Saturday

Eatting my words...

So, I thought long and hard about this issue. And I decided to say no. It was extremely hard (like, really, really hard), but I thought about what Miguel was saying about working towards my career and being on the right path, etc. etc. (I'm going somewhere with this, you'll see.) and I decided it wasn't right. I would just have to bust my ass to maximize my current job and its opportunities until I was able to move on to a better position in my field or until my schooling was done.

So, I finally called him and this is how the conversation went:

Me: [to former boss] I really, really appreciate your offer but I have decided that, for where I'm at and where I need to go, it's not right for me. Thank you, etc. etc.

Former boss: What if I offered you 60?

Me: silence

Me: What?

Former boss: Yeah, would you take the job for $60,000? I really want you to work for me.

Me: silence

Me: *in a slightly hysterical voice* Are you for real? (At this point, all remnants of me maintaining my cool for the negotiations were lost.)

Former boss: blah blah blah
(Here he said something regarding why he really wants me to work for him and how I'll really fit the position and how the job has changed from when I worked there before and how I'll have more time for my personal life, but I didn't get the exact verbage because I was in *SHOCK*)

Me: OMG! I am too overwhelmed, let me get back to you.

What followed was me calling my gf and screaming "OMGsixtythousanddollars,OMGhewantstopaymesixtythousanddollarsOMG" and, well, you get the point.

So, y'all, I am not stupid. This would double not only my salary but also my benefits (at least monetarily). I am going to take it. I am going to look at this as a challenge. I will maintain my positive attitude and make the best of it. My former boss wants me there instead of the other way around (the former attitude). I am going to gain more managerial experience. Sure, the job will be tougher than before. Y'all can bet good money that I will be there bright eyed and bushy-tailed promptly at 6AM (ugh) and I will not complain. Hell naw!

Expect my next few posts to be about my revamped budget and 07 goals. OMG, this is more money than I expected for a long time!

13 comments:

btc said...

OMG! Congrats!! This is amazing!

Denise Mall said...

Awesome! So happy for you. Don't forget to save some of those dollars, that you know you can live without now. :-) Especially, before you find out that you can't.

Anonymous said...

Congrats,

While it might be inconsistant with your long-term goals, at least you went thru a logical decision process and asked all the right questions. And hey, making money and getting out of debt are some pretty good goals too. And it sounds like the job has changed. Plus, like you said they are begging you to come back, not the other way around, so you're in the drivers seat this time - which can make all the difference.

I'm very happy for you - it's always extremely exciting when somebody gets an opportunity that just knocks their socks off. I know the feeling well - when somebody keeps bidding until they finally make you a crazy offer you can't refuse. It feels great to be so highly valued - and yet conversely it makes you realize how often you've undervalued yourself in the past.

As someone above stated - just make sure you put some of that new found money away - don't allow it to trap you into letting your lifestyle increase to meet your income. When you have some savings and have debt paid off, then you will have options - options to pursue whatever you want.

FYI, As a veteran of many job changes, I caution you to get any critical terms of the offer IN WRITING - verbal promises aren't worth a thing (Imagine if your new boss were hit by a bus tomorrow trying to explain to the next boss that you were promised such and such... get the picture).

Now go and celebrate!

P.S. Beware the counter-offer from your existing employer, though it seems unlikely they could match the salary.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! And I agree completely with Miguel -- get it all in writing and ask for as much as you can considering they want you so bad. And I can't wait to see the revamped budget!

Clink said...

@ btc - Thanks! BTW, where's your blog? Been checking and it's gone.

@ D - Thanks! I am def revamping the budget for the new moolah coming in. Stay tuned.

@ Miguel - *nodding head at the value/undervalued comment* Yup, but when I out on the market again, after all my schooling, I will look to the stars and not to the coins on the pavement (I'm so funny.). Good idea regarding getting things in writing.

I'm going to celebrate when I get my first paycheck! OMG!

Clink said...

Oops, DH, you snuck in under the radar. Thanks!

We don't really do contracts down here in FL (right to work state), but I am concerned about my vacation time which will be different than the rest of the company. How should I ask for that? I know it sounds corny, but what do I say?

Anonymous said...

You asked: "...I am concerned about my vacation time which will be different than the rest of the company. How should I ask for that?"

I'm not sure what you mean. Even if FL is an "at will" state, that just means they can fire you whenever they want. What you need is a letter that says as long as you're employed, these are the terms. This is normal in virtually any professional job I have ever seen. I would never resign from the job I have, without 1st getting an offer letter.

They should put the key terms of the offer in an offer letter that states when you'll be starting, how much you'll be paid, and what benefits you'll be eleigible for. On the benefits they might not state details, but if you are getting a non-standard benefit (for example 2 weeks vacation when policy is only 1 week for your level) then you had better get that stated in the letter so it is clear.

Don't be timid about this issue: Once you've resigned from your old job and started the new one, they could completely screw you over. Imagine that in the first week you're hired, your boss quits or gets fired. Seem farfetched - well, it's happened to me before. And what if the new boss doesn't like the deal the old boss cut with you - I've seen that happen to people before too.

At the end of time, however much you might trust the person you're dealing with, they may not be around, and then you are at the mercy of whoever replaces them.

So, just tell them you need the terms in writing before you will consider resigning from your old job - if they balk, just tell em like I just told you - What if you get hit by a bus tomorrow... blah blah blah.

Clink said...

@ Miguel - That's a good way to put it. I swear, sometimes, I am so naive when it comes to things. I asked my boss over VM for a letter, but I'm going to call again and when I speak to him, I'll ask him for an offer letter. My current boss also encouraged that.

Thanks Miguel.

Anonymous said...

Whoa... Clink... Did you say your CURRENT boss aleady knows you're quitting? Did you give notice already? Holy Toledo!

Bad move. However much you trust your current boss, you never ever know how people will react when you tell them you're leaving. Seriously. Especially if it's for a lot of money - can you say envy, jealousy, & bitterness. People you thought were your best work pals can sometimes turn on you. That boss you thought you had the great relationship with might suddenly want to throw you out of the building. People can take these things very very personally. Not always, but often enough to warrant a great deal of caution.

You don't tell anybody at your current job until the next job is signed, sealed, and delivered. Period. Lesson learned thru nasty, ugly experiences.

You sound like a nice guy - perhaps a little too nice and trusting. But fortunately, seems like you have not yet encountered the same issues I have.

Clink said...

I work in the government and in my experience (and that of my family's), they don't care as much with what people do, esp in my office. It's pretty much understood that folks will move on.

But, you are right to caution me. I haven't had any nasty experiences, but it doesn't hurt to do what I can to avoid them in the future.

"You sound like a nice guy" - I'm actually a nice gal and def. too trusting/naive.

Anonymous said...

Oops - really sorry about that - I don't remember why I thought you were a guy.

Re, leaving, I've never worked for the govt, so sounds like a different kind of culture where my experience might not always apply. Still human nature being what it is, I've found that disclosure of good fortune often leads to no good outcome.

Did they ask you what the other guys were offering?

Anonymous said...

Thinking further about the dif's between the govt and corp cultures, in the corp world job changes are made much more difficult by the competitive nature of things. In most of my big moves, I was usually going to a competitor. But, even the one time I went from a big corp to one of it's biggest customers, it stirred up some nastiness. I've never had a completely smooth transition where somebody didn't get at least a little bent out of shape, even if it was simply in the form of snubbing me. I've had some crazy stuff happen - I've even been threatened for leaving - not physically, but career-wise.

So, I am curious to know how your co-workers are reacting - assuming they at least vaguely know the salary (and news travels fast, so they probably have an inkling).

Clink said...

Pt 1 - They did ask. My sup. was more than shocked when I told him. He told me that there was no way he could match it and he'd be doing me a disservice if I stayed for less than that anyway. Something about my value going WAY up and when I get back out there, I'll be in a whole new level - looking forward to that.

Pt 2 - When I left my job the first time, it wasn't all roses. I can only imagine if I would have gone to a competitor. But in my experience, there isn't that element of competitiveness in the govt.

I haven't announced it to the whole office yet (things are low key around here). But my officemate who does know about it was happy for me.

Oh, and no offense taken on the guy/gal thing. This *is* 'anonymous', after all.