Which job should I take? Please help

[Stripes84]

I have been offered a new role. My existing employer has asked me to stay and has issued a counter offer. I cannot decide what to do.

Job 1 - Existing employer is a large voluntary sector organisation. The new offer is at a much higher wage than what I have been offered in the new role, but is more operational, sometimes with a reasonable amount of stress. But I work a 9 day fortnight, and have flexibility on work location which I wouldn't necessarily have in a new role. I know the colleagues I'd be working with and get on well with everyone.

Job 2 - local authority, strategic role. Very good pension arrangements. Less salary. Fear of the unknown/ongoing job security. No 9 day fortnight. Had to wait an incredibly long time to hear back from the job application (4 or 5 months) but I am tempted by the new challenge and lack of operational demands.

Which one should I go with?
YABU - Job 1
YANBU - Job 2

Better the devil you know.

they clearly value you, go for it.

As always, first post nails it. Job 1, better the devil and they do clearly value you if they significantly upped your salary when you said you had an offer elsewhere. Flexibility, more security, you like the people you work with.

Agreed - job 1 wins it for me.

Job 1

But they only demonstrated how much they valued her when she threatened to leave. Poor show but £ is £

How old are yoh? Local authority pension is a game changer if you’re over about 40. Lots of opportunities to move on internally and also to negotiate hours once you’re in.

Thank you all. I am 43! The pension is tempting but I am riddled with worries about whether it's the right move. I appreciate your responses. X

Initially was going for job 1 however you mentioned stress and less money but less stress would sway me. If each of the jobs were then taken from you then which would you be more upset about? There will be your answer.

I wouldn't go for the Local Authority job, LAs are always understaffed, underresourced and projects are always on the back foot and rarely decisively managed. People stay in their jobs far longer than they should bc of the 'gold plated pension', they become worn down and jaded but hang on until the bitter end. Don't become one of them!

Ok, maybe not every LA is like that. You could be the one that rings in the changes, or you could just stick with what you know.

Job 1

Stay where you are.

Totally, but they did it and stepped up, to a good level.

Well job 1 sounds better but I think once youve handed in your notice or told them you are leaving the damage is always there. Yes they have counter offered you but there will always be that thing that they remember. You wanted to leave.

I never really think counter offers put you in a good place long term.

I was counter offered once. And took it. It was never the same again. Had to wait 2 years for a pay rise and that was a mere £2k. I never felt treated the same again.

The second time I handed my notice in (2 years later) they did the same. I declined it.

Im not saying thats going to happen to you OP but just be mindful they will probably remember you once wanted to leave

Job 1 has more money and flexibility. I’d stay.

You wanted to leave job 1 for a reason. Does the enhanced offer remove those reasons?

Look up the stats about how long people stay after accepting a counter offer. It's something crazy like 90% have moved on within a year of choosing to stay.

Job 2. Your employer knows you have one foot out the door. The new job is strategic, room for growth, more job opportunities within and across authorities and other public sector orgs in the future. If they’ve appointed you at the bottom of the scale go back and tell them your employer has made a counter offer and can they match it. Ask for the 9 day fortnight - you are in a strong bargaining position so make use of it.

New job everytime. Old one didn't valu3 you, they just wanted to see if they could avoid recruiting most likely. Recruitment fees are around 20pc of salary, plus the same in time so unless theyv3 offer3d you more that 40pc they ar3 still ahead on a new starter cost.