career decision... take a job offer or stay at current job?

[hans007]

so i'm a C++ win32 programmer. this is like being a bald eagle apparently so i've tried to be proactive and learn some new skills on my own.

anyhow i work at one of the largest software companies in the world writing IT software, but i realize this isnt going to last forever plus c++ isn't taking you anywhere at this point.

so anyway i applied for some random java jobs even though the bulk of my experience in java is programming android apps for fun. so amazingly i go to one company and they offer me a job after a 1 hour interview to work on some software as a service stuff.

so, i was looking for jobs for maybe a 3 weeks and went on 3 in person interviews. one of them resulted in the offer, the other was a horrible job, and the other says "i'm still a candidate" (and i really want this one because this place was awesome, but they are taking forever to get back to me ). now the one that has the offer , pays less than my current job that i think might be a dead end by about 5-7% and doesnt have as many benefits (given its startup and i work at a giant 100 billion dollar company). it also has much less flexible hours (which is strange as the startup is much less flexible here) and about half the vacation time. that said i'd learn a lot and not be in a dead end in theory. i also got this kind of bad vibe while i was interviewing but maybe it was just because it was 830 in the morning and everyone there seemed half dead. so i don't feel "great" about this job, i'm not like OMG great job take it. but there are the pros of it too.

that said, i've been going back and forth about taking this job. some of my friends think i should do the smart thing and just take the job. some of them say i should just do what feels right , and taking this job my first instinct is not to take it. but on the other hand my head is telling me maybe i got really lucky and an opportunity to get paid to learn is not going to come so easy (or maybe i just havent been looking very long i have no idea).

i mean i'm pretty ambivalent about my current job, its ok, but its not super fantastic, but its sort of a dead end. this has kept me up unable to sleep very well for about 3 days now and i have 2 days left to accept the job offer. so that said anyone have any advice or gone through a similar situation? like im leaning towards just taking the job i got an offer for, and if it sucks gut it out for a while and just start looking again in a year once i've accumulated some new more marketable experience....


also i guess as another thing. if the job i really wanted most, does get back to me after a while and i've say i accept the job i got the offer for right now, totally acceptable to quit on the spot and take the job i really wanted right?

 

[Ancalagon44]

I think you need to clarify, to yourself, what the bad vibe was about. Bad vibe doesnt help anyone, its not descriptive enough for you to make a decision. You need to think back, and try to identify the things that gave you the bad vibe. If, as you say, it was the early morning, and nothing else, then ignore it.

When I was making job decisions earlier in the year, it really helped me to write down a list of pros and cons for each job, and even weight them if they are not all equal in importance. It helped me see much easier which was the better role. That might help in your case too.

Whether or not the salary and vacation time should matter depends on your age. If you have kids and a mortgage, then it matters. If not, rather change now while you still can.

Think about your career progression at your current role, too. Can you work your way to up lead developer and then architect? Do you want to? How does the new role offer scope for advancement that the old one doesnt?

Also, have you raised your concerns with your current manager? Likely, at such a large company, you should have a growth path defined, with milestones and goals. What is your goal? Where do you see yourself? Does your current company know what you want, and can they give it to you? Have you asked them?

My advice would be, dont quit your old job unless you know there is no potential for advancement. In other words, dont run away from your problems.

From what you said about your job, it sounds to me like you are also partly to blame. Your post doesnt strike me as showing ambition, or that your current job is not challenging enough.

 

[hans007]

well , part of the problem with the current job is we were also a startup originally 4 years ago. we got bought by said giant company.

i am 30, single , no kids or debt, rent month to month, so effectively i have no worries in the world. i've talked to my new manager about what i wanted to expand into (tech lead/architect type etc) at the new company and i am not sure there is actually hope for progression , he said basically well we are going to start some new projects lets see how you do on those etc which i'm not sure is just general lip service to keep us from leaving or legitimate truth. i did get promoted a few years back before we got bought out, but i suppose i'm a little wary of the new big company's intent with what is left or our startup too. the new project is quite challenging, but its still in c++/win32 mostly which doesn't help on the dead end issue.

now for the the place that gave me the offer given i'm relatively young (i might end up being their youngest developer if i end up working there) maybe it was more a i didnt feel like i'd fit in quite the same type of feeling. i am afraid of that as i had made a previous career move that went horribly wrong a couple jobs back because of well cultural fit issues. so maybe it was a i am not sure i'd feel like a cultural fit type of vibe.

 

[SandEagle]

if you have no worries in the world, then why worry? take the job that pays more. buy a convertible. travel.

 

[hans007]

if you have no worries in the world, then why worry? take the job that pays more. buy a convertible. travel.

well my current job pays more. the job offer pays less but i guess has more opportunities.

 

[Ancalagon44]

I dont think you should see C++/Win32 as necessarily dead end technologies. In fact, dont get too hung up on technologies in general, especially if you want to head into a tech lead/architect type role.

Its the role that is dead end, or not dead end, and perhaps you are in a dead end role now. However, I think you need to push harder for the things you want.

 

[Doppel]

Maybe you don't want to leave because it's comfortable, same reason you program with C++. If your current place cannot find you a way to progress technically, even taking a day/week, you HAVE to leave. You are always at the whim of your employer and you do not want to be in IT looking for work with technology that is old.

You should try and stick with current but only if you can push to let them give you opportunities to expand.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I just skimmed the summary, so if I missed something, I apologize. Stay at your current position and keep looking. Maybe that job you really want will come through. No need to take a position with less pay, less benefits, etc.

 

[rudder]

I dont think you should see C++/Win32 as necessarily dead end technologies. In fact, dont get too hung up on technologies in general, especially if you want to head into a tech lead/architect type role.

Its the role that is dead end, or not dead end, and perhaps you are in a dead end role now. However, I think you need to push harder for the things you want.

If the OP does good work, when it comes time to move beyond c++/Win32... he may be tapped as the lead developer to make the transition.

Make it known to the boss about newer technologies and show your interest in moving in those directions.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh, OOP is OOP...

 

[dmcowen674]

Take job offer

 

[Ns1]

pass and wait for something you love, if you have the luxury of waiting.

 

[TheNinja]

If you aren't in a huge hurry, just wait. It sounds like the job offer isn't exactly what you want and there isn't a huge incentive to move there other than the fact that you THINK C++ at your current job is a dead end. It's less money, less flexible, less vacation, etc. If you have a feeling you are going to be laid off soon, then jump, otherwise I wouldn't.

I was in a similar position (I already had a job but wasn't thrilled with it anymore) and ended up finding something WAY better that paid a little more and a job that I love so far! I passed on 2 jobs first though.

The thing that helped me was to talk to people and explain the pros and cons. What will happen is that as you start to talk to people, you will see that you tend to lean one way or the other. You have a good feel and will sort of project to others as you talk about it.


I also see that IndyColtsFan and I agree. He was quite helpful in advice when I getting offers too....if that helps

 

[RedRooster]

I wouldn't take that job. If its not something that you're totally excited about(like that other job you're waiting on), don't move just for the sake of moving. The grass isn't always greener.
Don't worry, something better will come along. Just keep your ears open and try some more places. This first offer that came to you doesn't sound ideal, not enough things lining up in your favour to make it worth it.

 

[hans007]

well i ended up not taking the job in the end trying to force myself to go against a gut feeling seemed like a bad idea. i was honestly relieved after i declined it.

so thanks for the people here with the more insightful posts, i love this forum.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

well i ended up not taking the job in the end trying to force myself to go against a gut feeling seemed like a bad idea. i was honestly relieved after i declined it.

so thanks for the people here with the more insightful posts, i love this forum.

I'm pretty sure you made the right decision. Also, C++ is not going anywhere anytime soon.

What I'd do is what a member above said and communicate to your boss about newer programming languages and how they're becoming more mainstream and to see if he can accommodate you later on to work on projects using them. For now, though, I wouldn't worry.

 

[hans007]

I'm pretty sure you made the right decision. Also, C++ is not going anywhere anytime soon.

What I'd do is what a member above said and communicate to your boss about newer programming languages and how they're becoming more mainstream and to see if he can accommodate you later on to work on projects using them. For now, though, I wouldn't worry.

well i have some choices on a current project i have right now and am steering it towards non c++ options given they are actually much easier to use. have gotten a lot of pushback on it... a team at work write a c++ based http server that uses C++ for cgi and are very proud of it. they want everyone to use it. it is painful. web services should not be c++.

i spent today coding in ruby. it was different.

 

[rasczak]

well i ended up not taking the job in the end trying to force myself to go against a gut feeling seemed like a bad idea. i was honestly relieved after i declined it.

so thanks for the people here with the more insightful posts, i love this forum.

Good for you. Good luck and I hope things work out for you at your current employer.

 

[hans007]

well as an update to this. one of the jobs i originally interviewed me turned me down.

then a week later they decided to just open another identical position. and well, i'm now going to get paid more money to learn a bunch of java and web technologies.

i also get to move from working in oakland ... to santa monica near the beach. so yeah im basically ecstatic.

 

[highland145]

Grats.

 

[Krynj]

:thumbsup:

Way to go, OP!

 

[beyonddc]

The best time to look for job is when you actually have a job.

It doesn't sound like you are in a hurry and from your description, it sounds like the job doesn't excite you that much.

My 2 cents would be stick with your current employer and jump on something that interest you more.

Good luck!

 

[TheNinja]

Congrats!!! - I'm glad you took my advice

 

[rasczak]

Grats OP. Good luck at the new place.

 

[Zargon]

congrats!