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How to get a better package from a job offer?

Verbally accepted a job offer, but now a dream offer has come along...

  • Verbally accepted a job offer, but now a dream offer has come along...What should I do? Okay, so I decided to quit my current dead end job and look for a new position. I'm in the video games industry and I'm pretty experienced, so tend to get interviews whenever I put my CV forward. A few months back, I went for an interview at a small start up company which really interested me, they make social games and the company seems really relaxed and the guys I've met seem to be okay. (Not too manager-y and they said all the right things about how they treat staff - of course they did!, they all do!) Eventually they offered me the job, but as I was asking for more money than they were advertising for, they couldn't offer me much more than my current salary. I thought about this for a LONG time and decided that I wanted a change and would take the "risk" of joining a start up - they offer a "minimal" bonus package and their working hours are strictly 9-5. (I have a small child, and another one on the way, I don't really want to work 24/7 any more) I've verbally accepted the job offer, but I've still got reservations, (the commute isn't great, the projects don't inspire me, it's not a sector that interests me particularly, and in the long run it's not THAT much more money after you take out travel expenditure.) THEN, a mega corporation advertised a position that is my dream job. I simply saw the advert and thought "I'll put my CV forward- there's no way on earth I'll get an interview" - I did... and it went really well, and then I had a second interview that didn't go very well at all. I thought I'd blown it and was really really upset with myself for letting the opportunity slip. Unfortunately the Mega corporation have a very cut-throat attitude to their employees, they won't think twice about getting rid if you're not 100% good enough. (I *think* I am but I'm not 100% sure) - they have a 3 month probation period and REGULARLY let people go at the end of those three months if they don't stack up. BUT... they pay a fortune, they have profit related royalties, they have "kudos" in the industry and having their name on my CV will basically ensure I get an interview for evermore. (It's like a rubber stamp of quality on my CV) - the job entails a lot of travel, a lot of work, and will probably have a big impact on my family life, but it's just an amazing opportunity and could lead my career to amazing heights. (Not to mention i'll be on megabucks) I've just finished a third interview with them (which I'm really surprised I got after the second interview!) - I raised my concerns that the second interview didn't go well, and they explained it was a psychological test to see how I handle awkward people under pressure. And apparently I passed. They've just confirmed they are going to offer me a position. (Financial package TBC, although it will probably be a lot more) and now I'm a bit stuck between REALLY wanting to take the high risk/high reward opportunity, or taking the safe option. I know it's a decision only I can make, but I'd really like to hear peoples thoughts about how to handle the following outcomes? 1. I turn down little start up and say "sorry my dream job has come up and they are offering an unbelievable package that I have to take" - and then live the very real risk that I may not be "good enough" and out of a job in 3 months. (which would be disastrous) - obviously this is majorly burning bridges with little start up and they would (rightfully) blacklist me from ever working for them again. I know how unethical this is, but then I also know how un-loyal companies can be when they need to cut their wage bill. or 2. I turn down Mega-corp, and settle for start up, wondering what might have been for the rest of my life. Working 9-5, I'll see my family a lot and work will just be "a job" (something it's never really been for me) - there is future potential with this company, but there's also the possibility that it'll be gone in 5 years too. I KNOW I can do this job, but it doesn't excite me, and if I'm perfectly honest I'd probably be bored after a few months... (but then I take home a decent wage, with the occasional bonus and I know I'll never have to work past 5:30 again) So now I'm after a few opinions, obviously everything on the internet about this subject is usually biased "headhunter" articles....

  • Answer:

    Having accepted the startup's offer doesn't make you an indentured servant; if your family's interests are best served by you going to the megacorp, then don't feel guilty. But talk to your spouse about all that travel, etc., before you make the decision - that has a big impact on a young family's life and on a marriage. Also, I've never heard of a startup offering a more laid back lifestyle than an established company. Are you sure they are painting an accurate picture?

tda101 at Ask.Metafilter.Com Visit the source

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I'm tangentially in the same field as you, working at a social gaming company, so I kind of understand the predicament. It's pretty clear to me that you're probably going to do fine at either job, and you're probably not going to be fired at the 3-month review period. I say take the dream job, and re-evaluate in a year. As you say, with a year's experience at MegaCorp, you'll have your golden ticket and can do whatever you want. But I think a few other people have chimed in with other, valid perspectives. I think something that is hard to do is to take a massive pay increase and then go back to something lower paying but with better hours- you take out a big mortgage, start eating out more, and suddenly you pretty much HAVE to work that many hours just to feel like you're keeping up, or that you need to do it to be "worth" your salary. So while I don't agree with them that you should take the safe, family-friendly job, it's something that is worth thinking about when that year is up and it's time to reevaluate.

thewumpusisdead

For what it's worth, subjecting you to a "bad interview" as a psychological test strikes me as flat-out unethical, and should give you pause about working for MegaCorporation.

jayder

Just wanted to make one clear statement. Decided between the two as you will.... but choosing megacorp us NOT unethical to startup. Not at all. So remove that from your thinking. As for my opinion on the jobs: rell startup "I'm sorry, I am very interested in the position but I have a 3 month trial at a dreamjob that was just offered. I sincerely apologize and I'll keep you informed as to my status. In the meantime I can recommend guy X who may be a valuable asset." Just how I would handle it.

chasles

You've already gotten two offers, if things go bad with the big company, don't you think you could get a third? Quitting a job for a better opportunity isn't unethical, even if you haven't started that job yet. Especially then, because there's no way that they really depend on you at this point.

skewed

If you're willing to take a chance on the Megacorp, do it because it's a known quantity and you know what you are getting into: you know their reputation, you know their policies, you know they are a successful company and aren't going under any time soon, you know the payoff to your career should you succeed there. On the other hand, all you really know about the startup is what they told you in the interview. As a company, they haven't proven anything yet. Personally, I've never ever worked at a startup, especially a game startup, where everyone goes home at 5:30. I'd be terribly suspicious of a startup with that laid-back of an atmosphere because for little companies, it's always a race to become successful before the funding runs out, something that typically isn't helped along by treating the job like it's a 9-5er. So, I suspect they are a) BSing you about the time/mind commitment or b) they are indeed that casual, which raises a red flag about the potential casualness of their approach to other aspects of their business or c) as a consequence of b, will soon determine that "oops, we are running out of funding so it's time to start piling on the work/cutting costs."

jamaro

I run a tiny law firm. If I offered someone a job, and he verbally accepted, and then he was offered a job at an AmLaw 100 law firm, I couldn't blame him for withdrawing his acceptance of my job and accepting the job with the AmLaw 100 firm. I would just shrug because it's just pretty much SCIENCE! that someone would accept the big-time job.

jayder

Dream job! Dream job! Life is way, way too short. To me, the only right answer is the dream job. Since you use language like "dream job," I think you know this. It is always worth it to be challenged in order to have a better life. Don't take the safe route, here.

hought20

More money is always nice. However, your sanity, time with your family, and happiness are the things you will look back upon down the road and be grateful for. Everything about MegaCorp sounds shitty, slimy, and unlike what you have said that you want out of your life. Take the smaller job. You may not be on "MegaBucks", but your kids don't care. They want you around and happy. That's worth more.

ellF

You really sound to me like the one you want to take is the job with mega corp. If it doesn't work out, if you hate it, or it impacts your family you can quit and apparently you can get another job fairly easily and have that on your resume. I think Dream Job is a no-brainer--I don't see what the runner-up job gets you, really. You could get another job like that later. Dream Job doesn't come along every day.

A Terrible Llama

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