Job dilema

[Deleted User] · 25 November 2015 at 11:46AM

This is going to sound very 'first world problems'. This is a long, rant-ish post, but thanks for reading. I realise I'm already in a fortunate position.

I've been working for my current firm for 4 1/2 years. I'm an IT consultant, with the next promotion up being senior consultant. I work in Healthcare IT, I'm home-based, rarely needing to travel and work pays if I do. I have good colleagues, I work on occasionally interesting projects. My manager and I get on well. I'm well recognised as being very good at my job, often being given bottles of wine by management at team get-together. My pay is > £50k.

Sounds great? Well... i've only had a pay-rise of £1k over the 4 years due to the firms financials, everyone had their summer bonus cancelled. My manager wants me promoted, my head of department wants me promoted.. i've even got a director who wants it BUT it probably won't happen because of the firms financial condition.

Also, whilst working from home is very useful, it makes me somewhat a social hermit. I fear it is also hindering my long term career. I do like travelling to see clients, and getting out and about - but I loath commuting to an office cubicle. Commuting is also quite expensive.

So - I've now come to a position I need to do something about it. I've got a few options.

[1] I've got a 2nd stage interview for a firm very similar to mine, working from home. Payrise could be up to £10k. A recruitment consultant found this for me.

[2] I've got a 1st stage face-to-face interview for a competing firm tomorrow. This may be London based but I don't know. I have no idea of pay, or if they want people to work from home/travel to customers. It was based on a punt of sending a CV, and it worked.

[3] I have a chat organised tomorrow with another firm, who know me via one of my ex-colleagues. Job is likely to be based from home, but with some travel into London. No idea on pay.

[4] I'm friends with a HR vice-president of an IT firm, and he's chatting with some managers in the London office. If he finds a job there, the pay is likely to be very good.

[5] Do nothing! Push for promotion where I am. After all, they think I'm awesome where I am now; why risk a good cushy number? Maybe I can use all these job interviews as leverage over the cash situation.

Cheers for reading!

agrinnall · 25 November 2015 at 12:15PM

[6] Become an independent contractor and in all probability more than double your pay. Although if George Osborne does what the rumours suggest in the next hour that may become a less feasible option.

[Deleted User] · 25 November 2015 at 12:29PM

agrinnall wrote: »

[6] Become an independent contractor and in all probability more than double your pay. Although if George Osborne does what the rumours suggest in the next hour that may become a less feasible option.

Yes.. the idea of a £400-600 day rate is rather appealing, and I've been offered contracts in the past - but my wife is very concerned about the financial stability of doing so. Happy wife, happy (if less affluent) life. I've got to make sure the job fits around our family life too. She's a shift working nurse, which makes childcare a bit of a pain.

I've worked with contractors too, and their job seems a bit soulless, flitting from place to place without ever having a team of colleagues

I've emailed [2] to have a pre-chat to discuss salary ranges and working locations.

Edit: [2] is Working in London (aggh Commuting!) and they can accommodate my salary.

[Deleted User] · 26 November 2015 at 9:44AM

So I decided to cancel the interview in London. I don't really fancy blowing £3.2k on train travel, plus £1.2k for parking/travel to the station

Can't believe people would do this, but i know plenty spend it - and they are MAD

Transformers · 26 November 2015 at 2:23PM

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Can't believe people would do this, but i know plenty spend it - and they are MAD

Nice of you to judge others without knowing their circumstances.

[Deleted User] · 26 November 2015 at 2:31PM

Transformers wrote: »

Nice of you to judge others without knowing their circumstances.

Oh i've done it, spending £2k a year to travel on the miserable public transport system, 2 hours of my life spent squeezed on trains and the tube. I'm not sure that it's easy to go back to doing that after 4 years of 'freedom'

Transformers · 26 November 2015 at 2:34PM

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Oh i've done it, spending £2k a year to travel on the miserable public transport system, 2 hours of my life spent squeezed on trains and the tube. I'm not sure that it's easy to go back to doing that after 4 years of 'freedom'

BUT that's your experience - that doesn't make anyone else that chooses to commute 'mad' though does it?

That was why I commented - you had branded everyone even though you know nothing of their circumstances.

DKLS · 26 November 2015 at 3:59PM

The tiny pay rises would have me moving on to something better paid,but guess you need to weigh up what motivates you, is it money, career progression, opportunity to learn and acquire new skills all balanced with location of any new job.

I have been in a healthcare IT perm role which was work at home and pretty cushy so I could take on contract job on top of my day job and still deliver both easily.

Not sure I would do it again but it was a great way to clear a chunk off the mortgage.

[Deleted User] · 26 November 2015 at 5:40PM

DKLS wrote: »

The tiny pay rises would have me moving on to something better paid,but guess you need to weigh up what motivates you, is it money, career progression, opportunity to learn and acquire new skills all balanced with location of any new job

Ideally I want my firm to promote me, pay me more, and I can learn more non-technical managerial skills, and architectural technical skills.

At the moment, the better paid version of my job seems like the best option. I'm quite sure the doors would still be open for me to return to my current firm when they've got more cash. It's been done before.

I do like the idea of taking on contracting work also.. I'm tempted to include a colleague in this creating a small firm - it might give me the financial backing to really start a company. </pipedream>

missbiggles1 · 26 November 2015 at 6:04PM

Do you actually need to make a decision at the moment? Why not wait until one (or more) of your options results in a definite offer(s) and then make a choice?

At the moment it just seems lke a waste of emotional energy to me.

ETA
Of course, a definite offer from another company might be just what your current employer needs to make them step up to the mark.

[Deleted User] · 27 November 2015 at 12:05PM

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Do you actually need to make a decision at the moment? Why not wait until one (or more) of your options results in a definite offer(s) and then make a choice?

At the moment it just seems lke a waste of emotional energy to me.

ETA
Of course, a definite offer from another company might be just what your current employer needs to make them step up to the mark.

Well, i spoke to my manager (who completely understands my frustration).. he also wants me to hold of making decisions - as they are all very keen to promote me, but need to make sure the financials for next year can cope with it.

I'm going to go for my interview [1] next week still, as I do feel it'll be a big kick in the right direction

Job dilema

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