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I've been working as a copywriter in the same position for 8 years now. I get paid well, and never have to work overtime or weekends. I have the flexibility to take vacations and lunch breaks whenever I please. Thing is, I'm not learning anything new.
My boss is in her late 60s and seems inclined to retire; when that'll happen is anyone's guess. I'm not sure if her boss (our department head) plans to split up her duties or hire someone new once my boss decides to go.
About a year and a half ago, a lady who worked in my department for 5 years made a lateral transfer to the company's creative services dept. I told her to let me know if anything opened up because I was curious as to what opportunities were available there.
A few weeks ago, she informed me that two positions had opened up in her dept and told the hiring manager that I was interested. The hiring manager asked that I forward my resume to her.
To make the story short, I met with the hiring manager yesterday. It went well, but there are still a few unanswered questions. For one, she doesn't know whether the positions would be merged into one, which one they'd offer me, etc. She's still ironing out the kinks.
What I do know is that:
(1) I would need to take/pass a writing test (which is required of all candidates)
(2) She mentioned she believes neither position pays as high as my current job, so it might have to be a lateral move.
Judging from the duties, the new job does sound like it would be more demanding. For example, I would be managing a publication on my own, which sounds a little daunting because I've never worked in magazines/newspapers before.
Whether I'd be expected to hit the ground running, or I would get some guidance in the beginning is something she'd need to clarify.
What I like about my current position is that, even though I'm stagnant, I'm a pretty big fish in a small pond. (There's only 9 of us, so the dept runs like a small business within a big company.) The new department is bigger, and I'd probably have to deal with more people and red tape -- not always appealing to an introvert like me.
There's no question I'd be challenged and learning new stuff in the new job, but is it worth leaving a comfortable job to make the same salary? I was hoping for a bump of at least 5% given the risk I'd be taking on.
Once my boss leaves, an opportunity may present itself, but one never knows -- especially because my department isn't big on promoting people.
I'm wondering whether I should ask that they confirm the salary details before I even take the test. If I really don't want to move for the same salary, I'd be wasting her time and my own by sitting down for a 2-hour test.
Rather few, maybe no, absolute questions will result in good answers.
otoh CAN a lateral move be the right/good/best thing to do? You betcha.
It's often the only way to get shifted over to something or somewhere else
that DOES have the sort of advancement track needed to move up.
It might just prove to be a better career position altogether -- once established in it.
Quote:
I've been working as a copywriter in the same position for 8 years now.
I would need to take/pass a writing test (which is required of all candidates)
...should I ask that they confirm the salary details before I even take the test.
Nope. Get a good nights rest, do as well as you can THEN see what's what. Or not.
Good luck.
It's often the only way to get shifted over to something or somewhere else
that DOES have the sort of advancement track needed to move up.
It might just prove to be a better career position altogether -- once established in it.
Thanks for your reply.
I have no interest in becoming a CEO, VP, Director, or even a manager with subordinates.
I'm happy to remain in a technical/specialist role. I feel that's the capacity in which I excel the most, and the new role would fall into that group.
It's just hard to leave a cozy job after so many years. There are days where there's little to do, and I find myself so bored that I can actually work on my side project on my phone (blogging).
Yet, many people would kill for such an easy job if it came with a decent salary. (I earn over 60K.)
In addition to being risk averse, I am prone to anxiety issues and don't always manage stress well. That's why I have to be careful.
The new job will entail deadlines. My current job doesn't, at least not often.
I know it's an opportunity to grow and challenge myself. But you don't really know what you're getting yourself into until you're there on the job.
I seem to gravitate toward small departments/companies. My last two jobs were at start-ups of about 10 people, and as mentioned before, my current dept runs like a small business (9 people) within a big company.
Maybe deep down I -- as an introvert -- prefer such a setting to working in bigger departments with a large number of people, even if it means fewer opportunities for promotion.
Last edited by Wordsmith12; 09-13-2019 at 08:33 AM..
It's often the only way to get shifted over to something or somewhere else
that DOES have the sort of advancement track needed to move up.
It might just prove to be a better career position altogether -- once established in it.
That's my understanding of the motivation for a lateral move. Either the future position by itself has more opportunity for advancement, or the combination of experience in the current and new position will make you a stronger candidate for something else.
One of my friends did a lateral move from my job to another job at the beginning of the year and is already being interviewed for a promotion. His current employer is growing at all levels and has a lot more opportunities for promotion and our prior experience from our jobs before the one I am at now is also beneficial in his new job. I would say that lateral moves can really be beneficial if you want to move up. You don’t necessarily have to go into a supervisory role.
I don't think introversion had anything to do with it. Being introverted does not make you risk averse. You seem very afraid of change. It doesn't sound like you're ready to make a move.
Judging from the duties, the new job does sound like it would be more demanding. For example, I would be managing a publication on my own, which sounds a little daunting because I've never worked in magazines/newspapers before.
Whether I'd be expected to hit the ground running, or I would get some guidance in the beginning is something she'd need to clarify.
What I like about my current position is that, even though I'm stagnant, I'm a pretty big fish in a small pond. (There's only 9 of us, so the dept runs like a small business within a big company.) The new department is bigger, and I'd probably have to deal with more people and red tape -- not always appealing to an introvert like me.
There's no question I'd be challenged and learning new stuff in the new job, but is it worth leaving a comfortable job to make the same salary? I was hoping for a bump of at least 5% given the risk I'd be taking on.
Once my boss leaves, an opportunity may present itself, but one never knows -- especially because my department isn't big on promoting people.
I'm wondering whether I should ask that they confirm the salary details before I even take the test. If I really don't want to move for the same salary, I'd be wasting her time and my own by sitting down for a 2-hour test.
Any thoughts?
Thanks.
I'd lean towards no. Bolded the phrases which lead me to that conclusion.
- If she has to even think about it, I'll confirm with you now - You won't have any support.
- The position sounds like it may just become 2 roles in one, managing your own publication sounds like Sr. editor or something and it doesn't sound like you'll have any direct reports to support you. Does not sound appealing.
- To add insult to injury there's no pay increase. So more responsibility and same pay? HELLLLL NOOOOO
Honestly this company in general sounds lame. I'd look outside for a better opportunity in a more balanced and progressive environment. You need to set your expectations a bit higher. 5% bump is nowhere near enough to take on that kind of risk. I'd only move externally from my current job for a 20% bump WITH a sign-on bonus of 25%-30%. Even in my Junior days I never sought a move for anything less than 15% absolute bare minimum. Internal moves - If they "forced" me to make a move then I would have no choice. But if I had an exploratory discussion and the guy said 20% more responsibility for 0% increase in pay I would politely decline to proceed further. Just because it's an internal move doesn't mean you get me at a discount. It's insulting and means you don't respect the value and contribution I would bring to your bottom line. 14% is the bare minimum I would accept depending on the expansion of the role. You are still taking a risk even with internal moves.
The most important thing you said in your post is that you're not learning anything. That's a death knell for a-n-y-o-n-e in today's workplace regardless of the position or industry. With each year that passes without learning and growing your skill set is rusting which can leave you highly vulnerable. Your current skillset could become obsolete or even outsourced in the not too distant future. Then what? What if the company closed? Who would hire you?
The new position appears to offer a wide vista to acquire new skills and experiences. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You will be in a new department doing something you've never done before which shows initiative and curiosity. Even if it's a lateral move, learning a new skill set can be worth it.
You can a-l-w-a-y-s go elsewhere for more money and this time with a bigger toolkit. I don't know how old you are and how long you've been in the organization. Salary is always negotiable. If you're not satisfied with their initial offer you can always counter that you'd take the position with the understanding that you want to have a second sit-down discussion regarding compensation when you've been in the job for 6 months. This way they can see how you're performing and you'd both have more info about your expectations. You're not seeking the beneficience of a king----you're an equal in the salary process. If they don't offer you a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g it's an important indicator of how they may treat you in future.
Whatever you do, if you're bored it's time to move on.
In general, lateral moves are great. However, after 8 years I would personally be more inclined to seek a promotion? It all depends on your goals. Is it to climb the ladder, or simply to expand your skillset and avoid boredom?
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