job related question....

[Aharami]

Ok so i got a full time entry level job offer at company A. Company A is a great company. I either have a good potential of exceeding there cuz its such a well known firm or NOT cuz its such a huge firm (lots of competition for potential promotions, etc). But position I got in Company A is not such a well paying position and also is not in my field (something that doesnt really bother me at all).

Just heard today that i got accepted to 2nd round interview at company B. now company B is not such a well known or big firm but postion is an IT position (my field). Therefore if hired, i probably will get more money at company B (~10K more).

Now my question is: can I accept offer for company A (cuz im not yet sure i'll get hired at company B), start workin at company A, then leave company A if i get the better (paying) position at company B? or should I not send in my acceptance letter to company A just yet and wait a little more? can company A retract the offer if i wait too long? as of now, I'm supposed to start on 12/22 at company A.

What are your opinions?

 

[Zombie]

I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

But I would not take one job and leave it in a month. That's a professional suicide.

 

[TheAudit]

I would take the first job offer. A second interview does not guarantee a hire.

 

[StageLeft]

They can retract the offer, and I would wait as long as you think is reasonable (no more than 1-2 days thinking about it generally), then just accept with company A. I know somebody recently who started at company A and after a week on the job training got an offer from B - the company she really wanted - and left company A. They were pissed, but you have to look out for yourself.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Zombie
I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

i was under the impression that you can move up easily in smaller companies because there is not much competition?

But I would not take one job and leave it in a month. That's a professional suicide.

yea...im thinkin that too. so basically if i accept the offer for company A, i will have to stick to it?

oh btw, Company A is a fortune 500 financial broker firm...where as company B is a healthcare company (IT position regardless)

 

[Zombie]

Well I am in a situation where the next level above me the Head of Engineering Dept. He also happens to be part owner in the company. So you see its almost a deadend. I can move around horizontally but can't go vertical. That is how most small companies will be.

 

[TommyVercetti]

I would take the first offer, and start working. Second round of interviewing doesn't mean you got the job. I was sort of in the same position as you about 5 months ago. I got a job offer, but then got a call for an interview who contacted me based on a recommendation. Most people said that I was going to get the job because I was recommended. Well I didn't and I am glad that I accepted the other job.

I even posted this question on the Monster.com board and the Yahoo jobs board. Everyone over there presented the argument that next day if the company found a better employee, they won't even hesitate to lay you on the spot.

I know it's very hard to quit right after you started, you feel so bad. Everyone is being so nice to you and your boss is so supportive and what not.

 

[StageLeft]

I think a smaller company does offer better opportunities. BTW, there is no reason you'd ever have to, in the future, even say you worked at company A. Telling somebody that you accepted a job and left after a month or less is guaranteed to not get you a new job, but you don't have to disclose that information.

It depends on size though and also the future of the company, small or big, to really determine your upward mobility.

Tommy's advice is sound. You NEVER have a job until the actual offer of employment is signed in your hand. I can't count the number of people who thought a job was a shoe-in (me included) and never got the offer. That's why you do not want to screw up opportunity A. Take that job, but continue to pursue with B.

 

[rh71]

You have to consider the future of company B, the smaller company. Are they very likely to lay off if times get rough again (especially in IT) ? I personally wouldn't chance it if I already had a stable job at a larger company. Opportunities are there to move up too. In my experience, this is not true for smaller companies as they tend to have few positions. Even my fiancee is "stuck" with her title because if she went any higher, she'd be the same title as her manager.

I've jumped from a job after 3 months at a small company - even though I loved it there - because I got a better offer from a big company (and a 33% pay increase). They had no hard feelings... they understood the situation. Seeing that your company A isn't even related to your field, I don't think it's a big deal to quit after a brief stint... sometimes the company has to work for you, instead of the other way around.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Zombie
I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

i was under the impression that you can move up easily in smaller companies because there is not much competition?

ahhh, but a lot of times turnover is much less in a smaller company.

 

[FoBoT]

take the job at Comp. A now, if you get a better offer at Comp. B , then you can still go for it when/if that happens

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Zombie
I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

i was under the impression that you can move up easily in smaller companies because there is not much competition?

ahhh, but a lot of times turnover is much less in a smaller company.

Yeah, I think in a small company where everybody knows each other you can be pretty well assured you won't get laid off unless they REALLY want to. That was a bonus with me staying with my company during an august decision (offered a job at a great new one). I stuck with mine in part because I knew that htey wouldn't lay me off unless they had to. It kills morale and at the same time really keeps it good if you know your company won't can you. Now, if the company is doing badly they will have to regardless, but if you're in a small company that's doing well you have awesome job security.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
They can retract the offer, and I would wait as long as you think is reasonable (no more than 1-2 days thinking about it generally), then just accept with company A. I know somebody recently who started at company A and after a week on the job training got an offer from B - the company she really wanted - and left company A. They were pissed, but you have to look out for yourself.

Yeah that's probably not the greatest idea though... don't want to be burning bridges and all that. If Company A is a large company, they've already put a lot of money into hiring you. Don't take a (professional) job unless you plan on staying for a few years or more.

Aharami, it's tough to say what you should do, how soon is your second interview?

I even posted this question on the Monster.com board and the Yahoo jobs board. Everyone over there presented the argument that next day if the company found a better employee, they won't even hesitate to lay you on the spot.

I don't believe that for a second - after all of the money they spent hiring you, training you, and bringing you up to speed (in technical fields that could be between 6 months and 2 years), why fire you and do it all over again?

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Zombie
I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

i was under the impression that you can move up easily in smaller companies because there is not much competition?

ahhh, but a lot of times turnover is much less in a smaller company.

Yeah, I think in a small company where everybody knows each other you can be pretty well assured you won't get laid off unless they REALLY want to. That was a bonus with me staying with my company during an august decision (offered a job at a great new one). I stuck with mine in part because I knew that htey wouldn't lay me off unless they had to. It kills morale and at the same time really keeps it good if you know your company won't can you. Now, if the company is doing badly they will have to regardless, but if you're in a small company that's doing well you have awesome job security.

Doesn't it get frustrating and boring ?? I know sometimes I wish I was in a big company so I can easily jump around between different departments and projects .

 

[StageLeft]

zombie, boredom is not as bad as having no job Actually since I'm a consultant I work at various different companies, so it's kinda cool.

Yeah that's probably not the greatest idea though... don't want to be burning bridges and all that. If Company A is a large company, they've already put a lot of money into hiring you. Don't take a (professional) job unless you plan on staying for a few years or more.

Exactly right. I thought long and hard about this bridge burning and did my best, after actually verbally accepting a job with the new company and then rescinding, not to have them hate me. I think I did, but you never know. I really didn't want to get blacklisted by them and will in fact email the HR lady and the VP who offered me the job this month happy holidays.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: rh71
You have to consider the future of company B, the smaller company. Are they very likely to lay off if times get rough again (especially in IT) ? I personally wouldn't chance it if I already had a stable job at a larger company. Opportunities are there to move up too. In my experience, this is not true for smaller companies as they tend to have few positions. Even my fiancee is "stuck" with her title because if she went any higher, she'd be the same title as her manager.

I've jumped from a job after 3 months at a small company - even though I loved it there - because I got a better offer from a big company (and a 33% pay increase). They had no hard feelings... they understood the situation. Seeing that your company A isn't even related to your field, I don't think it's a big deal to quit after a brief stint... sometimes the company has to work for you, instead of the other way around.

future of company B is pretty healthy considering its a leading healthcare company. but the thing is if i do get the job as a techie, i'll be limited to just that dept since heathcare/medicine doesnt really interest me. so i'll be stuck in the IT dept.

whereas in company A, i would love to move around since finance/money management/stocks interest me. but i'll be doing like an operational (mostly data entry) job at this position i got offered. I know, i sound like i really want to work for company A and I do. but the only reason i posted this is because of the dilemma of immediate gratification as opposed to long term security. Company A - not so much immediate gratification...but almost sure i'll make good money there eventually. Company B - good immediate gratification but dunno anything about its long term gratification.

and thank you all who took the time to post their opinions/suggestions

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Skoorb
They can retract the offer, and I would wait as long as you think is reasonable (no more than 1-2 days thinking about it generally), then just accept with company A. I know somebody recently who started at company A and after a week on the job training got an offer from B - the company she really wanted - and left company A. They were pissed, but you have to look out for yourself.

Yeah that's probably not the greatest idea though... don't want to be burning bridges and all that. If Company A is a large company, they've already put a lot of money into hiring you. Don't take a (professional) job unless you plan on staying for a few years or more.

Aharami, it's tough to say what you should do, how soon is your second interview?

2nd interview is in a week

 

[Zombie]

I think my frustration might be limited if were to get a good 5/7 grand raise :>. Ideally I will like to be making around 65k. After my 7.5 raise last year I am at 53.5 K/year.

 

[Aharami]

oh btw....although i really want to work for company A, i want to/need to move out on my own and company B might be a better choice for that.

<---- confused!!!

 

[Zombie]

See which company offers better benifits . That should help you make a better decision. If company A pays less but makes up for it in education reembursements + other benefits I would stick with company A. Besides right now Company A is the only one who is offering you a Job. Take that job and then wait to see what Company B has to offer. I bet you Company B is limited on benifits + retirement package.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Zombie
I think my frustration might be limited if were to get a good 5/7 grand raise :>. Ideally I will like to be making around 65k. After my 7.5 raise last year I am at 53.5 K/year.

how long have you been working at that job? and is it a techie job?

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: Zombie
I think my frustration might be limited if were to get a good 5/7 grand raise :>. Ideally I will like to be making around 65k. After my 7.5 raise last year I am at 53.5 K/year.

how long have you been working at that job? and is it a techie job?

It will be 2 years fulltime this Jan. Its a software Eng. job. I like the fact that I have flex time and can carry over as much as 3 weeks of vacation each year. But I still crave some more .

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: Zombie
I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

But I would not take one job and leave it in a month. That's a professional suicide.

how is that suicide?
just don't put it down on ur resume

 

[Zombie]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: Zombie
I would pick a company that has the most potential to move up in future(regardless of starting pay). From personal experience I can tell you that small companies are awesome to work(great flexibility and no pressure) for but offer less chances to move up in the food chain.

But I would not take one job and leave it in a month. That's a professional suicide.

how is that suicide?
just don't put it down on ur resume

You are burning a bridge aren't you ? This has the potential to come back to haunt in future.

 

[kt]

And usually, in a smaller company you don't have to put up with a lot of office politic bs'es. In a big company, you can try to avoid it but sooner or later you'll be involved one way or another.