Guess it's my turn to ask career advice..

[navin]

Sup fellas - been awhile since I've posted up here... So i've been put in a interesting situation regarding my job/career and figured I would ask the more experienced members of this board (aka. you old farts)..

So my current job - I've been here for about a year and half, its gov't consulting doing IT security shtuff. I took the first offer from a company that was offering a decent salary and didn't have me working help desk. I've enjoyed the work, have some pretty cool coworkers.

Anyways, fast forward to 2010. I get a promotion, get a salary bump (8% - sounds great, but from what i started at, still way below IT professionals)..Of course more responsibilties, client face time - basically sink or swim and I've been swimminggg. At this time I've submitted my 6 month review for 2010, still have yet to hear anything back (thinking there wont be a significant raise)...

Now my predicament is - yesterday I interviewed with another company. Went in there with a more relaxed attitude because I do have a job currently.

Anyways new company interviews me, calls me an hour 1/2 later and says they want me. I am deciding right now what to do.... Should i even tell my current company that i have another offer on the table, and to match it.. or just accept?

New Company = A NICE salary increase, almost the same line of work, less technical, another small company, they have option years every year on their contract...

Sorry if my syntax of the post is all messed up, im writing this at work

[.RJ]

When you're starting out, job hopping every 18-24 months can net you some pretty decent salary bumps - you have nothing to lose at this point.

Make sure its not trading money for something else - a raise is no good if the benefits arent as good and there's less vacation/sick time available.

[Apoc]

Would you take the new job?

If no, do nothing.

If yes, but you like the current job and just want more money, tell them you have an offer (after you get it in writing) and want to know if they'll match it. Be prepared to take the new job if they don't because they will have called your bluff at that point and you will forever be their bitch.

Personally I think if you interviewed for a new job, that means you're over the current one.

[WRXtranceformed]

Yeah I'm with Chris, it sounds like you're ready to move on. And just be prepared if you go to your company asking for more money, there's a good chance you could be burning that bridge...just make sure you're good to go on the other job hah

[Mike]

First, "anyways" isn't a word.

Second, if you're going to take the new job, tell your current employer and see what they can do; you seem to enjoy the current position, but it's a money thing. Companies are more flexible with money than they'll ever let on... The cost of having to get a new employee far outweighs a bump in your salary for years to come. Unfortunately, I've worked for folks who weren't intelligent enough to know that...

Rant: Kind of like the assholes who raised my rent a few percentage points. When I said "no," they didn't budge. They sat on that house (making $0) for a good six months. Stupid fucks... They'll never get that money back in 100 years of increased rent.

[navin]

Thanks for the replies guys...

I was unsure whether or not to goto my current company and ask for them to match... well because the pay bump is over 15k from my current salary. I do plan on asking for an contingent offer letter, etc before saying anything to anybody.

And i actually think I'll be accruing more PTO now, need to find out about health/dental.

Only other factor is if i take this position, ill be working in Crystal City instead of Arlington. Hopefully they let me flex my hours or something.

[Evan]

Ive never liked the "match my offer" game. I did that once, except it was when I was being hired, and they never let me forget that I was paid more than they wanted to, and I didnt get a raise the entire 2.5 years I worked there.

Unless you really like working there and the other intagibles are much better, just leave and go to the other company.

[HAULN-SS]

Hrmm...I'm with you on that Evan. I have been debating where to play that game here when I leave my current spot if I get offers somewhere else. I really do enjoy the work here, but i got screwed last appraisal time, all in the name of "the bad economy" and it really is just a money thing for me. I think all other stuff would be equal

[G.Irish]

In IT your market value can go up way faster than the standard 4-8% annual raise, depending on what you're doing. So when it's time for the annual review do some research on your market value to find out what others with your experience and skills make. If it's out of whack with what your company is offering, confront them with that and state the salary you want to make.

If your company doesn't want to meet your salary demands then leave. I wouldn't necessarily put it out front that I had an offer. I'd start with, this is my approximate market value, and this is what I want to make, and see how they respond. That is, if you actually want to stay there. If you're indifferent about staying or the benefits are better at the new job, by all means leave.

One thing I will say that you should evaluate is, which position will give you skills and experience that will further your career? Pay and benefits may be equal but if you're learning Sharepoint at one job versus learning ColdFusion at another, it's clear what is going to better for you in the long run.

[navin]

G,

The other job is related to the field I am interested/most skilled in (Security) - although the new position will be a less technical role, but as I've been told they "encourage" continued education via. certs/boot camps (And ive made it clear that Id like to keep a technical track)..

If only my Project Manager would ever show up.. so i could talk to him. I need to have an answer for them by tmmrw..

[G.Irish]

"Encourage" can be funny. Some companies will do the whole song and dance about training and continuing education but when you actually put in a request to get said training they're all excuses. Do they have a written policy on training? For example to they allocate annual leave to use for training or is there an annual budget for that?

If you'd like to give your current job a chance to give you raise that you'd be happy with you might need to ask the new job for a few more days. Your current job might not be able to come back with a better offer today, and even if they could it might rub them the wrong way (no one likes to be blindsided and forced into a scramble). Another thing to look out for is if the new job is [b]desperate[b] for you to start. Sometimes that means that they don't have their shit together and are in crisis-fill-the-seat-at-all-costs mode.

If you don't feel the time is right to jump ship you should wait and explore some other options. Don't feel pressured to take the new job if you're not ready. There are plenty of other jobs that you're qualified for. Make a change on your terms when you get what you want.

[navin]

G,

Thanks for the replies. I don't feel the new company is 'pressuring' me, as they want me to file the 2 week notice when the time is given, etc, etc.... I'll wait till I get an offer letter first, then review it.

[Evan]

"Encourage" can be funny. Some companies will do the whole song and dance about training and continuing education but when you actually put in a request to get said training they're all excuses.

lol so true