PLEASE HELP!Hello everyone, So here is my unique situation… I am currently in an internship that has lasted for 6 months.At the end of the 6 months, if you are an outstanding intern, you get offered a staff position with the company.I have been offered a position because I have excelled in my projects.I am doing very well here indeed, but there is another opportunity that I would rather pursue. I have an interview scheduled for this other opportunity that is exactly what I want to do-no questions asked.It is a VERY competitive position, and many times people do not even get interviews. However, I have an interview scheduled for January 8th.I have met with the president of the company as well as a few others who direct the management program which I will be interviewing for (met informally in May just for a company tour and to see what was available…) At the time, I did not want to interview for the position because it was not something that sounded interesting...the company picked ME for consideration and introduced the program to ME. Now, however, I understand exactly what I enjoy doing the most and I am on fire for this position. I’ve spoken with many people who are in the management program now and it is exactly what I want to do…it is a major decision and this job is something that I will most likely do for a LONG time after the program is over (it’s the way the company functions)… Anyway, my current employer (internship) asked me to have a decision ready preferably by Christmas, but by the 2 And week in January at the latest. I’ve already delayed the process a bit, as I told them I was looking at other options…not to sound pompous or anything, but it is a fact right now that they really need me here, so it’s not like they are going to ask me to leave or anything…(they are actually losing ppl left and right) At any rate, what do you recommend?The process for the Jan 8th opportunity can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months…I don’t want to commit to my job now and then BAM leave after 2 weeks, but if I do get the other opportunity, it is what I’ll be doing for the next 2 years and hopefully many more after that… Factors for the other opportunity: -Very competitive, but I do have a leg up on the competition because of where I went to college (the company is tied closely to where I went to school)…they scheduled an interview without even reading my application… -My first choice -January 8th interview…not sure how many after that or how long…weeks or a month to 2 months… -2 years for management program Factors at current opportunity (internship to staff): -know I have a job -looking for decision around same time I interview at other opportunity if not sooner. -only 2 weeks notice required for leaving…no year long contract or anything… It is important for you to be able to have an income and provide for your future. You have the opportunity to keep working while this long interviewing and hiring process at the other company goes on. You have to eat, you have to pay your bills, you have to take care of yourself. In my opinion, take the position offered and keep the appointment for the interview at the other company. When you get to the interview, you may discover that the management program was highly exaggerated. You may not like the attitudes of the people who you are meeting with. They might not like you. Never give up on a definite for a maybe. A maybe can turn into a definite at some point down the road but, on the other side of the token, a maybe can turn into nothing. If you give up on the definite, then you could wind up with nothing. Something else for you to consider is, after the two years of the management program, are you actually going to continued employment there? Or are they going to say, "okay, you have had management training, go find yourself a job managing something." After 2 years you are guaranteed to be a manager…they do not cut you loose by any means and they work with you to help you succeed…the hiring process is styled in such a way to “weed out” anyone who is on the fence about the challenging program or who thinks it is for them but in reality it may not be… Also, I have already met with a few of the interviewers (back in May) and they were great…the company is highly and I mean HIGHLY respected in EVERYTHING that they do…strong ethics, morals, etc.They are very well known for this…I really want to work for them….furthermore; they wouldn’t try to coax me into the job, as they have literally thousands of applicants to choose from.They are very upfront about everything. I also know the good, bad and ugly about the program as I’ve spoken with an acquaintance who is in it now…everyone here shoots straight, trust me.I’ve also spoken with people who are now managers that went through the program…they gave me the food, bad and ugly as well. Thank you so much for your input!!! Well, my advice and input still remains the same. You have an offer for a definate position, so take it and continue to make your maybe (interview) into a definate. I think you have already decided. Sounds like you enjoy a challenge, are undaunted by competition and are thinking of the longer-term consequences of your decision. There's a big difference between being hired as a staff person and entering into a management training program. I don't agree that a bird--or a job--in the hand is worth two in the bush. (I thought a Pigeon would like that analogy.) Only you can decide if you prefer the safety of the staff position to the potential of the management program. But if you're looking for some support for taking a calculate risk, you 've got mine. Good luck! It is true that I like a challenge and do not necessarily fear competition, but I also have a somewhat conservative personality…I do need income now and the job I am in is a really great resume builder, it’s just my 2nd choice…not to mention I won’t be here for more than a few years…not something I want long term… BUT, what if my turning down this job I am guaranteed of was an indicator to the “other/better” opportunity that I am dead serious about working for them and that I want it that badly… I just don’t want to make a rash decision…why is nothing that is so important ever easy!? If life' s big decisions could be decided with a coin toss, they wouldn' t be any fun;) Be sure you don' t listen to the wrong people (including me) about the decision you have to make. Advice was practical and considerate of your need to have a paycheck coming in. My advice tends to be "Be Bold!" because the biggest regrets I have involve being too conservative, too careful. I' m making up for that as I age;) Whatever you decide, you' re in demand. A great dilemma to be wrestling with.
Take the job now and leave if you get something better. With most jobs in the US, you could always leave anytime, and if you're already trained, etc. it's not like they're going to be investing tons of money into you...really, even if you stayed an additional 4 weeks, that's 4 weeks they wouldn't get anyway...and this is important especially if people are leaving and they're in a big crunch. They will appreciate the work you get done anyway. Of course, the trickier part is the personal relationships you might be afraid of sacrificing by making some implied commitment by taking the current job and leaving soon afterwards. Can you be honest with them that you are being courted by another company and won't know if you can commit until later, but that in the interim, you are willing to keep working at your current level and let them know ASAP? I was in a position where I was looking for something new and because my old place was so crunched with people, I let them know and then looked for a new job for a few months before finding one, but they definitely appreciated my staying and the work I did in the interim, and at the end, no one was upset because I was clear that I was looking for something new and gave them PLENTY of notice even when I did accept a new job. Does that sound like something you could do? That way, you're being honest but keeping your options open. I know there were some odd things about my situation that allowed that and not everyone can do that, but I was wondering because it sounds like you might be in a position to do this. An interesting point.Although I would hope for a professional response, I can’t say that would definitely be the case.After all, what if they say, “fine, if you are not committed to us and are going to pursue this other opportunity, just leave.” I think if I accept my current offer on a condition, it would put quite a big damper on everyone, as I work closely with my director and manager every day.Furthermore, I see the CEO and every employee almost everyday. (Small company…30 people). I don’t want to make it awkward, so it may be better to just drop the bomb all at once in a month or two (or even three) if I do get the other opportunity, rather than let it linger and be in the back of everyone’s minds.(IE “Well, can we delegate this project to The Pigeon or not? I mean, he may be leaving anytime now…”)Know what I mean? An interesting thought though…and yes, quite frankly, they are lucky to have me here. I do not mean to be conceited, but my qualifications and ability are very unique for the role I am currently in.People are really trying to get me to stay (except for, of course, the people that are already leaving…) On one hand I would like to have everything out in the open, but on the other hand, what do I owe the company? They haven' t really treated anyone that well and I really don' t have a lot of loyalty to them...but I don' t want to be a jerk either! hmmm.....
You don't owe "the company" anything...the market today is such that everyone is on an at will basis and " the company" (even if it's small) is a non-entity. The question is what you owe the people involved...and I stick with my original point that in the US job market, anyone could quit any day. So you only owe them whatever is in your employee code of conduct, usually 2 weeks' notice. And no one can fault you for simply going by policy!! It's up to you to decide what to do, though..it could make things awkward and it's definitely dependent on the work environment to be more upfront. It seems unlikely they would just get rid of you if they're in desparate need, but people are weird! I've just seen that more upfront usually makes people happier in the end. Have they asked specifically if you have other offers? In that case, it would really behoove you to not lie, as that could really color your reputation and it's the wrong thing to do. | |
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