HN Explorer

Ask HN: Leaving a critical project for a better job (more money). Wise?

5 points by throwawayjob ↗ HN
Background: I'm currently working on a critical project at a tech company. The work is good but the salary is less than satisfactory/comparable (I didn't really negotiate - my mistake + personal reasons). I've a job offer from another company that's willing to pay me 30-40K more than what I currently earn. My manager (who knows nothing about the offer) told me that I'll only get a 10K bump after my level-up (which happens in the next month or two) - typical company "policy"...And even if I negotiate, there's noway they will match a 30-40K bump (fact, not a rumor from grapevine).

So, is it wise (or rude? - bridges will be broken) to leave a critical project (that will go live in the next 3-4 months) for a way better salaried job given that the current company would never match a huge salary bump from the offering company? Is it wrong to be selfish and not think about the greater good of the team/project/company?

Also, the offering company prefers that I join within a month or two and they can't wait for more than 3 months because otherwise I'd have seen my product go live and then switch jobs.

Would love to get/hear some advice/opinions. TIA.

14 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 43.4 ms ] thread
velus
Almost always go for the higher offer. As odd as it sounds, company value the higher paid person more, it's almost a rationalization on the part of the company.

One more thing: never accept counter offers from your current employer.

throwawayjob
Well put in the most succinct possible way. Thanks!
ayers
Do you have past experiences or reasons to share for your view on never accepting a counter offer?
kls
Common wisdom is that it creates a bad environment, but I think it has a lot to do with your personality type, I have accepted counter offers before and it has been fine, but I am a pretty open and honest person, people know where they stand with me and they know that I will take a significantly higher compensation package if all other things are equal. I usually lay that out in the initial interview, I tell my potential employer that I expect to be compensated at market rate, and to remain compensated at market rate, that I will occasionally check the market to verify and that I will always give them first right of refusal should I find a discrepancy. I think educating people on how to maintain your loyalty has a lot to do with how the situation turns out.

On a slightly tangential note, when I worked for other companies, I was generally regarded as a loyal employee, all things being equal I would rather stay with a company I know, as there are a lot of unknowns in switching companies, I was always upfront about this fact, but I was also upfront about a large discrepancy in compensation being a factor that could compromise that loyalty. Giving people the tools to maintain loyalty helps employers clearly see what they need to do to maintain personnel.

yitchelle
Good advice on the "counter offer". The trust is broken, and the working environment can never be the same again. It is like living with your ex after you have broken up.
Sander_Marechal
I'd switch. You're not indispensable. If you were, your current company would match the offer. If you want to be considerate to your current employer then just give him plenty of notice (i.e. don't wait until the last possible moment to hand over your resignation letter but do it as early as possible). That way they have more time to find a replacement and you have more time to transfer your knowledge to the other people.
throwawayjob
Touche. I'd give them a month notice and see how that pans out. Good thinking herein. Thanks!
mcotton
I was in a similar situation and gave a month notice. It was awkward to stay that long. I would give them two weeks of your normal work along with one week of training for your replacement.
brudgers
There are companies which will have a security guard escort you to the door the day you give notice, and there are others which will want to retain some of your services on contract after you leave.

The amount of notice given should be appropriate to the circumstances.

[deleted]
(comment deleted)
kls
I agree, put the decision in their hands, if they don't match than they have made their choice and will have to deal with whatever issue arise from not compensating you at market rate. While there are a lot of reasons to work for a company and some companies earn more loyalty than others, the end result is that we work to support ourselves, if we did not have to, chances are we would be working on our own interests. I know I would be, so in the end you are working for compensation, if someone offers you more compensation it is rational that you will take it, anyone who would get upset by that is not being rational about the situation and a rational person, will understand that they either need to match the offer or let you pursue supporting yourself to the best of your abilities.
cdvonstinkpot
Follow the money, but give plenty of notice. Congratulations on getting such a great offer, too. Good luck!
dholowiski
Having left several jobs I can tell you, they will survive without you, no matter what you think. Unless you are a founder or a shareholder, all you have is the loyalty your employer has carefully cultivated. I don't think you have any moral or ethical obligation. It might not even make them mad when you leave - if they're doing their job properly then they've already prepared for the possibility of losing an 'indispensable' employee.
pasbesoin
Is it wrong to be selfish and not think about the greater good of the team/project/company?

Primary, or highest ranking, responsibility for this is the company's (and so management's), not yours.

If they are significantly underpaying you, that's a risk that they chose to take on.

If no people will die, planes fall out of the sky, etc., I'd say that, speaking generally, one should be able to leave with a fairly clean conscience, barring any obligations of more personal connections (true, mutual connections -- not e.g. propaganda about "our marvelous environment").

That said, I know nothing about your personal circumstances. So, it remains your call.