Advice needed: offered job I don’t want

[Anonymous]

I work for a large company that is going through pretty significant layoffs. As a fairly senior employee with a strong performance track record they don’t want to lose me and having been trying to find a new role for me because my current team and function are being dissolved.

I spoke with HR today and they officially offered me a new role, but I am very disappointed in the position and team because it’s not something I am interested in or want to do.

On the plus side, it’s more senior and highly visible with management/the organization and it would certainly challenge me to grow. I would also get a decent salary bump.

On the negative side, it’s a niche role I have done at a more junior level and worked hard to move away from, the new team I would join is known for its intensity, competitiveness and long, grueling hours which I finally escaped in my current role which has a great work/life balance, and it’s going to be A LOT more work and travel overall.

The bottom line is, I don’t have another opportunity with the company so it’s either accept the role or take a pretty crappy package. My gut says accept it and see how it goes and I can always leave if it’s truly awful. But I am also pissed that after 15+ years this is what it comes down to. I appreciate they are trying to keep me and understand there isn’t anything else that makes sense, but the truth is that I am just tired of working 50+ hours per week and don’t know if I have it in me at the expense of my family any more.

Any advice on how to navigate this? Anyone been in a position like this and have any guidance?

[Anonymous]

I’d take the package. Can you still file for unemployment though when the package runs out?

You haven’t even starting looking. I’m sure when you dedicate yourself to that task, something will come through.

[Anonymous]

Just take it and job search immediately. It'll be easier to find something new than if you're unemployed. Or maybe you won't hate it.

[Anonymous]

Can you take the position and since you'll be the head honcho change the culture for the better?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just take it and job search immediately. It'll be easier to find something new than if you're unemployed. Or maybe you won't hate it.

+1

I've seen this kind of retrenchment before. Odds are you can switch to another internal role in another couple of years.

[Anonymous]

How crappy is the package? Honestly, I would welcome a package so I could take a career break!

[Anonymous]

I would take it. It's easier to find a job when you have one.

Plus, they will probably re-do everything in a few months, and you might be able to move into a better job then. I've been at workplaces that spent a lot of time changing things...

[Anonymous]

You need to asses finances first.

If your family needs the income stability at all, I would accept the job, and ramp up your search immediately. Update your LinkedIn (turn the notify everyone settings off first!), and then get your resume ready. Start reaching out to your network.

If on the other hand, your family can go upwards of a year (that’s realistically how long it could take), take the package, breathe a little and pour yourself into a job search.

[Anonymous]

How hard have you tried to say, please give me another job? How about XYZ etc? I'd try to exhaust those possibilities.

If that doesn't work take the sucky job and start looking for another one.

[Anonymous]

Do you have an alternative proposal for then? Rather than taking the crappy option, or quitting, talk to a mentor (higher up not HR, and brain storm options). Then, with mentors support say to HR, "that's an interesting idea, but the company needs a _____________ to take care of _________, and with my experience in ________ that's what I see as the perfect new role for me and _____ (mentor) agrees."

If that's not an option, delay a decision as long as you can, then accept, but definitely start looking for another job

[Anonymous]

Hi, answering a few questions below.

- the bad culture comes from the person who would be my new boss (who is one level below the CEO) so would be hard to change that overall. While I do like and know him, I have never worked for him and have heard from others on the team that the job is his life (he is married but never had kids). He is known for working people to the bone, demanding perfection, etc. so a bit weary going into that since I have a good work life balance now.

- they didn’t discuss my specific package with me since they want me to take the role, but I have heard from others that it’s between 6 weeks to 3 months max. I know some colleagues who have left the company over the past couple years and it has taken them a solid 9-12 months to land their next role. Could be faster but senior level roles in what I want to do are not the most plentiful at companies and maybe try to promote from within if they can. I also have a 12 month non-compete but unclear what happens with that if I take a package (and I know there is recent litigation around non-competes as well).

- they are not open to entertaining other ideas for roles right now. Maybe down the line but given that they are doing so much downsizing and streamlining they don’t want to discuss anything else until the dust settles. My only other option to stay at the company would be to take a demotion if there is an open role at a lower level I am interested in, but don’t think that makes any sense.

- while financially we could swing it for a year, it would not be ideal and we would need to really scale back and make some sacrifices. My kids are both in lower elementary so they are gone all day and I know I would be beyond bored.

I have to accept by Weds or they are moving on to someone else who is second in line for the role.

[Anonymous]

Package not enough.
Take job. You will have salary, benefits, health insurance.
Look for new job. You have great reason when they ask...employer values you but you are looking for growth opportunities etc.

[Anonymous]

Unlikely that the non-compete clause has any effect on you as the company has eliminated your position and department.

Are you in DEI ?

[Anonymous]

I went to an MBA job market presentation in the spring. They indicated that, on a national basis, the 6 months before an election are usually very slow for corporate hiring.

I think the severance package is not good enough. Last year my F500 company was giving 12 month severances to white collar workers.

Continue on and look for a new job simultaneously. If you stay, and put in a year, you can ask about creating a new role or switching elsewhere since you are liked by management. Having social pull/credibility gives you power it takes time to earn at a new employer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just take it and job search immediately. It'll be easier to find something new than if you're unemployed. Or maybe you won't hate it.

This is right.