DH and decision about job

[Tacocatgoatcheesepizza]

Just interested in other people’s opinions

DH was headhunted for a new job a few months ago, and he is due to start in a couple of weeks. Last week he was contacted by a recruiter with a serious opportunity which would be also right up his street. Obviously that could still come to nothing, but he had a lengthy call with the CEO of the hiring company this evening and felt it went well. This job is likely to be around twice the (already decent) salary of the job he has already accepted, plus large bonus, so a significant increase, otherwise he would not be considering pursuing it.

Now, I generally subscribe to the belief that business is business, employers will do what’s right for them and employees should do the same. But DH works in a relatively small industry where people know people, and of course it’s not a good look to accept a job and then immediately move to another one. He would have to start the existing job so could potentially be there just a matter of weeks before handing his notice in - awkward. Having said that, DH is mid 50’s so hopefully wouldn’t be changing jobs again before he retires (but you never know do you)

Just to be clear, of course I know absolutely nothing may come of this new opportunity at all. I am just interested in whether others would follow up and take the higher paid job in the same small industry if offered it, or not pursue it because it would look bad and be unfair on the first company. I should also add I have no idea what I think he should do at this point, I would probably fall just about on the side of not pursuing as it’s just such all bad timing, but it would be a life changing salary increase so….

YABU - he should not pursue it
YANBU - it’s just business

Just take the second job… what’s the complication?

Jobs normally have a probation period where you or they can end things with minimal notice and little fuss.
Crack and see how it goes.

Just as I said - it’s a fairly small industry so people would know what happened.
Plus DH gets on well with his new boss and would feel bad about leaving him in the lurch.

I think the decent thing to do if the second job comes off, would be to tell the company that he's accepted a position with, what has happened, and say that while he feels awful messing them around, at his time of life he needs to earn the maximum possible to enable him the best outcome in retirement. Which is presumably why he would consider accepting the job in the first place.

@Givenupshopping that is definitely a big factor

Id take the higher paid position, especially at 50. But I'd try to negotiate a later start date to give the original employer time to rerecruit.

Is there the opportunity to discuss this with his new manager and see what they can do to retain him? If he is open I don't see a massive issue. No one could really blame him for taking a higher paid position

Is it not a possibility that he delays the start date so he doesn't actually start? is that any better that he just declines the original job

Leave it up to your husband to make the decision? Trust his judgement?

Huh? It will ultimately be his decision because it’s his job, but of course we discuss these things. I was just interested to know what other people would do.

Your DH could start the first job (or the higher paying job for that matter) and potentially a few weeks or months in they decide he’s not the right fit so they let him go as he’s only in a probationary period.

Do you think either employer would be wringing their hands and worrying about the massive inconvenience to your DH or being ‘unfair’ or it being ’not a good look’?

Of course he should pursue the higher paying role.

I don't understand why he didn't mention that while he was really interested, he had an offer on the table at present and would it be possible to speed up the second offer if they intended making one so he didn't find himself in an awkward position with the company providing the first offer?

He has already signed a contract a while ago for the first job, and the new opportunity only came up last week. It’s not a case of just not accepting an offer.

At his level of seniority recruitment process will usually be a number of interviews, not a quick process at all. And he’s literally just had the one conversation with the CEO this evening - for all we know they may decide not to take things any further 🤷🏼‍♀️ There would be no way to get anything formally on the table before he starts the first job.

If they really want him they could do something about the timeline. It's definitely work mentioning.

I mean, even if they decided they wanted him and managed to make an offer within 2 weeks it still doesn’t change the fact that he has signed a contract for this first job and would be leaving them massively in the lurch. Like I said in my op, I absolutely do think business is business and you have to look after yourself, but my (and DH’s) primary concern is the small industry where everyone knows each other issue.

Take the second job, but I don’t believe the salary. No serious company offer 2 x the expected salary - they may offer a little more + improved benefits, but not that much more

In a lot of ways I wouldn’t mind if that was the case - then there would be no decision to be made! If it turns out to be a smaller increase then he probably won’t take it further.
They have been quite specific about the salary though 🤷🏼‍♀️