<p>I have been on my current job for one year. I work in a financial sales industry and receive salary plus commission. I like my job reasonably well and am happy with the overall picture - the company, location, co-workers, etc.</p>
<p>My boss is planning to give notice next week and go to work for a competitor. He wants me to come with him. I have very mixed feelings, hence the thread title.</p>
<p>I won’t know until he gives notice if my present employer will have another position for me, but I believe they will. Obviously if they don’t, the decision will be made for me.</p>
<p>My boss tells me I will make more commission at the new employer - but my commission is a percentage of his - so it all depends on him doing more business with the product mix at the new employer. Do I put all my eggs in his basket, so to speak? </p>
<p>I am 51 and hate change. If present employer offers me a comparable position, I am inclined to stay put. But by doing so, am I being short sighted and missing out on a growth opportunity? But if I go with my boss, I leave behind a years worth of establishing relationships and building a comfortable work environment for myself. One year is not very long, but this is my 3rd job in the past 4 years - as I was laid off when previous employer closed down last summer.</p>
<p>Right now, there is nothing I can do except wait for him to give notice and see what present employer offers me. Any thoughts on how to make this decision?</p>
<p>I wouldnt change a known quantity for unknown at this point.
I did that once and it didnt work out, and I was in my early 20’s, and I would be less likely to do it in my 50’s, but with 3 jobs in 4 years, perhaps you enjoy changing environments more than you think?</p>
<p>Which company is a stronger institution? If there is a down turn which company would do better? If you are doing well at your current company and you would be something similar at the new company, why would you want to make the move? I would stay at the company where you would have more stability. </p>
<p>emerald - I truly hate changing jobs - it takes me months just to match up names and faces! I left a dead-end job 3 years ago to go back to a former employer - had 2 great years - and then they shut down last summer.</p>
<p>oldfort - I would say they are comparable in terms of stability. The only reason to make the move would be the potential for greater income - other than that - no other reason that I can see. Commute would be slightly shorter - but not enough to warrant changing jobs.</p>
<p>Its a tough call from the info provided. If the new institution is better, and the boss is good to work for, I’d go. IF its a one-time, capture the up-front guarantee from an inferior firm that you might have to bail from in another year or two, I might stay put. It’s worth saying that sometimes people over-rate their ability to bring their customers with them on a switch to a new firm. Its worth thinking through. Good luck. </p>
<p>Is the current situation one where you generate continuing commission from persistent clients, or from a rotating group of new customers? All of that enters in. </p>
<p>A few years ago I moved companies with a boss. For me, always being considered part of a package with him was a problem in various ways. I had to work harder to stand out as a professional on my own and to come out of his shadow. There wEre always a couple of people who implied that the firm was stuck with me and wouldn’t have chosen me for the position except for my boss. Eventually it worked out and I love my job and have earned a reputation that I am proud of, but I was much younger then and in my late 40s I don’t know if I would want to climb that hill again. Also, my boss was older and retired about three years ago and that was a pretty difficult transition. Ultimately, though the most important thing in this economy is having a job. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I am inclined to stay put - I hope they have a position for me. My curent boss is pressuring me to commit to move with him, and I am very reluctant to do so, while trying to convey to him that I will consider it. I agree about the economy - based on that and my age - I value stability and continuity over the possibility of higher income. I wish I could find out right now if there will be a position for me, but I don’t see how to inquire without divulging his plans to leave. I hate dangling like this.</p>
<p>I moved at a drop of a hat. But my husband is always the one who likes to stay put. So together we compliment each other. I bring the extra income if I take the risk, if it doesn’t work out there is his income. Look at the whole situation of your family.</p>
<p>When H was offered promotions or the opportunity to apply for a transfer, I always asked him to consider why there was an opening and what the work environment at the new place would be like. He would think it through, using those lenses and invariably stay put, where he LOVED his co-workers and job. I told him we as a family would happily forgo any increase in pay for him to stay where he was appreciated and enjoyed his work and co-workers. </p>
<p>When he dug around, he often found that the vacancy was because the other workplace was somewhat to extremely toxic. No way would we want him to consider moving to such a position and be miserable.</p>
<p>I’d be honest with your boss, that you’re very honored and flattered he’s asking you to move with him, but feel in fairness to yourself and your family you have to see what your options are before you can decide whether to move with him. That’s a perfectly reasonable response, especially since he hasn’t even given notice to his current employer, whom you are hoping to stay with.</p>
<p>Actually, I think your current boss is a bit selfish and unreasonable expecting you to make a decision without understanding what your options are, especially in this uncertain economy and since you have had so many jobs in the last few years and are understandably reluctant to commit without sufficient information.</p>
<p>DrGoogle - I see your point, but does anyone really have job stability anymore? We absolutely need both incomes to pay bills and pay for college. I agree that if we could make it on spouse’s income alone, I would have more tolerance for risk. </p>
<p>i have read that making a decision based on fear is not a great way to go, but I had such a bad time last summer, being laid off and having to look for a job from scratch. First time in my life I ever collected unemployment. I feel lucky to have been hired by this firm last year and I just see no reason to leave, assuming they value me and want to find some comparable position for me. Is playing it safe such a bad thing?</p>
<p>There is NOTHING wrong with playing it safe, whatever safe is. If you like your current company and they offer you a comparable position, it seems like a good thing to stay there IF you think it is best for you and your family. It’s nice to have options, but I wouldn’t be pressured to choose without knowing what your choices are, especially if your income is needed for your family and college bills.</p>
<p>The problem, it may not be safe. Why did your boss leave? I think he might be on to something.
However, if it’s really safe, I have no problem with staying safe at 50+? </p>
<p>HImom - thank you. That really helped. I have no idea if the new workplace would be better or worse, but I am happy where I am at present. I do think current boss is being a bit of a selfish jerk. I have tried to be honest with him about my concerns, but he has criticized my reluctance to make a change and keeps assuring me as to how much more money we will both be making at the new company. He is a schmoozer - a sales guy - but he is dependent on someone like me to handle all of the details, the minutiae, the paperwork, etc. He can be very difficult, critical and demanding. He went through a number of assistants before they hired me. Frankly, I don’t always like him very much! I just wanted some feedback on my preference to stay put and play it safe.</p>
<p>As a corollary - does anyone see a way to get some advance indication of my job prospects with present company after he leaves? I have thought about approaching senior mgmt, since I have been there exactly a year, and trying to have a conversation about what other opportunities at the company might be open to me, but I am afraid they will see right through me and that would cause huge drama.</p>
<p>Rockvillemom have you had an annual review? If not, this would be a perfect time to ask for an assessment of your performance and future. If you are happy where you are and it is an option, I see no reason why you shouldn’t stay put, but if boss is going to a competitor, don’t be surprised if the company looks at you with suspicion,</p>
<p>Since the boss needs you at his new job, I would use that as a leverage if I were to go with him for higher salary. Hey, you got to milk all you can for all the risk you have to take. :D</p>
<p>harvestmoon - that is one of the many unknowns. At the new company, I would get a small salary bump, plus the same commission rate - but supposedly on higher sales volume. But everything is negotiable, and I might try for a bump in the commission rate as well.</p>
<p>At current company - I just have no idea - it would depend on what position I was offered - I would assume same income roughly. It’s a small company - maybe 50 employees total - there is no obvious open position for me - but they are growing and I would like to think they would want to find something for me. I also believe that they will be furious my boss is leaving and will want to keep me in part to spite him. Could be wrong, but that’s my gut feeling.</p>