Balancing potential new jobs

lowcountry

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Lets say I got an offer at a great firm where I would enjoy the work, but my dream job has now been officially funded and will be opening up soon. I have a big foot in the door for the dream job, but nothing concrete. How bad would it be to quit a new job after working only a few weeks? I imagine it would burn that bridge.
 
Many suggest, Tim Ferriss and his guests suggest burning the candle at both ends for a year to prove it's feasible.
Yes, it'll burn a bridge
 
The question you should ask is...

If the company that just hired you wanted to downsize and your position was deemed extra would they:
  1. Hold on to you out of commitment?
  2. Lay you off like a piece of meat?
Pick one.

It's not like it was 50 years ago. Oh, this thought could be used on both jobs. Think about that.
 
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Take the first job based on your best available information. Work hard and smart as long as you are there. When something better comes up be it 2 weeks or 2 years work that one the same. Feel no guilt because the employers would feel none on their end. Your loyalty is 100% to you and your family. I know exactly what you are going through and integrity like that can bite you right in the ass. Bird in hand is a saying for a reason. Old country folks were smart for a reason.

And that few weeks timeline is probably wrong.
 
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The question you should ask is...

If the company that just hired you wanted to downsize and your position was deemed extra would they:
  1. Hold on to you out of commitment?
  2. Lay you off like a piece of meat?
Pick one.

It's not like it was 50 years ago. Oh, this thought could be used on both jobs. Think about that.
If one is over 50, #2 applies 90% of the time.

My wife had just moved to a new school within Lowell Public when I got the job offer in NC. This was just a few weeks after the school year started. But that is not quite the same thing.
 
Personally, I think it looks bad on the resume, especially if the "dream" job doesn't turn out to be the dream job it was supposed to be. But, you do what you gotta do.
As CZ said, the timeline for the dream job may be longer than you think.
 
You need to look out for you. Because the company won't. There is no loyalty in most businesses anymore.

I've been with my company 10 years. I'm the 2nd in seniority for what I do, 3rd total at our terminal. I would go out on a limb and say I am the best at what I do there too. And both my company and the company we contract with are actively trying to hire out my job at 1/3 to 1/2 my pay to someone else. They just can't find anyone crazy enough to do it for that yet. Since I have seniority I won't loose may job completely, but they are trying to take away the position I have worked at for all but 7 months of my time here. Guess how much loyalty I have to my company anymore? None. Good thing the pay is decent and the benefits are good. I'm staying for me and mine only.
 
Personally, I think it looks bad on the resume, especially if the "dream" job doesn't turn out to be the dream job it was supposed to be. But, you do what you gotta do.
As CZ said, the timeline for the dream job may be longer than you think.
Timeline is definitely a consideration. I've seen resumes where the work history showed job changes every 2 to 3 years over a 20 year span. Others looked like professional students with multiple degrees but no solid steady job.
I'm at the other end. First employer out the air force I spend over 24 years at. Then 6 at the second due to merger layoffs. I have wanted out of my current job for at least 3 of the last 4 years.
But If I like an employer, I'll stay as long as they'll have me.
 
Had something similar happen.

Was interviewing at two places, one was local, the other involved travel. Wanted the one with travel the most.

Local one made an offer whike the other dropped off the earth.

Accepted local position.

Comms started back up with other company..they had end of quarter so hiring manager was swamped.

Started at local job, but during lunch breakd would negotiate with other. Day 3 I accepted an offer. Day 4 i left local job. Manager there who was extremely nice was a bit taken aback..couldnt blame him..burned bridge bigly with director.

Still work at other company..7 years and counting. It had more opportunities ultimately (on third role now), and am happier I think than former local job. So to me it was worth the bridge burning.

Ymmv.
 
Take the first job based on your best available information. Work hard and smart as long as you are there. When something better comes up be it 2 weeks or 2 years work that one the same. Feel no guilt because the employers would feel none on their end. Your loyalty is 100% to you and your family. I know exactly what you are going through and integrity like that can bite you right in the ass. Bird in hand is a saying for a reason. Old country folks were smart for a reason.

And that few weeks timeline is probably wrong.

This is, overall, the best Ive seen yet.
Ive been in those situations where the timeline was all messed up and you wait and miss out on something else. Ive been witness to it too.

I say go for the one now. Youre obviously interested and it'll benefit you. You can reevaluate things if/when the dream job pops up.
 
It's already been stated above, but I counseled my applicants as a headhunter to do whatever is best for themselves, because any and every prospective or current employer is going to do exactly the same thing.
 
I really appreciate everyone's feedback. I am a loyal employee and I need to be reminded that some companies are not loyal back and will cut you in a heartbeat.

I received a draft job description from the town's CFO for the dream job this morning. I am well qualified for the future position but so are a lot of other people. Hopefully my almost two decades of volunteering for the fire department will have some weight when the times comes.

I cannot wait to give my two, maybe three week notice to the current firm and move to something more interesting and will let me use education and experience.
 
I have worked the same job for 52 years....one day at a time. I always knew that, I accepted that. Today my advice to you is to do what's good for you NOW. If the other shows up, THEN a new decision can be made. A visitor pointed out recently that my job had been good to me. I agreed and said...yep and I've been good to them.
 
Do what’s best for you and your family always. I’m in the middle of leaving a job that I was more loyal to than they were to me, and I found it out the hard way. One more day...
 
Submitted acceptance letter tonight. Will then get the background and drug test ball rolling next week. Will submit a resignation with 3 week notice tomorrow afternoon. Should be interesting with the boss on vacation.

I am looking forward to get out of coastal flood mapping after 11 years and supporting multiple discipline jobs with GIS.
 
Submitted acceptance letter tonight. Will then get the background and drug test ball rolling next week. Will submit a resignation with 3 week notice tomorrow afternoon. Should be interesting with the boss on vacation.

I am looking forward to get out of coastal flood mapping after 11 years and supporting multiple discipline jobs with GIS.
I always counseled folks I placed to wait till all the contingencies are out of the way before submitting notice. Two weeks notice is pretty widely expected.

Although in all those years I never had a BG check or blood test scuttle a deal.
 
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I always counseled folks I placed to wait till all the contingencies are out of the way before submitting notice. Two weeks notice is pretty widely expected.

Although in all those years I never had a BG check or blood test scuttle a deal.
Normally I would agree. But I have nothing to hide and excellent credit that I monitor monthly. When I was talking with one of the project managers about looking to leave and she asked if I could give a three week notice. I am working on a high profile study in New York and New Jersey and need some time to train staff on how to move forward without me.
 
Normally I would agree. But I have nothing to hide and excellent credit that I monitor monthly. When I was talking with one of the project managers about looking to leave and she asked if I could give a three week notice. I am working on a high profile study in New York and New Jersey and need some time to train staff on how to move forward without me.
Makes sense.
 
Today is my last day at the current job, start the next one on the 16th. Gave a three week notice, busted my a$$ to make the transition as smooth as possible, and leaving on very good terms. Glad I did because if the dream job comes available, I will have some excellent references. If not, I will at least be in a place where I can expand my GIS capabilities and learn business development.
 
.../I will have some excellent references.
Before I was self employed I worked for two different companies, twice each. One for ten years and another for thirteen years. I left both of them somewhere in middle, and returned to each. One in four months, the other after a year. Leaving bridges unburned is always the way to go. Good on you.
 
At the risk of sounding like a complete asshat, I'll give you recent experience on the "manager" side of the fence.

- I posted a position that attracted only a handful of qualified candidates.
- Waded through a bunch of obviously unqualified applicants and finally settled on one that was "meh, guess that's the best we'll find"
- As expected, it wasn't a great fit. Good enough given the role and what I had found available, but not a superstar hire.
- 1 month in...yada yada yada...perfect candidate drops in my lap
- 2 days later, the new hire was gone in favor of the better one. NO fault of hers, she was exactly as advertised. She just wasn't the other guy.

Moral of the story....a company has to do what's best for the company and the employee has to do what's best for the employee. In a free market you'd hope that some equilibrium results where all end up happy.
 
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Before I was self employed I worked for two different companies, twice each. One for ten years and another for thirteen years. I left both of them somewhere in middle, and returned to each. One in four months, the other after a year. Leaving bridges unburned is always the way to go. Good on you.


This.

In my above example, the "perfect" candidate was a former employee that had left on good terms. He contacted me asking about being a reference because his new place wasn't working out. Instead of a Letter of Reference I sent him an offer of employment.
 
This.

In my above example, the "perfect" candidate was a former employee that had left on good terms. He contacted me asking about being a reference because his new place wasn't working out. Instead of a Letter of Reference I sent him an offer of employment.
I was on the verge of placing an automation engineer once, and I lost him when I checked his reference. Once his old employer heard he was on the market, BOOM, gone, lol.
 
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My current employer (me) is great!! I've been there 24 years, never a cross word, never a write up, never any surprises. I can work in whatever clothing is most comfortable PLUS I can carry at work without fear!!

Glad things have worked out for you LC.....
 
Time to bring this back up.

Dream job was posted a week after I started the new job. The salary that was posted was way low to what I am currently making. After many discussions with my wife, we decided we could make it work. I applied, had an interview a month later, got an email requesting a call a week later to talk about an offer. The salary offered was on par with what I am making now.

Currently doing the background checks now, and here is what it gets sticky. The place I am at now is a good group of people. I just got out of a meeting where the company is going for a big contract and my role (GIS Manager) is one of the key positions. I am the only GIS person in the firm.

Even though I am waiting on the background stuff to finish and I have not signed anything yet, I am tempted to tell my boss what is going on. I want to minimize any potential damage. Or am I being to nice?
 
Time to bring this back up.

Dream job was posted a week after I started the new job. The salary that was posted was way low to what I am currently making. After many discussions with my wife, we decided we could make it work. I applied, had an interview a month later, got an email requesting a call a week later to talk about an offer. The salary offered was on par with what I am making now.

Currently doing the background checks now, and here is what it gets sticky. The place I am at now is a good group of people. I just got out of a meeting where the company is going for a big contract and my role (GIS Manager) is one of the key positions. I am the only GIS person in the firm.

Even though I am waiting on the background stuff to finish and I have not signed anything yet, I am tempted to tell my boss what is going on. I want to minimize any potential damage. Or am I being to nice?

There's no guarantee on anything. Keep it quiet until you made the decision.

Agreed. If you get an offer from your dream job place, they should work with you on a hire date so you don’t burn the bridge at your current place.

Or be a pigeon and say screw it and knock all the chess pieces off the board and do what you want.
 
Time to bring this back up.

Dream job was posted a week after I started the new job. The salary that was posted was way low to what I am currently making. After many discussions with my wife, we decided we could make it work. I applied, had an interview a month later, got an email requesting a call a week later to talk about an offer. The salary offered was on par with what I am making now.

Currently doing the background checks now, and here is what it gets sticky. The place I am at now is a good group of people. I just got out of a meeting where the company is going for a big contract and my role (GIS Manager) is one of the key positions. I am the only GIS person in the firm.

Even though I am waiting on the background stuff to finish and I have not signed anything yet, I am tempted to tell my boss what is going on. I want to minimize any potential damage. Or am I being to nice?

Loose lips sink ships.
 
When you have a start date and are totally out of the woods with the new job, then you can consider informing current employer - You are trying to do the nice thing, but if you vanished tomorrow the company would seek to replace you, hire a contractor or sub contract that work.
 
Had the drug test last night and passed, not surprising. What was surprising is they test the sample right in front of you. I asked the guy does anyone ever get "surprised" by the results and want to argue with you about them? He said it happens all the time.

I went ahead and asked the new job if my first day could be October 1st if they get the rest of the results of the back ground check by next week.
 
I have enough trouble with one job, working on a Master's, voluteering at the fire department, and most importantly, keeping my wife happy. Sometime's I even get some shooting/fishing in.

Then you got plenty of time for a second full time job lol

congrats.

I went ahead and asked the new job if my first day could be October 1st if they get the rest of the results of the back ground check by next week.

Such a cliffhanger good sir
 
I have enough trouble with one job, working on a Master's, voluteering at the fire department, and most importantly, keeping my wife happy. Sometime's I even get some shooting/fishing in.

*pfffft*

Details.

Sounds like you're just not trying hard enough.
 
Had the drug test last night and passed, not surprising. What was surprising is they test the sample right in front of you. I asked the guy does anyone ever get "surprised" by the results and want to argue with you about them? He said it happens all the time.

I went ahead and asked the new job if my first day could be October 1st if they get the rest of the results of the back ground check by next week.

So after the education check, first background check, and that drug test, I found out I needed to have a full criminal justice information services background check, get finger prints sent off, and fill out a a polygraph questionnaire because I would be accessing sensitive information. All that is finally done and I have an offer that I am very happy with in front of me. Just a few days past my two month anniversary, I am going to to tell my boss. It might be unusual to give a resignation on a Tuesday, but I want him to know ASAP. It is going to be difficult because this is a situation of going from a great job to even better job and this is definitely a good group of people. I know I could be let go on the spot but I am okay with that too. I don't want to burn any bridges, but time to rip the band aid off.
 
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What would you do if the old job offered to double your salary?

I would wonder if they would replace me with someone cheaper as soon as they had an opportunity. Realistically, if they did counter offer say 5 to 10 percent, it would not be enough by the time I factored in the commute, benefits, and growth potential.
 
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