grr.... some advice needed over job..

[zixxer]

To make a long story as short as possible: I work in IT (desktop, server, network support) for a medium sized company (~400 employees) I make WAY under what I should (still in college, and started as an intern and never really got a raise to go along with my 'official' employee status) However, my boss/job is awesome. No strict 9-5 requirements, etc etc.

I am really good friends with a guy who is above like 3 departments.. we go out drinking on the weekends, our girlfriends hang out, etc. This guy knows I am way underpaid for what I do. He recently 'let me know' that a new position is opening in one of his dept's.. and that I should apply. He hinted that it pays a lot more than I currently make. It would be making training videos for our software, and handling web conferencing stuff. Basically a lot of audio/video editing, which I have some (but not a ton) of background in.

Here's the dilemma: I'd be working underneath (probably directly underneath) someone I am very good friends with. We have a pretty large age gap (I'm 21, he's like 38 I think).. Does this fall under the "don't live with your best friend" type of deal?

Basically... what would you do?


cliff notes:
GOOD friend in company I work for offered me a position.. that is much higher paying. However, I would be working underneath them doing something I'm not extremely familiar with.

 

[AdamSnow]

Go with the position where you can further yourself the most...

As far as your friend - you both have to realize to leave work at work, and home at home... If he has to discipline you for something at work, you cant hold it against him during personal time... He has a job to do as well.

 

[meltdown75]

hmm. well, sounds like you have nothing to lose if you at least give it a try. at the very least, you would get interview experience.

as far as him being your friend and working under him, i see nothing wrong with that personally. you are using your contact and your networking skills to get ahead. if you weren't friends with this person before, then i doubly see nothing wrong with it. if you were chummy before, some people would view it as unfair, but i would say more power to you. he knows you, he knows you are capable of handling the job. i say go for it.

 

[Patt]

Some of my best friends have been supervisors. I golf with two of them every chance we get. The only reason I would say not to do it if you wouldn't be getting the type of experience you want. Good luck.

 

[Yossarian]

learn something new and make more money. can't miss.

 

[dirtboy]

Discuss your concerns with him before you apply. Tell him you appreciate that he's looking out for you, but his friendship is more important that pay -- that you are worried that him being your direct boss my cause problems later on.

This will open the door for discussion and by the end you'll know if you should apply or not.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Discuss your concerns with him before you apply. Tell him you appreciate that he's looking out for you, but his friendship is more important that pay -- that you are worried that him being your direct boss my cause problems later on.

This will open the door for discussion and by the end you'll know if you should apply or not.

hm. That would be an uncomfortable conversation..

 

[zixxer]

ok.. saw the actual job description... basically a lot of video editing/voice recordings using flash, premier, and final cut pro. I think I'm going to apply.

 

[spherrod]

I would apply - it looks a better position and as long as you seperate work/home then it should be fine

 

[kranky]

My suggestion would be to apply for the job, and if you get it, ease off the socializing.

I've had bosses who were friends and eventually some uncomfortable situation always comes up. Either the boss/friend tells you something about work that you wish you hadn't heard, or you tell the boss something as a friend that gets repeated because he didn't understand you wanted it kept confidential, or a conflict arises at work that makes your friendship uncomfortable, or you discover things about your friend when you start working for him that you don't like, or any number of other things.

I finally decided I liked it better when I didn't socialize with my boss, whoever it is.

Remember that even though everything might be on the up-and-up, your co-workers are going to think you are getting special treatment because of your friendship with the boss.
If you get it, make a point not to talk with your boss while you're at work about your out-of-work activities if there's any chance people can overhear.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Take the new job, but don't burn any bridges at your old job. Since you're still in college, you shouldn't have too many extra bills holding you in one place. It's harder to switch jobs as you get older....do it now and increase your pay as early on as you can so you'll be able to move up even more when you finish college.

 

[azazyel]

It's all who you know...go for it.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Discuss your concerns with him before you apply. Tell him you appreciate that he's looking out for you, but his friendship is more important that pay -- that you are worried that him being your direct boss my cause problems later on.

This will open the door for discussion and by the end you'll know if you should apply or not.

hm. That would be an uncomfortable conversation..

are you kidding me? you have a lot to learn. you dont think its going to be uncomfortable the first time he yells at you? if you cant handle an uncomfortable talk with a friend, then i wouldnt take this job. i wouldnt even bother applying if you dont have a talk with him, like what dirtboy said.

 

[mugs]

I would put my career before my friendship with someone twice my age... not sure how a friendship like that could last long to begin with.

But I'm not sure how making instructional videos would further your career... Have you thought about asking for a raise? I'm guessing they're paying you less than you think you deserve because you're still a student.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: mugs
I would put my career before my friendship with someone twice my age... not sure how a friendship like that could last long to begin with.

But I'm not sure how making instructional videos would further your career... Have you thought about asking for a raise? I'm guessing they're paying you less than you think you deserve because you're still a student.

:thumbsup:

 

[SagaLore]

In my observation, being friends with the boss in most cases is a good thing for you. If he trusts you, then you can get more done in your department that others might not have the opportunity to do. And because of that there might be some resentment in the department from other team members but just shrug it off.

If you think you're a good worker and don't slack off, I'd say do it. If you're a lousy employee, you might lose a friend. I'm a good worker, so I would do it.

 

[exilera]

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Discuss your concerns with him before you apply. Tell him you appreciate that he's looking out for you, but his friendship is more important that pay -- that you are worried that him being your direct boss my cause problems later on.

This will open the door for discussion and by the end you'll know if you should apply or not.

I completely agree :thumbsup:

 

[skyking]

The job is not about making instructional videos. it is about moving out of a certain class of employee<tech type> into more of the free-for-all of mid-management. If you can cut that corner and get started, go for it. You need to be a cutthroat mercenary type to really succeed at it, but that is the case with management. That wage is a doorway to other high wage jobs. From there, folks are more likely to offer you an even higher paying position.
Ask the questions as others have suggested.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Discuss your concerns with him before you apply. Tell him you appreciate that he's looking out for you, but his friendship is more important that pay -- that you are worried that him being your direct boss my cause problems later on.

This will open the door for discussion and by the end you'll know if you should apply or not.

hm. That would be an uncomfortable conversation..

are you kidding me? you have a lot to learn. you dont think its going to be uncomfortable the first time he yells at you? if you cant handle an uncomfortable talk with a friend, then i wouldnt take this job. i wouldnt even bother applying if you dont have a talk with him, like what dirtboy said.

This is excellent advice, armatron. Ignore it at your own risk.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: sixone

Originally posted by: Bigsm00th

Originally posted by: armatron

Originally posted by: dirtboy
Discuss your concerns with him before you apply. Tell him you appreciate that he's looking out for you, but his friendship is more important that pay -- that you are worried that him being your direct boss my cause problems later on.

This will open the door for discussion and by the end you'll know if you should apply or not.

hm. That would be an uncomfortable conversation..

are you kidding me? you have a lot to learn. you dont think its going to be uncomfortable the first time he yells at you? if you cant handle an uncomfortable talk with a friend, then i wouldnt take this job. i wouldnt even bother applying if you dont have a talk with him, like what dirtboy said.

This is excellent advice, armatron. Ignore it at your own risk.

I'm just saying.. it's more of something that really doesn't need to be said or discussed. I applied for it, so hopefully all works out well.



and to clarify, this is within the same company... I'm not switching companies, just positions