To Move or to Stay? A Career Dilemma -- by Professor Bill White (McC61)

I’m currently working for a $150 million company where I’ve been told that I’m in line to become a general manager in two years. I’ve been happy with my employer thus far, and I have no reason to doubt that the general manager position will be mine in the future (although I do not have a written guarantee). But recently I was contacted by a headhunter to become the general manager of a $30 million company. My dilemma is whether to stay where I am for a future opportunity or to move to a new company to reach that level now. Both firms are very solid, although quite different. My current company is more centralized, with tighter controls and less access to capital; on the other hand, it is a larger organization. The other firm is very decentralized with much more freedom and greater capital access, but it is considerably smaller. So do I stay and wait, or make a move now?

Evaluating new job opportunities is an intelligence-gathering exercise. Put your networking skills to work by speaking with current and past employees in a new organization, and always consider who your boss will be. This will help you choose what if the best fit for you. Now, the good news is it seems like a win/win for you. Both are wonderful opportunities. In the end, it’s going to come down to what is the best fit for you.

Evaluating a new opportunity versus staying at your current company is like deciding whether to hire someone new from the outside or to promote from within the ranks. With the inside candidate, you know the person’s strengths and weaknesses. An outside candidate presents his/her best attributes, but finding the negatives is harder.

With your current employer you know the positive and negatives; with a new opportunity it’s more difficult to get an objective view. The recruiter is only going to tell you the good things. Similarly, mission statements, corporate principles, and other documents that are available publicly present the “PR spin.” If a company is public certainly do read annual reports and analyst presentations. Unofficial blogs, particularly those with comments from ex-employees, should be viewed very carefully (although do pay attention if there is a pattern to the complaints).

To get a more objective perspective, you need to speak with people who work for the firm, or who have dealings with it through customers, suppliers, or vendors. Also tap into people who used to work for the company but have since left. What was their impression on the inside? Why did they leave?

To find these people in the know, reach out to your former classmates. The same networking skills that you use to look for a job come into play now as you gather this intelligence. Seek out others who will let you pick their brains about this new company.

As you gather information to make your decision, one important factor is your boss. How much do you trust the person for whom you are now working? Is this is a person you like and who has championed you? Now compare that with the people you’ll be working with and for at the new company.

If you are truly happy where you are, with good rapport and a trusting relationship with your boss, then why would you want to leave? Presumably it would have to be a very unique opportunity to make you want to move. And remember, it’s never about the money.

Questions? Bill@FromDayOne.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your Extraordinary Career features proven success strategies and advice for recent graduates and young professionals from William J. White, who draws upon a successful corporate career, including as Chairman and CEO of a New York Stock Exchange-traded company. Bill is now Professor at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, and author of the career book for young professionals, From Day One: CEO Advice to Launch an Extraordinary Career.

Want to sign up for Professor Bill White's "Your Extraordinary Career" e-mail alerts? Click here.

Posted December 22, 2008.