HELP! -Job / Interview Negotiations- Considering a Job with a Competitor!

[bj2110]

I was contacted out of the blue from one of my company's competitors. I told my superiors immediately & they understood that I wanted to pursue it. I've interviewed twice and have been offered a job making significantly more money.

First, background:
I've been in my current position for about 5 years now, and have had a very positive experience. My salary has increased by about 60% in that time, and although some of my responsibilities have changed, I am still at the same level in the company, one notch below management. They also have been very flexible with me, even keeping me employed to work from home for the last year as my wife and I made the decision to move out of state. However, I have become increasing disengaged and less convinced my current employer is heading in the right direction. This was my first job out of college.

The position with the new company is management. I would have 10 people working in my department and be a part of the company's leadership group (which only consists of 5 people).

My current employer has been floating a different, more lucrative sales position with them in front of me for about 6 months now, but I don't feel we are any closer to finalizing then we were back then.

The new company is behind my current employer by about 6 or 7 years, i.e. my current employer has grown, while the competitor is just beginning to grow. The competitor looks a lot like my current company did 6 or 7 years ago.

I am torn between three options:

1) Demanding from my current employer this new, more lucrative sales position that has been floated in front of me for 6 months.

2) Trusting that my current employer (who has been good to me in the past) will reward me properly and in a reasonable time give the new sales position.

3) Taking the job offer from the competitor.

HELP!

[northzax]

1. is the new job in sales as well?>

is that what you want? which job would be ideal for you, the sales one or the management one? if it's the latter, go to your current bosses and put the other offer on the table (+5% for your trouble) and ask them if they can match it, in writing. if not, and you are willing to gamble on an up and coming company, take the offer.

if they were planning to give you the sales job, they would have already.

[bj2110]

3. Basically, my current position is a sales engineer, but

I have no compensation based on sales, and I don't pursue new customers, only consult with the sales rep during negotations / project development.

The money is in sales in this industry. As a sales rep, I would be looking at a nice salary (comparable to what make now) + a performance bonus / commission based on amount & quality of sales. I could double my salary easily if given the opportunity. I would enjoy it and be good at it, but only if my current employer gives me that option.

The new position is as an engineering department manager/director. I have a feeling that this may be better for my career longterm, giving me management experience at a young age. Again, I would enjoy it and be good at it.

Hmmmph... Good problem to have, but damn, it's stressful...

[nini]

2. tell your current employer you need an answer now

about the sales job. If they balk.. move on.

Give them the opportunity to put up or shut up though

[bj2110]

4. Kick... Come on, need more help!

[ohiosmith]

5. Ask for an offer in writing from both your current employer and

the competitor. If the company you are with now balks, you will know how serious they are about improving you situation. If both provide written offers, you will be in a position to compare the features and benefits being proposed and negotiate the best possible package with each. You should not decide to accept an offer until you have maximized the potential of the opportunity through the negotiating process.

[crispini]

6. Just DON'T do your job negotiations using your CURRENT

employer's email.

Don't do it!!!!!

[bj2110]

8. LOL! Yeah, I know someone who's been burnt on that one before.

I'm using a yahoo address, accessing only from home...

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. just some ideas {use caution in your situation}

I'd be honest with your current employer and let them know that you've been contacted by another company {be really vague/ borderline misleading but not dishonest about the competitor's identity}. Tell your company that you're really conflicted, because you really appreciate your current company and are loyal. However, you have to take advantage of the opportunity to grow professionally and this new position includes {management authority, more money, etc etc}. Then simply ask if there's a way {and get it in writing if you can} that you can find that kind of opportunity at your current company.

There are a few responses to this strategy. Your boss can just say no. Then, your choice is pretty easy. Your boss can give you more, which is a bonus. Or, you can move to the new company. It depends on what you think of the offers.

Whatever you do, don't burn your bridges. You want to be able to have good relations with this company, when you work with them in the future.

[bj2110]

9. Thanks for the thoughts. This is kind of my strategy now. I've got a

phone call set up with the President of the Company tomorrow afternoon to discuss my career goals. They know I'm itching for something more, and have been, and I think this offer from the competitor might end up being the catalyst my current employer needed. After talking to my immediate boss and the President this afternoon briefly and sort of vaguely, I'm getting the feeling they're going to figure out a way to keep me there. We'll see.

I've been up front with the competitor's identity (they have a history of taking employees from other companies in the industry) and have been completely honest with who/when I was interviewed, etc...

I think the real problem is how creative they may have to get to keep me there. The similar position to the one I've been offered just isn't available at my current company. It's my old boss :)

Thanks for the advice against burning bridges, especially since this company is in my hometown!

[bj2110]

10. C'mon people, more advice!

[bj2110]

11. kick for my future