Should I stay or should I go

[Trafficlight127]

I’ve been in my job 10 years. Moved up a bit during that time but a few years ago we got a new boss who has been changing things around a bit.

Several coworkers have left and a lot was to do they weren’t happy with the changes. They got better offers elsewhere as our work is in high demand since pandemic and requires specialist skills.

Those colleagues weren’t replaced and I “inherited” a lot of their responsibility. Some of this responsibility requires skills beyond my ability but I get by. The workload itself means I’m stuck in the office or wfh much later than I want to be and miss out a lot on time with my kids. The pay is good, but not quite where I feel it should be with all this added responsibility.

I went to my boss, stated my case, which was well prepared, and asked for a promotion and raise. Their answer wasn’t even they would think about it. Just a straight out no with some wishy washy answers about budget and bad timing.

I waited a couple of weeks to weigh up my options and decided to resign. I have enough savings to keep us going for about a year and I could dedicate that to job hunting. I’m not sure I could get the same pay as my current salary elsewhere but after such a demotivating conversation with my boss I decided to take the risk. We would have to be careful financially for a while and cut out luxuries like cleaner etc.

The same day I tried to resign upper management (boss’s bosses) came back and offered me the promotion and salary increase and said they would put me on a training course to acquire some of the missing skills. I told them I needed to think about it.

I’ve got what I originally set out for but something doesn’t feel right. I don’t like it that I had to come to the decision to resign in order to force their hand. But then staying will save a lot of hassle, and with a crisis on the horizon maybe it’s better to stay put?

I would stay and use the new position to help get a similar job elsewhere.

Is the crisis on the horizon to do with Ukraine, inflation, etc. or something specific to this employer?

Stay but look for something better/same. Your manager is unsupportive and the budget was there.

I’d stay too. As others have said use the time to look for other jobs but I wouldn’t leave for no job when the alternative is a pay rise, promotion and more training.

Your boss took the problem to the bosses and they want to invest in you which can be a very good sign.

Whats your replacement value in your current role? If you leave what would they have to pay you as a new starter?Thats your pay goal.

Then get a appropiate title upgrade which you can use on a CV.

Firstly if you ppt to stay take the training to build out your missing skills. Make sure training is worth the energy to do it and is independentally certified. It needs to be supported by direct costs, by attendance time during work including transfer of work load and by study leave if required.
Don't sign anything which will lock you to the job.

Think of how you want your role to change and what you need to do to make it happen. See if the company will let you make the changes.

Type up your CV today and push it out to the market so you are in the position that if you find a better offer you can go with it.

Some good points to think about. I’m worried about a general crisis - if I get a new job, last in first out and all that.
But if I stay put I will never have time to look for and apply for another job. This job is taking up all the space right now.

Ive looked into the training and it isn’t as attractive as they made it sound. It’s the bare minimum and I should have been given it anyway.

My heart is saying go. I have a gut feeling my boss had the option to do this all along but chose not to invest in me. They don’t fully understand the expertise required to do my job and so make decisions based on their own experience in another field. Sometimes they’re right, but a lot of times they’re wrong. I sense my colleagues also left from this frustration.

A year from now I could be in a job with a manager that actually values my contribution, in a better role, getting experience in a new company.
Or I could be penniless with a job worse than this one, or unemployed.
Or I could be where I am already, with a slightly better salary and more confidence in my work due to training course, but a secret resentment and regret that I never left.

But if I stay put I will never have time to look for and apply for another job. This job is taking up all the space right now.

Job hunting is all online and largely automated. Update your LinkedIn profile to show that you're looking

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And try the free trial for a LinkedIn premium account. Recruiters will approach you if your skills are in demand. You can also do first-round interviews on Zoom.

I would go.

Your employer has shown you they don't value you and they have only offered you something more because you said you were going. This is not the sign of a great company. Also you might get some training but if they are hiring new people to resolve the capacity issue you will be still be left with the workload of several people...

I agree with you that it takes time and space to find the right job and you seem to have the skills and experience to find something else.

I think most people are scared to leave a job without another lined up and will make all kind of excuses and justifications not to do that.

I have actually done it a couple of times when I hated the job and it was affecting my mental and physical health. I always found another, better role fairly quickly (less than 3 months after leaving).