Considering a job change in this climate

jonathanc8888

Dox said:

jonathanc8888 said:

About few weeks ago I started a process of seeking another job.
I wasn't really in the market but was approached by recruiter with a very interesting and detailed job spec.
I'm in the final stage of interviews and if it goes well I'm looking at a potential job offer which will see an increase of about £10-15k net in my salary.
My concern is that the current economy doesn't seem to be doing too well. I've been with my current employer for 4+ years and if I do accept the offer I will be starting with a new company without the protection of rights with minimum of 2 years employment history.
What would you do in this situation?
The company is a subsidiary of a very large multinational however the department I'm joining is really small. It will be a 2 men team with me supporting and covering the existing person.

You say your net pay will increase by £10-15K. That's a huge 'variation' in gross salary. Although you don't say how much you are earning now, it is presumably a very substantial %age increase? If so, ask yourself why a potential employer is willing to pay so much - and why the salary boundaries appear to be so vague. Are you really that valuable/do you have specific skills they really need; or is there a high risk this tiny department has no real future/career development?

Not having the employment protections you get after two years of employment probably doesn't matter that much, unless you are made redundant or simply sacked because they decide you aren't what they want. If you negotiate a good period of notice on their part but preferably not on yours, that overcomes that hurdle. What else bothers you about having sub-two years' service?

As to what anyone else would do in this situation - work out your priorities and how well the change of job would sit with them.

Edit: Sorry, I meant gross not net.
 I'm in a quite specialist role and based on my experience and location I'm about £5k below average.
What I'm asking is in the top band of average pay from research. As I'm not really in the market I thought why not try for it.
According the recruiter the job was advertised with wide salary band, about £20k range so they are probably basing it on skill set and experience.

From what I can gauge perhaps the main reason to get cover to ensure continuity, it also sounds like they need more manpower to handle ongoing projects, both UK and global. Perhaps it's also for transitioning as the person interviewing me, in my opinion, looks like he is close to retirement age
The role is also very challenging and specialist so it's not that easy finding the right person. I suppose I'm lucky I've been in similar roles for few years now.

After reading the helpful comments here I'm actually not too concerned about the sub 2 years service protection. I didn't realise it's possible to negotiate different notice periods? Always thought it's one notice period which works both ways?

I know it may sound strange to others but I do have massive amount of guilt going through this process, it's definitely not easy.
However I'm not getting any younger and I think this is an opportunity too good to pass.

Dox

After reading the helpful comments here I'm actually not too concerned about the sub 2 years service protection. I didn't realise it's possible to negotiate different notice periods? Always thought it's one notice period which works both ways?

Both sides have to comply with any minimum statutory notice requirements (see https://archive.acas.org.uk/noticeperiod) but apart from that, it's down to negotiation. If it's a reasonably senior role, try for 6 months notice from them and 1 month from you. Highly unlikely they'll agree to that, but give it a go anyway. 

anxious_ant

Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd chime in to this one.
If all goes well this week I could be receiving a job offer. I have access to their P&L report and although turnover is healthy, profit is down about 15% from previous financial year. I would be asking some relevant questions during the interview to try to get a better insight.
The potential new role is more challenging and pays a lot more however I'm a bit concerned what would happen if I commit as the effect of Coronovirus is unpredictable.
I would think that my job is pretty safe at correct job (for now anyway) however it's next to no chance of progression or pay increase. 
What would you do in my shoes?

steampowered

P&L is not a reliable measure of the health of a business. If the company is investing in the business (e.g. expanding office space, hiring new people) that will cause P&L to go down, even if profit margins and revenues are increasing.

It sounds like if you stay in your current role you'll be thinking about the "what ifs" for some time. 

pop_gun

My former area manager left our company to take a job elsewhere. My immediate supervisor left for a job at the same company as the area manager. Both left within months of taking the job. My supervisor even showed me the text outlining this new job and from it I knew the company wasn't worth his troubles. This isn't to say the OP shouldn't seriously consider the offer, but factor in the workplace environment you currently have and the one you'll be joining. 

jonathanc8888

Well things have progressed really quickly. I've got the job. Well, it's a verbal acceptance plus a reply from HR that she'll arrange the documents to be sent out on Monday. 
Should I approach my current employer before I get the documents? Personally I just want to tell my line manager as soon as possible, there's so much uncertainly with the corona virus outbreak and I may not have a chance to tell him in person.

jonathanc8888

pop_gun said:

My former area manager left our company to take a job elsewhere. My immediate supervisor left for a job at the same company as the area manager. Both left within months of taking the job. My supervisor even showed me the text outlining this new job and from it I knew the company wasn't worth his troubles. This isn't to say the OP shouldn't seriously consider the offer, but factor in the workplace environment you currently have and the one you'll be joining. 

Thanks for the feedback. I do enjoy working with my boss and colleague but on the other hand I am not sure when I'll get another chance like this. Current company is not doing too bad but new job has global presence (it's a subsidiary of a multinational) plus it's in another lower risk sector.

Dox

jonathanc8888 said:

Should I approach my current employer before I get the documents? Personally I just want to tell my line manager as soon as possible, there's so much uncertainly with the corona virus outbreak and I may not have a chance to tell him in person.

That has to be your call; you know your employer.

jonathanc8888

Dox said:

jonathanc8888 said:

Should I approach my current employer before I get the documents? Personally I just want to tell my line manager as soon as possible, there's so much uncertainly with the corona virus outbreak and I may not have a chance to tell him in person.

That has to be your call; you know your employer.

In all honesty whilst my line manager has been nothing but good to me the company in general is known for underhanded tactics.
I think I'll have a chat with my manager on Monday and once I get the contract in hand I'll officially submit resignation.

Savvy_Sue

Generally the advice is NOT to hand in notice until you have an unconditional offer letter in your hands - ie not subject to references, not subject to a health questionnaire, not subject to a DBS check or anything else. 

In reality, this often isn't practical: the new employer wants you as soon as your notice period ends and doesn't want you to wait until they have received the references to give notice, so you have to tell your current employer this request is coming. A DBS check (if needed) takes as long as it takes, but the new employer still wants you to start as soon as your notice period ends, and doesn't want you to wait until it arrives and so on. 

however, I would want SOMETHING in writing confirming salary etc. You don't have to be given a contract until you've been in the new job for 8 weeks, so getting it before you start may not happen either, certainly not before you hand in your notice.