Re new job

[moanymoaner]

Evening!
I've posted here about this before but I really need some opinions . I have been offered and accepted a new job , more development opportunities but only funded for a year as it's all subject to new funding . Now here comes the issue - I don't want to leave my job I applied for the new one thinking it looked like an amazing opportunity and I probably wouldn't get it ( I know I was a bit silly) and it does sound exciting but I love what I do now , it's so tough but so rewarding and I feel I'm only just breaking ground . Ultimately today my current employer has agreed to a pay increase one I get the next qualification ( though hasn't put a figure on it) and said how they totally value all the work I've achieved. I'm so torn I really need some advice on how I can decide either way.
I don't want anyone to say "why apply if you weren't sure " I applied because at the time I felt I was ready for a new challenge but now on reflection I realise I'm already being challenged and achieved so much already .
I would appreciate some advice on how to make the best decision , especially because it's unfair to not tell my perspective new employers ASAP.

Thanks

So just to be clear this isn’t a permanent contact but your current job is permanent ?

Contract

How long have you been in your current role and how long have you been with your current employer?

I’ve applied for jobs then turned them down because I’ve either realised it wasn’t really what I wanted or that it wasn’t the right time.
Don’t feel bad by not going with the new job just because you applied for it.

Stay in your current job

I'm not sure what your issue is. I mean this kindly.
You say you don't want to leave your current job. And the only reason you give for taking the new job is that it's more challenging. But actually so is your current job. So the only reason for not leaving is so people don't ask "why did you apply if you didn't want it"? So what if they ask? You just say you thought it would be a better fit or wanted interview experience or you've decided you need a permanent contract

You clearly like your current job. That's OK! The new company will not flounder without you. You're over thinking this. The person they selected as number 2 in the interviews will be thrilled

Have you signed contract with new job?
If not, then just stay where you are. You're allowed 2 change ur mind.

Congratulations on getting the new job! Two issues stand out to me:

The promised pay rise if you stay at your current job- I’d be very wary of considering this a guarantee especially since no numbers have been mentioned and I certainly wouldn’t make your decision based on this.

The funding situation with the new role sounds worrying. If it’s a possibility you could be let go after a year if they don’t secure more funding then you need to seriously think about how easy it would be to find another job in your industry and how you would cope financially. If you really need the money then I’d suggest staying where you are and holding out for a perm contract if/when you do want to move on.

Good luck.

Can you get a secondment to the newjob?

It depends how long you’ve been in your current job. If forever I’d take the plunge

Thanks so much everyone for replies!!
Ok so new job is fixed term, so not permanent , current is permanent but it's third sector so could be tuped over at the point of re contracting .
I love what I'm doing and I'm so passionate about my work I give it my all, this makes it harder to let go.
You're absolutely right about no numbers being mentioned , I plan to ask for figures tomorrow before I make a decision .
I hate the thought of being a let down to new employers too especially because I accepted it about 3 weeks ago!

With a proviso, ie, do you have people who are financially dependent on you and if so what will your prospects for another job be when the year is up (particularly in light of Brexit, sorry 😁), follow your heart/gut. Any chance of a sabbatical?

It's fair to keep looking & considering your options until you sign a contract.

Counter offers from current employers are common when people resign. But think hard, are you subconsciously worried about change? It is the uncertainty around the funding making you doubt if it's the right thing. You went through the effort of job seeking & interviewing- both take a lot of effort.

@Surfingtheweb yes that's true , current employers have not been at all pushy , if anything I gave them the option to change my conditions before I accepted and they said they couldn't but now I have spoken to one of my bosses about how well I'm doing she has gone to her senior boss and she has come back stating she accepts all I've done and thinks it's actually only fair to look at my terms once I gain a qualification which they will pay for.

If you base your decision to stay on the promise of a pay rise on a qualification, do make sure you a) get a figure as to what the payrise will be and b) get it all in writing. You'd be amazed how many promised pay rises go by the way side because "Well, I know that's what we promised but we haven't had a good year-end/costs have risen/we've had a pay freeze imposed on us/other excuse here".

I don't think you're going to get a great deal more out of your current employer. They are dangling carrots on strings but aren't keen enough to keep you to actually make a decent counteroffer. That would make me think moving on is a good idea.

The fixed term of the new position is worrying, but you seem to be more sought after than you thought before you applied. Is finding another job in a year if this one isn't renewed likely to be problematic?

Also, it's one thing to turn down a job offer because you decide, after the whole process, that it isn't the job for you. It's another thing (and pretty poor behaviour) to accept it, faff for three weeks and then turn it down. Aren't you nearly at the point where you should be starting?

@BoomBoomsCousin yes and new employer have met everything I've asked , no quibble whereas current ones havnt been as forthcoming but I know some of that is because they don't want to be held to ransom by me if you like . We're a small team and it opens a whole can of worms if I get what I ask for . It's not just my job it's my environment , it's something I never ever considered but I love so much! It matches my personality (face paced , never two days or even hours the same) once I leave it I may struggle to ever get back in.

@BoomBoomsCousin no I'm not got a huge notice period to work!

We're a small team and it opens a whole can of worms if I get what I ask for.

This is worrying. So how can they give you want you want then on qualification?

Is the current job offering you a pay increase as a counter offer? If it is a counter offer with no guaranteed terms, I would be very wary of accepting it. They just want you to decline the new job and be back in their grip. Buy backs rarely work out. People tend to leave again after 6 months.

@blueshoes I'm not sure , they may have considered it once I got the qualification but may not.

Does your manager know you accepted a new job?

@blueshoes yes she does

In that case, I would not trust the dangling of the pay increase on qualification. Stay if you like your current job but don't bank on anything changing. You may very well find you disappear into the back of their minds once you have declined your job offer and lost your bargaining chip, which is what the nebulous 'counter offer' is designed to do.

That is why counter offers don't work. They only buy time for the employer. Things don't necessary change and the employee gets disillusioned again and leaves for good the next time. By that time, the employer would have have time to future-proof themselves against the employee leaving again.

I hope I am wrong.