5 ms·

Ask HN: Got an offer to leave my current employer, need advice

9 points by kaspi 12y ago

Hello. I have a really big dilemma. My situation at the moment is that I am employed in a software house like other ~400 developers, I'm here for a little over 2 years. About 6 months ago my company aquired contract with a company X to maintain and extend their current system (quite a niche one). 6 months passed after I was assigned to this project, my role went from simple maintenance to management of team of 4, analytics and so on. Around now I have got an offer to leave my current employer and work for company X to build a new team there from scratch. This is kind of offer which you cannot reject (2x raise, basically anything I need or want, trainings etc. - things I cannot get at current employer). I think I already made a decision but me leaving means the contract is cancelled, 4 guys will need to find different projects and I think my current employer will be really mad for leaving company and taking with me their income. This is a first time I need to make such decision, HN please tell me what did you do / what would you do in this situation?

omegant 12y ago
Business is business, your current company is 400 strong, they´ll be mad for loosing a client, but it´s not like they´ll have to let people go for just one account with 5 people. I think it´s more important to make a decision is how the other company is treating their employees, working conditions?. Do people working there recommend it to their friends?. It´s a great opportunity, and worth taking it, unless there are big No-Nos at the new company, I´ll take it hands down.
thirdtruck 12y ago
You'll want to consult a lawyer about the contract (perhaps the other company can offer a buy-out or the like). That said, I made a similar decision just over a year ago and, even though I lost the new job I took, I would do it again. Research shows that your long-term and short-term satisfaction with life depends on a willingness to take risks and care for yourself. And, if your employer is someone likely to get angry at you for taking your career into your own hands, then what are the chances that they'll ever promote you again?
uptown 12y ago
Strangers on the internet cannot make the decision for you, but like you said - it sounds like you've already made your decision. Your current employer will adjust, and fill your role - just as they filled it with you when there was a void. Good luck with your new job! Sounds like you've earned it through all you've learned and accomplished in your current position.
kelukelugames 12y ago
Leave. 1. Guilt and inertia are tools that companies exploit to compress the wage of loyal employees. 2. Starting a new job is a great skill to learn and develop. 3. When I left my last job, the managers were the nicest to me they had ever been. If other employees see you mistreated then it will tank moral.
- thirdtruck 12y ago
  2. Starting a new job is a great skill to learn and develop. This. I can confirm that it's a skill, based on my recent job-hunting experience. Even relatively few hours of training and practice will set you apart from the vast majority of applicants. Edit: And I can recommend Ramit Sethi's material, in particular. The guy does his experimental research.
fsk 12y ago
Go. Do what's best for you. As you said, your current job is underpaying you by 50%. You only owe them two weeks' notice. Does the contract with the client specifically mention you? How do you know they can't hire/promote someone else to take your place? You're leaving but the rest of the team is staying.
- kaspi 12y ago
  Company policy states that if customer will buy-out one of us they will revore the contract and company x want to start own dev team to get rid of dependency on 3rd parties. I know that they will find other projects, what I'm worried about is how to leave in peace as managers will be mad as hell and HR wchich i love will also feel consequences of not being able to keep me. Other aspect is that probably I will take with me 2 other guys from company. Long story short - I want to leave without causing damage to myself and my friends
  - fsk 12y ago
    You're switching to working for the client on your current project? If that's a "buy-out", your employer is presumably getting big $$ when you leave. They won't care if it's written into their contract with the client. Regarding taking coworkers with you, many workplaces have non-solicitation clauses in their employment contact. However, your new employer can buy them out also. Ask your new employer.
    - kaspi 12y ago
      There is no "buy-out" option that's why people probably will be mad.
JSeymourATL 12y ago
Caring about your direct reports and peer relationships is a core management competency. Do right by your current company and team. Tender at least 4 weeks notice (knowing this gives them additional runway if necessary). Attitude is key-- state that you'll be happy insure to a smooth transition, distribute projects, restructure the team/workload, and put together a knowledge transfer doc. Leave like a pro. Your new employer will likely take note.
- exelib 12y ago
  Good point! Never burn a bridge.
  - kaspi 12y ago
    This. I want to keep in touch with people which I WILL make mad
exelib 12y ago
Go. If your employer don't care about your training and other good things, don't spent your time too. I think it can be better for other guys, if you tell your current boss why you leave the company.
pbnjay 12y ago
You should definitely go. But I want to add another point not being mentioned: Make sure you have the offer officially in writing before telling your employer. I know of a number of people who were burned when something fell through on the other end and they were left in the lurch. Also, business is business... Any software consultancy SHOULD understand the inherent risks of a client poaching and/or bringing work in-house. If your current employer will "be really mad" for you advancing your career you should get out ASAP as they don't care about their devs.
tzz 12y ago
You can ask your current employer to make counteroffer. Also, indicate that you are willing train the next guy before you leave. You want to leave in good-terms. You should also know that when an employer want to terminate you, they don't think about your current situation before they lay you off. You still get laid-off when you are in middle of having a baby and need insurance. So employer's current situation shouldn't affect your decision.
VikingCoder 12y ago
http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees... 1) Make sure you can legally switch. 2) Switch.
krammer 12y ago
Get that offer in writing and ask a lawyer first. Probably if there were something illegal its company X who's doing wrong but you don't want to be in the middle of that. Said that, there is a sentence by Julio Cortazar (as I remember) that applies in this kind of problems and I found really useful: "When someone says that he will go, he's already gone". Go.
MalcolmDiggs 12y ago
Go. BUT, Give your current employer the opportunity to counter-offer. Don't tell them who made you the offer, but tell them it's solid and you're prepared to leave. Your current employer might surprise you.

9 points by kaspi 12y ago

omegant 12y ago

Business is business, your current company is 400 strong, they´ll be mad for loosing a client, but it´s not like they´ll have to let people go for just one account with 5 people. I think it´s more important to make a decision is how the other company is treating their employees, working conditions?. Do people working there recommend it to their friends?. It´s a great opportunity, and worth taking it, unless there are big No-Nos at the new company, I´ll take it hands down.

thirdtruck 12y ago

You'll want to consult a lawyer about the contract (perhaps the other company can offer a buy-out or the like). That said, I made a similar decision just over a year ago and, even though I lost the new job I took, I would do it again. Research shows that your long-term and short-term satisfaction with life depends on a willingness to take risks and care for yourself. And, if your employer is someone likely to get angry at you for taking your career into your own hands, then what are the chances that they'll ever promote you again?

uptown 12y ago

Strangers on the internet cannot make the decision for you, but like you said - it sounds like you've already made your decision. Your current employer will adjust, and fill your role - just as they filled it with you when there was a void. Good luck with your new job! Sounds like you've earned it through all you've learned and accomplished in your current position.

kelukelugames 12y ago

Leave. 1. Guilt and inertia are tools that companies exploit to compress the wage of loyal employees. 2. Starting a new job is a great skill to learn and develop. 3. When I left my last job, the managers were the nicest to me they had ever been. If other employees see you mistreated then it will tank moral.

thirdtruck 12y ago
2. Starting a new job is a great skill to learn and develop. This. I can confirm that it's a skill, based on my recent job-hunting experience. Even relatively few hours of training and practice will set you apart from the vast majority of applicants. Edit: And I can recommend Ramit Sethi's material, in particular. The guy does his experimental research.

fsk 12y ago

Go. Do what's best for you. As you said, your current job is underpaying you by 50%. You only owe them two weeks' notice. Does the contract with the client specifically mention you? How do you know they can't hire/promote someone else to take your place? You're leaving but the rest of the team is staying.

kaspi 12y ago
Company policy states that if customer will buy-out one of us they will revore the contract and company x want to start own dev team to get rid of dependency on 3rd parties. I know that they will find other projects, what I'm worried about is how to leave in peace as managers will be mad as hell and HR wchich i love will also feel consequences of not being able to keep me. Other aspect is that probably I will take with me 2 other guys from company. Long story short - I want to leave without causing damage to myself and my friends
- fsk 12y ago
  You're switching to working for the client on your current project? If that's a "buy-out", your employer is presumably getting big $$ when you leave. They won't care if it's written into their contract with the client. Regarding taking coworkers with you, many workplaces have non-solicitation clauses in their employment contact. However, your new employer can buy them out also. Ask your new employer.
  - kaspi 12y ago
    There is no "buy-out" option that's why people probably will be mad.

JSeymourATL 12y ago

Caring about your direct reports and peer relationships is a core management competency. Do right by your current company and team. Tender at least 4 weeks notice (knowing this gives them additional runway if necessary). Attitude is key-- state that you'll be happy insure to a smooth transition, distribute projects, restructure the team/workload, and put together a knowledge transfer doc. Leave like a pro. Your new employer will likely take note.

exelib 12y ago
Good point! Never burn a bridge.
- kaspi 12y ago
  This. I want to keep in touch with people which I WILL make mad

exelib 12y ago

Go. If your employer don't care about your training and other good things, don't spent your time too. I think it can be better for other guys, if you tell your current boss why you leave the company.

pbnjay 12y ago

You should definitely go. But I want to add another point not being mentioned: Make sure you have the offer officially in writing before telling your employer. I know of a number of people who were burned when something fell through on the other end and they were left in the lurch. Also, business is business... Any software consultancy SHOULD understand the inherent risks of a client poaching and/or bringing work in-house. If your current employer will "be really mad" for you advancing your career you should get out ASAP as they don't care about their devs.

tzz 12y ago

You can ask your current employer to make counteroffer. Also, indicate that you are willing train the next guy before you leave. You want to leave in good-terms. You should also know that when an employer want to terminate you, they don't think about your current situation before they lay you off. You still get laid-off when you are in middle of having a baby and need insurance. So employer's current situation shouldn't affect your decision.

VikingCoder 12y ago

http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees... 1) Make sure you can legally switch. 2) Switch.

krammer 12y ago

Get that offer in writing and ask a lawyer first. Probably if there were something illegal its company X who's doing wrong but you don't want to be in the middle of that. Said that, there is a sentence by Julio Cortazar (as I remember) that applies in this kind of problems and I found really useful: "When someone says that he will go, he's already gone". Go.

MalcolmDiggs 12y ago

Go. BUT, Give your current employer the opportunity to counter-offer. Don't tell them who made you the offer, but tell them it's solid and you're prepared to leave. Your current employer might surprise you.