I've worked at my current job 5+ years. The last 3 have been exceeding difficult, jaded and not inline with the corporate "culture". Biggest issue I have is the corporate culture of buy, squeeze, drop. Whatever makes profits today.
Recently got an offer at a different company, a startup. Initial offer on pay is about 1% more than current base pay. But the 401k match is much less, no bonus structure, though there are stock options (with a long vesting period).
I'm torn. I feel the current company runs like a startup still, even though they were bought by corporate 10yrs ago. So the new culture might be very similar, but with an actual potential of windfall if it gets to ipo.
I have a lot of freedom in the current position, hours as I set them (all onsite), with minimal pushback or oversite. I average 5hrs overtime a week, though would say my workload could be done in 15hrs/week at full tilt. Super stagnant and most work is reactive, "fixing" problems, that'll likely be the exact same problem in less than a year again. Unlikely to have near the same freedom in the new position.
Offered position is in a field I'm very interested in, and could lead to extreme specialization, but I do not know the long term growth possibilities beyond it being extremely niche.
Offer at new position is initially $1/hr more than the recruiter claimed was the top of the budgeted. And I haven't pushed on it (yet? Hesitant on knowing if/how far to push that with an offer already extended)
I feel so burned out at the current job, but getting an offer elsewhere has rehighlighted a lot of the benefits at the current place.
What would you do? Do I take it? Do I push more at the new place for a better base? Do I leverage the offer for more $$ at the current place?
If you think the new job has the potential to be more fulfilling and you are willing to take the gamble they work out in the future. I would say do it.
I took a job at my first start-up three years ago, where I actually took a pay cut. Partly because I didn't see my role still being around much longer (I was right), and I was ready to finally try a privately owned company. So sick of the big corporate culture.
It has paid off so far. I have had many opportunities to advance and try different aspects of engineering and maintenance, including management. I also make +$25k more now than I did before changing jobs, and now work remotely.
Though the biggest thing for me has been being able to be proud of what I do and feel like I am making a difference. I worked in engineering mostly supporting oil and gas for over a decade, and am finally working in renewables and upcycling on some pretty cool technology I actually believe in.
I had also stayed in jobs that I grew to hate too long and literally almost died from it.
I would still ask for something more in the offer though. It sounds a bit too lateral of a move for taking the risk.
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