Comments on: job jumper tip #3: it’s not all about the money

By: Steve (Brip Blap)

Steve (Brip Blap) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 03:29:34 +0000

Great comments – curmudgeon (great handle, by the way) – you make a great point that I missed, which is that you should consider your employers’ stability, too. Honestly I have always worked for big, stable companies but it is definitely something people should watch out for, so thanks for pointing it out.

Pamela’s right, too, though – try to make an internal move if that option is available. It can’t hurt to try to move internally before you jump!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:40:34 +0000

I don’t know – now that I’m back on the East Coast I’m not sure it’s any better! Maybe just that I changed industries – retail moves at the speed of light!

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By: Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:30:45 +0000

Pamela – CA? I fully understand and sympathize! Good going for lasting six years.

By: fathersez

fathersez — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:59:51 +0000

I really like your point (5).

We have to look long term not just in our investments, but also in our career.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:28:04 +0000

Hey Curmudgeon:

That is why I stated above standard in your work. If you don’t keep learning & moving you probably won’t make it to the year to get your merit and/or bonus anyhow! And, yes, having worked in CA for 6 years I agree that tech companies are a differing breed than other, less progressive, companies.

By: Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:29:57 +0000

Nice thought, Pamela. But tech companies hire you for what you can do for them today. If after six months you’re only doing what they hired you for, you will be gone.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:22:03 +0000

Patrick:

If the new company is doing well, you might consider asking to be evaluated on a 6 month basis instead of waiting a year. You say it is a lateral move so you must have experience in the role you are considering. If people ask we will give them a 6 mo evaluation with the idea of giving them a bump up in salary if they are doing above standard in their work. Just a thought!

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:59:44 +0000

Curmudgeon’s point is spot on. I am interviewing for a position right now that is basically a lateral move professionally (at least for the current position), but there is a lot of room for growth and the company is doing very well. My current company however, is dying. At least, that is how most of us who work there perceive the situation. Great article.

By: Curmudgeon

Curmudgeon — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:36:20 +0000

You don’t seem to consider the health and business strategy of your current employer. I once left a job for a similar title and responsibilities (and yes, a little more money – about $5K, in fact) because it was clear to me that my company was in decline. It took a little over two years, but my office was eventually closed and over 100 people laid off (out of a peak of 200+ when I left). This is a common scenario in high tech, where rapid growth and rapid decline happen all the time.

By: ben

ben — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:48:54 +0000

Another issue to consider is 401k eligibility. Some companies make you wait a year before you can contribute to one. If you jump every 2 years you will only be contributing half the time to a retirement account which could make a big difference to your savings.

By: Asithi

Asithi — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:43:38 +0000

When I picked my first post-college job, I went for the job that offered mentorship and training. I made a pitiful salary when compared to my peers, but I did not have a large overhead out of college. Because of all the training I got from my first job, I am a very marketable employee in my field so I did not have a problem getting a higher salary ($12,000) when I jumped 8 months ago.

One thing that people tend to forget about is the other “extra perks” that mentioned in this post. My co-worker and I both left for the same company. He was making $8000 more than me from our last company. But now he is only making $4000 more than me. I think it is because he forgot to factor in the “extra” stuff. By the end of this year, I have the potential to make $5000 more than him even though we are both in the same position (the training you get from that first 1 or 2 job is that important!).

After I got the job offer, I made a spreadsheet of the perks and put a $ amount to it. For example, if you get 6 hours of vacation per pay period from your last job, but only 3 hours from your new job, then that is $. 3 hrs x $10/hr x 26 pay period / year = $780. Free gym membership = $45/month x 12 months/yr = $540. You run through this with all your perks, then add it to the minimum pay increase to arrive at your “final ship jumping salary.” When you are negotiating your new salary that is what you present to your potential new boss to justify your demand when you ask for more than what they are offering.