Ans for Que: Why you want to leave your current job?

Mr.McFedand SG

I have been with my company for more than 6 years. I started this job as a Software Developer. Slowly my boss assigned me more things to do over years, including project management. Now I am doing mostly management work. Like hiring new staff, meeting with users, documentation, costing, assign jobs to the developers and etc.

But my problem is, I never get a single promotion at all after so many years, so my job title is still Software Developer. The total paid raise after so many years is $160 for many years (not every year, the total is $160).

To be honest, I feel that I don't have any progression opportunities, as well as increment. Though the company is making profits, but this is a family business, so you don't hope for promotion or increment. It's like you will still be Software Developer after working in the company for another 10 more years.

So, I am thinking of making a change. To seek for progression, like looking for a job of Project Manager position. I found quite a few jobs and everytime the interviewer through question like:

Why you want to leave you company?

I feel hard to answer to this kind of question. Because I feel like if you tell them, there is no promotion no increment for my current job, it's sounds quite negative, and I also don't want to talk bad about my company.

So, anyone has encounter such difficulties too? What is your answer to them? I mean put in nicely and tell them in more positive way?

Thanks

SunRisE SG

for better prospects..
for more challenging job scope..
hope to excel further..
hope to bring the company to another higher level.. which you have done to the previous company..

cheers..

thousandisland SG

the pasture is greener on the other side.
the company i previously does not provide me with sufficient opportunities to perform, lead and excel.

shrekho SG

Hello McFedand

My condition is just like yours, except mine is in terms of months.

My job is to over see software, develope, enhance or troubleshoot. It's either i have done a damn good job. or there is nothing else I can do.

All day long I start to handle different stuff, and staff. Looking at invoices, keeping track of stock and parts, managing vendors and cost etc...

My passion and interest is in writing software, yet the things I do now are not software related, more like a production engineer... no longer software engineer.

Instead, before you leave, do you have the paper qualities? If you do, I guess with 6 years of experience, you should be able to land yourself a better job somewhere else.

Also, did you ever mention to your boss about the pay? Like how the market is doing etc? I had already informed my superiors about this issue, but empty promises are made. Might have to move on later.

Anyway, best regards in your job hunting

newcomer SG

Mr.McFedand,

You're right to avoid any statements that might suggest the slightest negative elements about you. One or two white lies won't do harm. In fact, that's what your prospective employers to hear; tactical speaking skills. I'm saying this because my brother who interviews sales persons told me that's the most important part to look out for.

My advice: Say only what they want to hear. A quick google will churn up tons of useful tips.

four-niner SG

You mean your increment for 6 years totals only $160 or every year is $160.

Not bad what my company min is $50 max is $200 most people only get $100.

I assume you are saying your boss has delegated almost everything he is supposed to be doing to you, to me that means you are next in line already. It's not wise from my opnion that you want to leave. Doing management work is what a lot of techies eventually want to end up in not the other way round from management jump back in to do technical. I dunno if you ever PM'ed projects before or not, I can tell you it's very heavy responsibility and not glamorous to be a PM.

Picture this if you leave and manage to get a job teamleading or PM role for the next few years, would you at 30/40 eventually want to still be spending late nights/weekends poring over code with other developers. Are you sure you still want to do such things by then? Even if you are will you have the energy is a question. Don't you think they will have younger more energetic PM / team leaders whom you will be pitted up against? And your performance will be matched against them? I can tell you it be a losing battle.

Do 1 thing, next time your company advertise for higher management position relevant to what you now doing, approach your boss or HR and ask to apply, from how vague or direct their replies you will know how much they value your contribution then from there decide again.

Mr.McFedand SG

[quote]Originally posted by four-niner:

You mean your increment for 6 years totals only $160 or every year is $160.
...

Total for 6 years is $160.

Yes he delegated most of his job to me. But I am not the person in the line, there is no person in the line in fact, because he is part of the family of this family business, meaning he is one of the shareholder.

And my company won't advertise to get a Project Manager because I am already doing all the work as a Project Manager, there isn't a need to hire someone else. But they will never promote me to be a "true" Project Manager", because promoting me will need to increase my salary. You know, how those typical family business operate.

So, my title will be forever "Software Developer", even though I am doing all the project management work.

Actually I don't mind about the pay, but I can't be forever "Software Developer", until I am 40 or 50? I am 31 this year, I already have CITPM from NUS. But my company just won't consider all this, and I also don't want to "fight" for a position title from my boss, because he will feel bad about that, and I will have hard time in future (again, you know those traditional family business culture).

So, I would rather look for another job.

four-niner SG

IC, that case if it's a small family business then you are right to leave for better prospects, they will never promote you over one of their own no matter how good you are and no point fight over a title as you say either you will have a hard time or he will give you the title but in the end still do the same thing and maybe even more.

I think the best place to have a lot of project exposure is to join a software hse or systems vendor they usually have a lot of projects waiting for ppl to do, or look out for those advertising IT manager or assistant IT manager normally but not always the predecessor of those jobs left is because there is some upcoming monster project that they want to escape from thats why they resign and ran away. Mr. Green

kopiosatu SG

one word.

organisation