"New Job Prospect ?" Topic

I am in the software support field and I got an offer for a new job. I am trying to add up my pros and cons.

Doing the math, I get an increase in pay, but a loss in benefits. So I am on the fence about it.

How much of a salary increase do you look for when changing jobs?

I think the main thing is if the loss of benefits is for true benefits, or rather perks. I could trade in a company phone for a higher salary, but if it touches insurance then the salary hike better be pretty substantial!

I've moved for less pay but better benefits (vacation for one)

What about training and new skills? All important so it's not just salary that matters.

Pros
Less drama? or different drama?
+ 8% Base Salary
possible training* for Network Admin Certification

Cons
Losing 20 days! worth of PTO time (not making the +8% look like much of a raise, more like 4%)
50% Smaller Cube Space
Darker Office
30+ minutes longer commute
30+ minutes longer work day

I asked a few questions waiting on some additional information and clarifications.

During the interviews, I said I would need to make above a certain amount to even consider changing jobs (+$7K).

They made it sound like they were offering me +20-30%, of course, without saying any real numbers. The actual offer lowballed my bottom line.

I am now doubting the Network Admin Training as it may be a "Oh yeah, you will get that 3 years from now… maybe" ploy.

So I am on the fence about to make a counter offer not knowing how much I should add to theirs.

Yeah, I think I'd stay based on the loss of the PTO alone.

I agree with Pictors assuming we know all the important parts of the story.

Don't forget to figure in how much you will see as an increase at the current job. Where I work, the IT staff averages a 3% per year increase. So if I were looking at another job and they were going to pay me 8% more, I'd actually figure that as only a 5% increase.

if it feels bad it probably is bad.

Salary is taxed, benefits are not. NEVER give up PTO.

20 days PTO is about 8% of you total work time for the year.

That is not worth it. Extra travel time as well as lost PTO is a 50 percent raise for me. That starts getting into contractor / consultant realm.

Matthew

I would get back to them and politely suggest a better offer is needed. Nothing to stop you giving reasons. Chances are they'll say no, but worth doing. If they do say no, I'd turn them down. You mentioned extra travel time – have you also factored in extra travel costs as well, bearing in mind that they have to paid by you out of taxed income?

I would not take that offer as it stands.
Make a counter offer above what you really want so you can settle in the middle forsomething acceptable.

And… they just took away the training… and no 401K match… and they only pay half of health… yeah this is getting suckier by the moment.

Looks like I am going to pass.

For me, I took a HUGE paycut (almost 35%) to get my current job.

BUT, its the best job I have ever had! Almost no stress, set hours, decent medical, supportive bosses, and if I can last another 15 years (which should be no issues), a really great med package. Granted the drive is a bear (40 min each way), but totally worth it.

My old job (while VERY high paying), ultra high stress, they expected you there 12+ hours a day, working pretty much 7 days a week, no holidays (on Christmas Eve, they let you go about 4pm, but on Christmas day you still needed to come in and make sure that everything was running right…), bosses hounding you all the time, but really good medical, bonuses (but those were dwindling away when I left, gone now though), world travel, but… I missed a load of family holidays, kid's sports, etc…

So overall, you need to look at your quality of life. It's not all about the cash (for me at least, anymore…). Its about the intangibles.

I have to agree with Richard. You have to decide if your living to work or working to live. I would need a substantial raise to give up 20 days of vacation.

Took a pay cut (and lost a week of PTO) just to cut my commute time. 10 years of driving to make a ton of money was just not worth it in the end.

One either lives to work or works to live and life is short.

Dan

Counter offer with what you want to have. Add the PTO back into the offer. Tell them you want everything in writing before you sign anything. If they want your skills bad enough, they may meet some of what you want.

I guess they were not interested in me. They refused to counter offer.

:(

So, you lucked out. They wanted you cheap and you were not willing to drop your drawers.

Smile, move on and be happy you avoided that snake-pit.

Dan

Not moving = good move in some cases.