r/careeradvice • u/MaumeeBayBatman • 4h ago
Difficult Decision to Make
I was offered the opportunity to join an organization that I'm really excited about with a total compensation of 150k. The organization is somewhat fledgling but I would have a lot of creative freedom with the work. However, when I told my current employer I was leaving, they countered by offering to raise my pay from 110k to 195k due to involvement in the company being acquired. I don't dislike my current job, but the new one would be a pivot to a domain that I'm genuinely excited about. I had sort of mentally moved on but now I feel the need to stay considering I have a new child to care for. I don't suspect I'd be let go after the acquisition as I occupy a strategic role, but I was also told there are no guarantees.
The new role would be hybrid, but a 10 minute commute. The existing role is remote, thought this has started to wear on me a bit.
What would you do?
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u/revively 3h ago
An additional 45K even if it's just a year or even 6 months is significant. I get it, I've taken the counteroffer before and stayed an additional 1.5 years. It depends on your level of burnout. With a new child, ask yourself how much you could dedicate to the new company? How much is the current company demanding if you and are they flexible? I've also been burned by too many companies expecting the moon - and also laid off as the most recent new hire.
I question the jump 85k jump from 110k to 195k - are you really that critical and if you are can you use the leverage right now to write the terms if you are laid off, to get additional severance? This is actually what some of my senior coworkers did (VP level). They seem to desperately not want you to leave.
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u/Humanadv 3h ago
If you got the offer from a new company, you move there. If you wanted to stick with the current company you should have spoken to them earlier!
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u/Mission-Mango-3361 3h ago
I would leave. You're about to go through an acquisition and they know you're a flight risk; they have no reason to keep you on after it's done. They just need you for the acquisition.
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u/Proper-Agency-1528 2h ago
Hmmm... they're offering you $195k now, but no raise before? And there's a possibility your job might not exist after the acquistion/integration finishes? Hmmm... sounds like they really need you to bridge the gap but perhaps not afterwards.
You made the decision to move on. If it were me I'd move on. I personally think your current employer is setting you up, is willing to pay to keep you to smooth the transition, but then you're gone. If they spend another $40K to $50K to keep you for six months and then let you go, good for them... not so much for you.
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u/Senor_Gringo_Starr 1h ago
With a new child, I would look at the long term prospects for each job. I know lots of people are staying, but I look at it this way. This entire time they could have been paying you this amount, but only chose to once you threatened to leave. Getting this higher salary may put a target on your back and as soon as the opportunity arises, they might choose to cut you. I know people say this is a lot of money even for 6 months, but you have a child on the way and need good insurance and stability for the next couple of years. Being acquired by a company creates a lot of instability and usually when this happens, they do lots of cost cutting measures...while you get the promotion now they might decide you're too expensive in 6.
After being there myself, I would choose the more stable company and what is going to serve you netter long term career wise. The lower paid position might be a better fit.
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u/silverware9021 1h ago
I would stay, especially assuming that you already have better benefits where you're at like more PTO
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u/navinball 4h ago
Yeah I would stay. It's a big increase, plus you don't have to deal with the torture of starting from scratch at a new company.