Thread: Agonising Decision

Would the pay cut of the other job really hinder your lifestyle? That's probably a big thing to consider for whether or not you should move to this commission job, or simply consider finding another place of employment in general.

Your current place of employment seems to making it clear that you really won't advance (at least any time soon), and also seems to be condescending to you (at least with how you present it). That would concern me, as I'd look at companies laying off people in this climate, and (while the number may not be strikingly high everywhere) I would feel like you'd be someone they'd go after first; young, not with a military background, recently joined on to this job. While it may make sense to let go the older employees and keep new blood, your manager presents that you don't have much to offer them, which is never a good thing to hear.

I hate to sound so ominous about your current job, as it does sound like you're in a nice place of employment, and doing very well for yourself (congrats), but I would be concerned if your manager isn't trying to size you up for any sort of necessary layoffs, or simply trying to keep you from looking for a raise or promotion.

Commissions problem is that this current world state could be problematic with interesting people in buying/selling/working on things. People will want to save their money, which may make it financially disappointing for you. Another lame ass thing is that my father always said in time of financial concern, the first people places look to eliminate are consultants. It's just another expense that companies look to cut, so keep this in your mind. I'm really not looking to scare you, you just need to look at everything that's occurring right now. I'm unaware where this new job is, but simply research it and see how they're standing, and if you think you'll be secure working there. It may not be wrong of you to ask the recruitment agency who informed you of the job about this place, maybe privately they'll let you know about. Probably not, but it's worth a shot.

You do seem very energetic and come across really well on the message board, and I'd assume you'd be extremely likable in person, so commission based sales might be just the right thing for you, since personality is a huge determinant in sales. But do also consider looking around for other places of employment if you can.

Also, what's a CV?

My suggestion would be to do what you have to do to win. Assume that you have to feed the ego of your boss by your performance and to make her look good. Don't assume that the people that you are working with are loyal to you and keep your mouth shut about her. It is not the best economic condition to find another job so your focus should be to keep this one and work at a level that will provide a good recommendation for you if you do find another job. If you do these things it is possible that she will be promoted or fired making way for a new boss which may or may not be better.

Use your head to get her to do what you want her to do and feel good about it!



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jet @ Apr 4 2009, 05:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I have a dilemma that I hope you can all help me with.

At the moment my job is with an engineering services company, doing recruitment. I&#39;ve been there since July. The pay is fine, I took a bit of a cut from my last role but this one is more stimulating. The work is also fine, I really enjoy recruitment. Most of the people are fine.

My manager is not. She appears to have it in for me and my colleague, who also looks after recuitment. There are four of us in the HR team and it seems like she picks on us (more so my colleague than me, however). I won&#39;t go into details about how she does this, but she does. I think she does it to my colleague (who is more senior than me) because she&#39;s threatened by her...and I think she does it to me because she just doesn&#39;t like me. Shake that off.

My manager has also made it clear that I&#39;m not about to get a pay rise anytime soon. She told me (in these words) that "I&#39;m on very good money for someone my age". The company I work for has a military type edge to it, and certainly it seems that the general attitude is that you have to do the time before you get the reward. Which I can respect...but from where I&#39;m standing, it doesn&#39;t seem like how well I do the job will make a difference to my pay. It&#39;s how much experience I have behind me when I do the job that counts. This I don&#39;t necesarily agree with but I was happy to let it slide for a while and see what happens.

Last night I was speaking to my old manager from when I worked with a recruitment agency. She said that there is a high possibility a consultant role will be coming up soon and wanted to know if I was interested.

I am really, really interested in this. My dilemma is that I was really keen to stay in my current role for at least two years, otherwise it might look bad on my CV. That is the only thing that would keep me in my current role.

I can&#39;t talk to my family about this because they don&#39;t really get behind the whole sales thing (the consultant role would be sales). Salary wise, I would have a lower base salary but be making comission. That is the part that I&#39;m really keen on. It doesn&#39;t matter how old I am or how much my boss hates me, to a certain extent I will dictate how much money I earn with how hard I work.

The whole GFC thing might affect how much money I make in the beginning, but the city I&#39;m in is fairly sheltered because we&#39;re full of public servants. There is a real possibility that we won&#39;t be sheltered enough and I won&#39;t make enough money and I&#39;ll lose my job. But...it&#39;s pretty quiet in the role I&#39;m doing now and we have two people looking after recruitment, and we aren&#39;t recruiting. You do the math.

In summary:

Current role
Perks
- A pretty decent salary that is set and not going to change
- It looks good on my CV if I stay there

Cons
- My manager is a hose beast
- My pay is probably not going to go up enough to make me happy (just to reiterate...I took a $15k pay cut to take this job)
- My lack of military background means that I will never be able to do the job &#39;inside out&#39;. My colleague was in the Navy for 20 years and when she&#39;s told "we need someone with F111 Rotary Experience" she knows what that means, and how it might be written in a CV. I don&#39;t and while I&#39;m learning, I&#39;ll never have that wealth of experience.
- I might lose my job soon, anyway.

Sales role
Perks
- Working with a really, really great team that I know I get along with
- Potentially make a lot of money

Cons
- Potentially not make a lot of money and be earning less that I am now (fyi, the base salary would be an $10k cut from what I&#39;m on now)
- Leaving my other role wouldn&#39;t look good on my CV.

The more I think about it, the more I think I should take the consultant role. My current job makes me feel like I&#39;m back in highschool and that was not good (as my early posts on SB will demonstrate...).

However, I want to make sure I&#39;m making the right decision. I&#39;m a bit worried that I won&#39;t make a balanced decision because my old manager who told me about the consultant role is also one of my very good friends, and I would love to make her happy. On the other side, I talked to my sister about it and she was all "No Han, you really need to stay in your current job. For at least a year. Come on now".

I feel so torn! Please help me.[/b]