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Ask the Business Coach Lateral Job Move?Question: I started in banking in 1982 as a loan secretary. My second boss is now president of a family-owned bank. I am now Vice President/Real estate lender since 1992. We are in the process of merging with a smaller bank and yesterday the president came to my office and asked if I would work for him again. Same salary and benefits. He hints at future opportunities, but to me this is a step back. What do you think or can you give me any advice.Sherie Answer: If I correctly interpret the challenge, your boss is asking you to step down from your current VP slot to take another position that would have you working directly for him. While I do not know what the new position is - whether or not you would be still be a VP - I do get that your initial reaction was to see this as a step backward even as you're tempted by a prior good association with the president and his 'hints' of future opportunities. If that's the case, the first thing you'll want to do is absorb the flattery of the president's offer without feeling compelled to accept it. If you are on a good career track where you are, this will be less of a temptation. If, however, you are not entirely satisfied with your current progress or the future promise of your existing position, this move might be worth a closer look. Naturally, you'll want to deliberate over this offer from a career-growth point of view. However, unless the new position - as is - holds interest for you along with there being ample facts to support your belief in additional and rewarding job expansion, you would be better off to continue in your job. Otherwise, you risk doing work - perhaps for years - that you wouldn't really enjoy and, in fact, be experienced as less valuable and interesting than your current position. In other words, same money, same benefits do not necessarily add up to same satisfaction. If, on the other hand, you would like to further explore this position, start by doing a pros/cons list. If the pros are equal or outweigh the cons, prepare for a further discussion. Make note of all these concerns and create neutral questions around them to see how many of them can be eliminated in a further interview with the president. For example, one 'con' would have to be 'hints of future opportunities' rather than a clearly stated career track. If you get - in writing - that you will be entering at an assistant level but that in three or six months you will be elevated, then the present sacrifice might be worth it. However, it is reasonable to conclude that no 'hint' of something better down the road is worth a downward career shift. Be direct and forthcoming in discussing this offer. Talk about your current professional accomplishments and what you know you can currently expect in the way of growth and reward. If the president can solidly counter your current possibilities with concrete steps that would satisfy your goals, you can feel a lot more confident in taking the job he's offering even if there's a momentary step back. The single most important thing for you to do is get in writing exactly what you are signing on for and know that he can fulfill any promises he's making. If he can't, thank him and pass on the offer.
Also see: Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual.
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Joyce K. Reynolds is an expert Business Coach who works with CEOs, Sr. Execs, entrepreneurs and countless others providing knowledge, solutions, motivation and support that assist her clientele in successfully meeting workplace challenges.