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Career Q & A
By Michael Mayne
February 20, 2006
My old boss left my current organization a few months ago and we have stayed in touch. She has just called me to ask if I want to join her in her new organization in a similar position to the one I have now. I am torn between my current role and responsibilities and a new opportunity with my old boss. What should I do?
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
As the Clash so eloquently put it:
"If I go there will be trouble
An' if I stay it will be double..."
First of all, congratulations! You must have impressed your old boss by working well in the past with her. However, you certainly have a difficult decision ahead of you. It is undoubtedly flattering to be "lured away" by a former supervisor, and there can be great appeal in such an offer. But it is important to be as objective about the opportunity as possible, since knowing that the "new boss is same as the old boss" (to quote another musical group, The Who), is only one factor in this very important decision.
Try to Take the Emotion Out of the Decision
You should try to evaluate this opportunity on it's own merits. You may be blinded somewhat by the inherent complement of your old boss wanting to work with you again, but at the same time plagued by feelings of guilt about leaving your existing organization, or the guilt of potentially letting down your old boss (and likely a strong professional reference) if you decide to stay.
Only One Factor Out of Many
Don't focus on the fact that it is your old boss who has offered you the position. Consider it in the same way you would any other offer. The only difference in this situation is that you know and probably highly trust your potential supervisor. This can sometimes prove to be a double-edged sword. Some great teams try to recreate the old magic the two of you had "in the good old days". But be cautious, since there are many different circumstances now.
Weigh Your Pros and Cons Against Your Key Career Factors
As with any major career decision, compile a list of factors that are important to you in coming to a logical decision:
Lifestyle - What is the potential impact to my work/life balance? There can be somewhat selfish reasons why old bosses may want you working for them again - perhaps you solved huge problems for them by camping out at your desk for three months until it was resolved. This is where you should also look at seemingly minor issues such as changes in commuting time, office hours, etc. Be honest with yourself about how well you and your old boss were able to balance your career and other important life factors (family, personal time, vacation, etc.), and consider how important maintaining a healthier balance is for you at this stage in your career.
Job Satisfaction - Will the new job provide you with the same or better job satisfaction than you currently have? A great boss is only one component to any job. What do you know about the new job, and does it fit in with your career plan? Remember, if you were recently promoted because your boss left, your boss can be stuck in a nostalgic time warp. He or she may still see you at your old (or even lower) level than you now have. Talk to your old boss about the actual activities involved in the role.
Career Advancement Potential - Look as objectively as you can at what possibilities you have for career progression. Timing can be everything - you have tenure and history at your current organization, and will be starting all over again at the new organization. While you will have some instant credibility from your old boss's endorsement, we all still have to prove ourselves in any new role. This also goes for your old boss. Make sure he or she is truly happy and well-respected in the new role and not still in the "honeymoon phase". This determination can sometimes be difficult, since it is usually based solely on your old boss's opinion of how she's doing. There are many examples of people moving over only to have their old boss fired very shortly thereafter.
Security - This factor refers to your own financial security and the financial strength of the new organization in comparison to your existing one. Don't let your old boss simply make an assumption about your financial needs; you are taking a major risk in potentially moving from your current role to an unknown one, and you should be rewarded financially. Different organizations have different compensation grids - don't gloss over this important area and assume everything will be worked out. Is the new organization very dependant on government support or one key fundraising initiative? How long have they been around, and what is their history?
Organizational Culture - Your old boss is only one person. Try to get a fix on what the other people within the new organization are like. Ask if you can talk to them, and try to spend as much time as you can simply "hanging out" in the new place. Sometimes you can get a "vibe" (good or bad) that tells you everything, but make sure you are listening. Seemingly small things, such as lots of laughter, smiles and friendly greetings as people pass each other in the hallway, etc. are important indicators of the kind of culture that truly exists.
If, after evaluating all these factors against your values and goals, you believe that it is still worth pursuing, consider talking to your current organization about this offer. They may be willing to address any concerns you have and make your current situation better in order to keep you.
You will feel better when...
...your decision has been made. Once you have concluded things one way or the other, you will no doubt feel much better and be able to get on with your life. If you do decide to stay, try to arrange for a personal meeting with your old boss to tell her about your decision. If she is truly concerned about your best interests, she will understand and accept your decision, particularly if it is presented in a logical fashion.
Good luck!
Michael Mayne, M.B.A., CMA, is Managing Partner and a Certified Professional Career Counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a Career Transition, Counselling, and Outplacement firm. Michael has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for many years, and is Past President and Treasurer of ALS Canada. To contact Michael, visit: www.catalystcareers.com.
To submit a question for a future column, please e-mail it to careercoach@charityvillage.com. No identifying information will appear in this column.
Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.
