Advice on leaving a job after only about 5 months?

[Shrugged]

Anyone have advice on leaving a job they've been at for about 5 months?
Im getting a much better offer from another corporation but I feel bad because the one Im at has invested so much into training me and getting me situated, not to mention flew me all over Canada for events.

Is there a way to do it with out completely burning a bridge?

 

[champcar]

Wow

Glad I'm not in your shoes

Really tough call

 

[red]

Anyone have advice on leaving a job they've been at for about 5 months?
Im getting a much better offer from another corporation but I feel bad because the one Im at has invested so much into training me and getting me situated, not to mention flew me all over Canada for events.

Is there a way to do it with out completely burning a bridge?

What are your long term prospects at both?

If the new is much better- try talking with your current employer and put your cards on the table- say- look I was approached with this fabulour opportunity- I feel bad and am really happy here but I can't see how I can pass this up- see if they match it- if not work on transition plan with them- that's the best u can do

 

[Shrugged]

What are your long term prospects at both?

If the new is much better- try talking with your current employer and put your cards on the table- say- look I was approached with this fabulous opportunity- I feel bad and am really happy here but I can't see how I can pass this up- see if they match it- if not work on transition plan with them- that's the best u can do

Thanks, thats kinda what I was thinking but just needed to hear it from someone else... I think realistically I'm going to piss someone off regardless.

 

[destillat]

You should ask Rob Ford's ex- communications team... They BOTH were given AMAZING career-advancing opportunities... on the SAME DAY!!!

 

[Conway_Stewart]

I wouldn't do it.

If you leave company 1, you will definitely burn that bridge.

Then, if things go badly at company 2, you could find yourself out of work with bad references from your last 2 employers.

Not worth the risk, IMHO.

My advice: stay at company 1 for a couple of years before moving elsewhere. A job similar to the one at company 2 will still be around 2 years from now.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Keep us posted.

 

[JohnLarue]

I wouldn't do it.

If you leave company 1, you will definitely burn that bridge.

Then, if things go badly at company 2, you could find yourself out of work with bad references from your last 2 employers.

Not worth the risk, IMHO.

My advice: stay at company 1 for a couple of years before moving elsewhere. A job similar to the one at company 2 will still be around 2 years from now.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Keep us posted.

Not necessarily great advice

Your current company could call you in tomorrow (or six weeks from now when the other opp is gone) & tell you they had made some decisions & no longer need you.

Better to review your past history
If you have a lot of moving around and / or a lack of references, it might make sense to stay put for a while
If you can get lots of references, that gives the new opportunity some greater weight

If you do decide to move on, be sure to let them know you struggled with the choice because it was only five months, however the offer was just too enticing & ask for a reference right there and then.
If they say no to the reference then you can claim you took the high road

 

[simon482]

Not necessarily great advice

Your current company could call you in tomorrow (or six weeks from now when the other opp is gone) & tell you they had made some decisions & no longer need you.

Better to review your past history
If you have a lot of moving around and / or a lack of references, it might make sense to stay put for a while
If you can get lots of references, that gives the new opportunity some greater weight

If you do decide to move on, be sure to let them know you struggled with the choice because it was only five months, however the offer was just too enticing & ask for a reference right there and then.
If they say no to the reference then you can claim you took the high road

you can't just keep jumping ship because something might happen later. if you do you will spend your career at the bottom of the seniority ladder.


hang where you are, they put time in you should give them some time as well. like conway said in a year or 2 that offer or better ones will be there. plus with giving them a year or 2 you won't burn the bridge when you leave.

 

[ultistar]

How much better % wise?
If ~ 10% then stick with current company and try to tell them your "market value".
if ~ 20% then switch. That's a couple of jumps in salary bands.
In between, go with gut feel. you're on your own

 

[GPIDEAL]

How much better % wise?
If ~ 10% then stick with current company and try to tell them your "market value".
if ~ 20% then switch. That's a couple of jumps in salary bands.
In between, go with gut feel. you're on your own

Some good advice on both sides above and yes, someone else told me, it's not worth moving unless you make 20% more.

However, in some cases, 20% isn't worth it depending on other factors and your base pay.

If he can make over 20%, then he should approach the company and explain the situation.

 

[fuji]

Anyone have advice on leaving a job they've been at for about 5 months?
Im getting a much better offer from another corporation but I feel bad because the one Im at has invested so much into training me and getting me situated, not to mention flew me all over Canada for events.

Is there a way to do it with out completely burning a bridge?

There isn't really any way, but if it's REALLY a better offer--significantly better--then do it anyway.

Have a heart to heart with your boss, tell him about your other offer, tell him how much better it is, and how you feel it's impossible for you to refuse it. Say how sorry you are, etc., the bridge will be burned but you need to make a good showing of feeling bad about it. I have done this before, I jumped ship quite soon after being hired -- I went out for coffee with my boss and told him about it face to face, trying to make it an "as a friend" conversation, and he told me if he were in my shoes and got the offer I had, he'd take it too. Then we went back to the office and I did it formally--we still seem to be on friendly terms outside work--but no doubt some bridges got burned there and I sure wouldn't put him down as a reference. I have never looked back on that decision--the other opportunity launched my career to a whole new level.

Significantly better should not just be a few dollars more, but something qualitatively better -- more responsibility, better learning opportunities, what you always really wanted to do, etc., if it's just a small difference in money, stick it out with your present job. But if it's really opportunity knocking then go for it.

 

[Yoga Face]

 

[Keebler Elf]

I'd put my cards on the table and tell them why I'm switching. That gives your current company the opportunity to "sweeten the pot" and if they choose to lose you then that's on them. Be professional and don't get into a bidding war; if your new company makes an acceptable offer then take it (going to the other company to try and better it will make you look mercenary and you could lose both jobs). Note: this typically only works once. If you try to repeat your company will say "See ya later!"

Don't be a sucker and fall for the "I'm a good corporate citizen" bit. Companies thrive on that but have no compunction about laying you off whenever it's best for the company. You have to look out for #1, first and foremost. The only time I'd say otherwise is if you're committed to a company for the long haul and are (successfully) working your way up the corporate ladder. In that type of situation you can pass up other opportunities when you have a good shot at surpassing them by sticking around with your current employer.

 

[benstt]

you can't just keep jumping ship because something might happen later. if you do you will spend your career at the bottom of the seniority ladder.

This might depend on the work environment. I can see this in blue collar, or a family-owned company where loyalty is rewarded.

In a white collar corporate environment, seniority isn't a factor. It is much better to push yourself into frequent moves that significantly stretch your abilities. It is often easier to get another company to take a risk on you in a new role or level than your own company. If you are excellent, this can pay off well with a series of moves across companies.

However, 5 months is really short. I would prefer 1 to 2 years, else you are burning bridges, and that has a tendency to catch up to you. You will run into someone you fucked over, and they will skewer you without mercy at the first opportunity. I can honestly say there is no-one out there that I screwed over to advance my career, and would be welcomed back in many places I worked at.

To the original poster - is this a unique opportunity? Can you tell them that you'd like to do it, but it is too soon to leave your current employer? They would understand that - they wouldn't want you to turn around and leave them in 5 months.

Furthermore, do you like what you are doing? Is your manager good? Do you continue to learn? These are factors, outside of money or advancement, that can help you decide whether to stick it out a bit longer.

If the money is a lot better, and your company is off the market rate for your skills, I would be open about you being recruited, and see what they can do. They might lay out more, or a roadmap for advancement.

 

[gmaximus]

If it's a better paying job or something you like to do then go for it. Do a little research on the new company and why they are hiring you. Are there more opportunities for growth at the new company ? How did you feel about your new boss during the interview ? Make sure you have an offer before you talk about it with your current manager or colleagues. You are only good to a company as long as you are making money for them. When companies dont think twice before laying off employees then why should employees care too much about the company.
Loyalty does not matter much to corporations. Good opportunities dont come around often.
If you are really concerned about your current company then help them during the transition.

 

[Conway_Stewart]

How much better % wise?
If ~ 10% then stick with current company and try to tell them your "market value".
if ~ 20% then switch. That's a couple of jumps in salary bands.
In between, go with gut feel. you're on your own

I'd never heard this 20% rule before but it seems reasonable.

My only other thought is that I am fairly conservative when it comes to making moves. If you're able to move to a better job then that's great. However, you never really know what a job will be like until you've actually worked there for awhile.

Thus, the job might look good from a distance but once you get there you could find out that it's a toxic workplace. If you are at least reasonably happy with your present job there is something to the old expression of "a bird in the hand."

Moving to a better job is great but there is absolutely NOTHING worse than being stuck in a toxic work environment! For me, there has to be a significant upside to offset that risk.

 

[Cassini]

Be as up-front about the situation as possible. You will burn bridges. However, if the other position is truly a much better opportunity, then go for it. The bottom line is that either employer may lay you off suddenly for no real reason. As such, pursue the career that results in the highest lifetime salary.

Also, I agree with the advice that the second job should be at least 20% better than the first. Otherwise, statistically, the salary raise won't make up for the lost income if you get suddenly laid off with a history of rapid job switching.

 

[Keebler Elf]

20% is probably high for the average joe but I remember reading a lawyers' magazine and it had done a study on where pay increases come from. By their calculation the average increase per year was around 3% but when lawyers jump ship to another firm the average increase was 20%. The message being that unless you're on track to make partner, move around to maximize your salary.

 

[hoodoomeister]

Make the move if it is clearly a step up. Don't list the 5-month position on your resume or any of the on-line profiles you might have - there is no obligation to, and it is unlikely that 5 months has resulted in any earth-shaking achievements that you need to advertise to the world. (By listing only years, and not months, for start/finish on your resume, the five-month interlude goes away anyway.) In today's world, you only have a two-week contract with your employer, renewable each time you get a paycheck. Don't get fooled into this "loyalty" nonsense - employers have no loyalty to their employees, so any sense of obligation is only a one-way street.

 

[night ride]

OP whatever you do, don't "feel bad". Believe me, the company would flush you down the toilet without batting an eyelid, and as for the training 'they gave you' they probably claimed lots of gov incentives which paid for it all. Look out for number 1.