Should I Stay or Should I Go?

i like free on 10/12/2020 - 00:37

Last week I resigned from my job of 4.5 years. I'd been thinking about it doing this for the past 1.5 years and even interviewed at multiple companies both competitors and roles completely different to what im currently doing, prior to making a decision to leave. I've signed a contract with my previous managers who have started their own company and got a base payrise of 25% more than my current company however my income will drop a little over 50% which is including this payrise as most of my income comes from commission.

My reasons for wanting to leave:
There has been a massively high turnover the past 2 years and a lot of my colleagues who I respected no longer work for my current firm. There has been a lack of inspirational people which has made me demotivated.
My desk is very much fast paced and high volume and I've definitely experienced a bit of burnout. High stress is involved as I deal with people who at times can be hard to control.
I feel I have reached my potential with my current desk and to keep building/increasing it has become real daunting which brings on a little anxiety.
I don't feel a fire in me at the company anymore. The current environment is not what it use to be.
I want to see if I can succeed elsewhere without the brand behind me (my company is one of the bigger players in the market so we more often get referrals, registrations etc).

At my new firm I'll be directly reporting to my old manager who is very well networked within the industry. I will be running a desk which I hope to grow. The commission structure is more attractive as well so there is potential to earn even more however the thought of having to slave away for at least a year is scary. As the firm is not corporate I'll likely have more control over what I want to do and how I want to run my desk.

It has been a really hard decision to leave as i have had such a great time at this company but i felt really ready for this next move. Upon handing in my resignation its become even harder as my firm is trying to convince me to stay. My director has offered me to work in another specialty which means another team to grow a different desk and pretty sure they would be willing to increase my base along with it. My resignation has already been formally announced as word travels quickly. I do feel very loved and respected at this organisation which again makes it harder. Finally the CEO is meeting with me on Friday to have a chat I assume to persuade me to stay and ask about my reasons for leaving.

Part of me is really sad to leave but also im really excited about this opportunity at this smaller firm who is run by my previous managers whom I really respect. Also I've signed a contract with them a few months ago and I'd hate to renate on my word.
If you were in my shoes what would you do? Also if you've been in this kind of situation could you please share your experience? They say people who want to leave end up leaving anyway a few months down the track.

Poll Options

  • 2
    Stay
  • 69
    Go
Education & Work

Comments

  • Gunther on 10/12/2020 - 00:54

    Gotta talk real dollars for the average person to be able to relate…

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 10/12/2020 - 01:33

    Go, don't look back.

  • Jozz on 10/12/2020 - 02:28
    +2

    If the CEO is personally trying to persuade you to stay, and are willing to address your issue by moving you to another specialty. Personally I’ll try the new position first and decide from there, but at the end of the day, you decide which direction would make you more happy and comfortable with.

  • garetz on 10/12/2020 - 05:44
    +3

    This is everything you should of thought about before signing a contract, you signed a contract, so stick with it or your word means nothing.

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 07:12
      +1

      This is what I'm thinking. I've been unhappy for quite sometime and I'd hate to disrepecr my old managers after agreeing to join them

  • apsilon on 10/12/2020 - 05:52
    +2

    They say people who want to leave end up leaving anyway a few months down the track.

    That's been my experience. Lots of promises of change and addressing your concerns but no action.

  • mskeggs on 10/12/2020 - 06:51
    +3

    Tell the CEO you have ambitions to grow your skill base and develop ideas and concepts you can’t do in your current role to become a more broadly experienced worker who can eventually be a senior manager.
    Tell them you have had a great time, and you don’t have any ill will, and would happily work for them again down the road, but the development and growth you are seeking would be very hard to do internally.
    If you handle it well, you will leave everyone happy with a possible door open if the new job doesn’t work out.

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 07:16

      Thank you for the advice. Yes I've left in a professional way. My current company are advising it is the wrong move, that they are concerned with my career and that I may regret leaving etc. Also that people who have left have wanted to come back which they have taken their offer. At the end of the day I do know that have a commercial reason behind convincing me to stay…

      • Pecan on 10/12/2020 - 09:12
        +4

        they are concerned with my career and that I may regret leaving

        I highly doubt this. They are crapping themselves over how you leaving impacts them.

        • SF3 on 10/12/2020 - 09:52

          agree - OP's current company only realise OP is important to them (only realise when someone leavings - not suprised here), because it'll be a PITA to hire someone new, etc… that or if OP stays they are likely to bring people in to start succession planning and therefore OP's services may not longer be required or valued. It's business after all - especially it doesn't sounds like there is rapport within the current company.

  • try2bhelpful on 10/12/2020 - 06:55

    My suggestion is you meet with the CEO and make sure you leave the company on good terms so you don’t close the door on going back if the new position doesn’t work out.

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 16:55

      Thank you! Yes, the company has been good for me despite a few gripes. Not sure if I'd ever leave and then go back to an organisation though however I seems like the door is always open so who knows!

  • whooah1979 on 10/12/2020 - 07:04

    Having to pay for a Melbourne cup meal doesn't sound like a nice place to work.

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 07:19

      That was my previous firm! This one has been very very generous. I get paid really, really well but only because of hard work. We have quarterly incentives with the team and then company as a whole, we have flexible work arrangements now and I can basically do as I please because I've been a good performer. Of course I've had my gripes but reflecting on everything that company is a really good business to work for.

  • OzCheapo on 10/12/2020 - 08:08

    Didn't you already resign though?

  • lunchbox99 on 10/12/2020 - 08:24
    +4

    If you go there will be trouble
    And if you stay it will be double

  • purplelady on 10/12/2020 - 08:57

    Since you've been thinking about it for 1.5 years, then there's really an issue with you staying. Now that you've got a job that you're excited about, then just go. You'll also dissappoint the prev managers you'll be working with (whom you say you really respect) if you choose to stay, won't you?

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 16:56

      Yeh… this is what I've been thinking but still really hard to let it all go

  • anhtram222 on 10/12/2020 - 09:17

    follow your heart and money will follow you.

  • Caped Baldy on 10/12/2020 - 09:26
    +2

    Sounds pretty toxic with that level of churn.

    For good work life balance I think it's ideal to have three things - good pay, good management and good colleagues. Only seems like you're getting one of them at the current gig and potentially all three at the new one.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/12/2020 - 09:46
    -4

    OZbargain is not your personal blog

    [Deactivated] on 10/12/2020 - 09:46 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
  • pantsparty on 10/12/2020 - 09:54

    Does losing out on the commission for the short term put you in a risky position financially? If not then definitely resign - it’s not worth the misery of staying.

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 16:58

      No, I did worked out some numbers and I'll be ok but thats because I live a relatively simple life! It does however worry me that I won't be able to perform at my new firm. Hopefully I'll be able to kill it!

      • pantsparty on 10/12/2020 - 18:55

        I think feeling a bit of self doubt is very common - my advice is ignore it and back yourself!

  • jjjaar on 10/12/2020 - 10:00

    I'd been thinking about it doing this for the past 1.5 years

    There is your answer.

    If a firm can’t make it a nice place to be until they want to leave, then it’s not a nice place to be.

    It is your career.

    You need to look out for yourself, and it sounds like they’re just trying to keep you because it’s easier for them.

  • Guybrush57 on 10/12/2020 - 11:22

    Good song.

  • TheBird on 10/12/2020 - 11:26

    you've been thinking about it for 1.5 years

    You've had an issue for a year and a half and haven't managed to resolve it. If you've brought up the issues and they haven't been resolved, I'd lean towards leaving but not necessarily to this new place. When you're dumping pay, you'd usually want some equity offering or earned equity to offset the lower initial income.

    To me, it sounds like you're burnt out. I'd consider taking a holiday for two/three weeks to dig down deep, talk it through with your family/partner/dependables (if applicable in your case) it over and decide what's best for you.

    Take the meeting and frankly discuss with them your perspective and what you're looking to get from your future job. Think about it in the mean time. They may be able to come up with a solution that suits you better. If you do decide to stay, you're in a decent negotiating position for both money, bonuses, duties and work conditions. It's unlikely, but who knows, the CEO might offer up their holiday home for you to use ;)

    It's also a good time to talk with your potential new employer to see if they're willing to sweeten the pie (not just pay, but work conditions to make sure you don't get into the position you're already in) to "help you make up your mind" and leave.

    I'd also reach out to other organisations/recruiters in case there are better opportunities.

    • i like free on 10/12/2020 - 17:26

      Thank you for the advice but I dont think I could go to my new employer and ask for more after a contracts been signed. I'll see what my meeting is like with the CEO

      • TheBird on 12/12/2020 - 00:34

        So what? If the contract is binding, what's the point in doing the meeting with the CEO then? If not, it's always up for negotiation.

  • Daabido on 10/12/2020 - 11:28

    If you go there will be trouble and if you stay there will be double.
    https://youtu.be/BN1WwnEDWAM

  • TheBilly on 10/12/2020 - 18:37
    +2

    TLDR?

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