plenty of autonomy, hours that I choose .... but low salary. But for me the positives far outweigh the negatives, however I am probably a lot older than you, mortgage paid off, money is not the main reason why I work.... it can be a difficult decision. Just think all the options through carefully.

Thanks all - pretty unanimous then. I’m not in a bad position - my manager says they will have me back in a nanosecond if I do go and they can do anything about it / I want to come back. And I guess if that happens I’ll make sure I get my new market rate.

One final idea came to me - I don’t want to become a manager officially. But if it try did ‘promote’ me, and keep things basically the same, then it might circumvent HRs stubbornness. Good chance my immediate directors would go for that. In reality I’d be a team lead - control the technical side but defer shit like pay disputes(!) to whoever is my senior. HR aren’t even in the same country, so they’d be none the wiser and it’d be a box ticking exercise.

Finally try and they can’t say I didn’t try everything from my side!

I'm going to disagree with the consensus here, I think an amazing job is worth more than an unknown job with better pay. If your current firm can give you a halfway house to matching the wage then I would stay.
If they appoint someone else to your position they may not be able to rehire you, the hours wouldn't be there.

@ragwort - i understand. if we had a paid off mortgage and a house big enough, then I’d stay. But we don’t so it’s an enormous factor.

The difference in headline number is ~50%. There are additional benefits here which close the gap but that’s the basic cash difference. That and the title too puts me into a whole different world, which opens up a lot more avenues and the potential next jump would see me into very serious money (the type that means if I’m sensible with it, i can probably retire in 10 years at 50).

Yep yep yep. Read your update back to yourself - it's a no brainer!

Libeulle if they made me any sort I’d offer that would change the complexion of it. I think the problem is the difference is so big policy says no, and so they’d rather to nothing.

And they will rehire me. Without wishing to sound conceited, there aren’t any replacements for my blend of skills. For my particular job, firms have a hard enough time finding someone with average skills. I’m in a market of one (I was lucky to make some interesting career choices when younger that means what I actually end up doing is pretty unique). It’s why my old firm is paying so much to get me back.

Going to disagree as well.

I had a similar offer a few years back for what would have been a 30-40% raise at the time and with a boss I would have liked almost as much as my manager at the time.

After some thorough reflection, I turned it down because I loved what I was doing and who I was doing it with.

Five years down the line, I'm still with the firm I worked for then. I now make significantly more than what I was offered back then and what I do is still a lot more interesting than what I would have ended up doing if I had accepted.

You clearly know your worth OP and so you should.
Go for it. If they also know your worth they will fight to keep you - HR bollocks aside.

Do it. You might love your new job just as much!

Having had really horrible jobs I would pick happy job less money any day.

I would go for it.

If what you do is unique and offers value have you considered going solo and offering your services to both companies and others?

I was head hunted a few years back, and offered a 16k payrise. Took the job and left a role I loved.

Hated every second of the new job and was then made redundant before the company eventually folded.

Obviously this is just my experience. But it's taught me to not always run for the extra money.

Newpapaguinea - Going solo - I’d love to do that (offer to both) but I work best when I have time to think and juggling both....they wouldn’t get the best of me.

Takenforslanted - yes, that’s an inspiring example. If I did stay, I think things would change - but outside of work I can make more or less immediate and tangible changes to my families life by doing this - without it being hypothetical that HR might take their blinkers off.

Oh - On a completely different note - to me it’s absolutely insane that I’m having to do this to get a house big enough for our family! My salary is already really, really good in national average terms. Honestly I despair.

How did they get so ridiculously expensive?! After that idiot George Osborne's help to buy (or rather help to line persimmon s pockets) scheme they just absolutely skyrocketed - and they were already ridiculous!

Take the new job. You don’t always get fantastic career opportunities. When you do, nab them.

As others have wisely noted, who’s to say that you won’t love the new job?

Preempting - (*multiple births by the way for anyone who asks why did I have more kids than I could comfortably house!)