Instability at work WWYD

[Undecidedthiswinter]

I like my team, I’ve made decent friends, and they’re all super friendly and I feel like I’ve found my people in that sense.

i also really like my clients, but I don’t like the leadership nor the product, and more often than not it takes me out of my comfort zone.

the company has already made some quiet redundancies BUT we just has hired someone super expensive and closed a very decent deal. Which makes me think we still have some time.

i have a redundancy insurance policy that kicks in in April, so overall I feel like things would be ok.

in the background a company approached me and I’m fairly confident I can get this job. It’s my area of expertise, I know this industry inside out. They’re also bringing tons of people from my previous company including 3 ex colleagues who are varying degrees of “nice”.

Part of me thinks I should just take this new job, part of me thinking I should wait it out, wait for the insurance and then take my time.

So my AIBU is… am AIBU for potentially ignoring the “bird in hand philosophy “?

I’d go to the other company, given you don’t like the leadership and product.

I work for a similar company, series A, overhired, then made redundancies. I’m staying until they either make an upturn or make me redundant, as I like the company. I have no dependents though and can afford a period of being unemployed.

Yeah our cases are very similar. I don’t really get why startups over hire so much!

Just to clarify it’s not that I don’t like leadership, I just don’t understand some of their logic, and one of them who’s supposed to technical can’t even work an excel file properly!

but I don’t like the leadership nor the product, and more often than not it takes me out of my comfort zone.

even if the business was booming, I’d leave. There’s no future for you there @Undecidedthiswinter

I think we work in the same industry OP! I've been on redundancy watch since 2023. It's very common in our industry, job hopping is normal (sadly) and even the CEOs only last for about 12-18 months before moving on.

I have learnt two things -

1. nobody is as employable as they think they are (in this climate)

2. The funding, growth, rollercoaster, decline, redundancy cycle will happen for another 10-15 years until your sector settles (if we're the same sector, it's another 10-15 years for the government to be fully on board)

My advice is to do what it takes to remain "employed" at all times. Don't risk it for a biscuit.

I risked it, believing I was skilled and needed. I turned down loads of other jobs and finally redundancy got me. The other companies are not hiring & it's really demoralising. I've gone from being the most skilled on our team & knowing the industry inside out to..... nothing.

Edited to add: I have people in the industry asking me if I'm available for projects on short term contracts but barely anything longer than a 3 monther. Always opt for permanent employment if possible.

It sounds like we’re definitely in the same industry. It’s really demoralising but at the same time it pays really well (and I like my line of work!) so I don’t think I’d ever leave it

I was just thinking back to my first day. And on my first day there were rumours of a new CEO and redundancies. They made 10% redundancies two years in a row. People were in turmoil. Men and women were crying from the stress and the unknown. It was awful. Some got new jobs in similar companies and were made redundant again.

The industry is special though, I do miss it!

It’s definitely special!!

There’s the bees of a new structure for our role/department and I have been told I could raise my hand for the new role. My job is still safe, I just like that side of my role and I’m good at it.

Ahm I wouldn’t call it drastic but also not insignificant

Oh no that remains at its core. Maybe a window has opened, maybe.