To stay or to go??

last SG · 2005-06-17T13:36:47+00:00

If you read his other posts, you'll find that most of them ain't really that intelligent anyway...? Not that he meant them to be in the 1st place...? Btw, h...

zensweetie SG

Hi I am quite troubled recently but no one can share my problem with me.

I am currently employed in a new position and within 1 mth, by chance of luck, my COO appreciated my abilities and actually promoted me. I am now busy taking over new duties and responsibilities from the manager who would be leaving soon.

However, last week, i received a call from a famous foreign bank who invited me for an interview. I went out of curiousity, not expecting anything out of it...however, i went through 3 rounds of interviews and finally is gonna be meeting up with the final BIG boss.

Now my problem is if I were offered this position, which most likely would be the case, should I accept or not?? Why I am hesitant is because that foreign bank is extremely well known for their politics and unless i decide not to ever join the banking sector again, such politics are unavoidable.

And another factor is that i feel very bad in resigning after my COO has promoted me and think so highly of me...(altho he has yet to adjust my pay).

I am also worried that I will have less time for my kids...however, i think as long as i am doing a decent job, I will need a certain level of commitment and will definitely have less time for my kids.

Pls tell me what should I do??? Should I stay or go??

In addition, a point to note is one very accurate fengshui master ever told me that I will do better in Banking sector, which is not my current job/industry.

Pls help me!!!! Urgent!!!

Devil1976 SG

You are right about more politics, stress, time and energy as you go earning more this way. It really depends on what kinda job you wanna head for; how far do you intend to go; and are you willing to sacrifice part of your life with your children..?

zensweetie SG

hi, thks for ur reply...honestly, how i wish i can have the best of both worlds but that is not possible.

I am heading for mgt positions so i guess wherever I go I will have to work hard and late right?

It is more the politics which is my main concern. There is politics everywhere, just the extent of it...so what would u do if u were me??

~Lyn~ SG

i guess this is the prob most pple will face nowadays.. anyway i think u haf to first ask urself wat are ur priorities in life? ur career or ur family--ur kids? wat are ur interests? are ur interests related to ur current job or more of the banking sector.. it will help also to noe whether ur current boss is going to justify ur pay in near future.. cos income is definitely one of the determining factor if u haf to a family to support. next is to do a little homework on the banking sector job that u will most likely be offered : wat's the job scope? pay? how bad is the politics?working hours? future trends in the banking sector? etc..

After u haf the ans for the above questions, i guess it'll be easier to make the decision. if ur priority is ur career-- choose the job that u think u want to develop ur career with. if ur priority is ur famiy, choose the one that can better accomodate. keep in mind to try to match ur interest, values, skills with the job, dats when u can obtain job satisfaction.. these are little tips i just learnt recently.. hope it helps! Wink

waterfalz SG

Hey. You cant work for long in a place full of politics. Your strength will not last that long. Very often, you will bring home such angers you accumulated back home. Kids are always naughty, noisy & playful at home. Can you really seperate two things clearly?

This is my own opinion. It may not be true. Just for your easy reference. Embarassed

zensweetie SG

hi thks for ur reply.

well, to answer ur qn,
- priorities? I think is 50-50...very hard to distinguish between the two.
- both are similiar except that i think more new skills set will be available for learning at the bank. Another difference would be the industry..
- pay? he mentioned after my confirmation, he will adjust. However the trend here is that they dun pay handsomely well...the bank is willing to pay pretty well Smile
- interviewer told me politics is very bad there
- long hours as well but i guess everywhere is long hours right? unless it is govt sector and small pte ltds we are talking about
- interest: bank 'cos got an Econs degree which is not so relevant to current industry

So having answered the questions, is my choice quite obvious?? i still have no idea...can anyone tell me which way to go??

Devil1976 SG

When it comes to work... You hardly get to have 'the best of both worlds'... Not impossible but quite difficult... Especially at this age, 'best worlds' probably won't last too long too...?

If I were you, I probably would have DIVE IN DEEP.. Make myself a decent saving and move on to something else...

zensweetie SG

thks. i will take it into consideration when making the final decision.
How about if i go after it reaches a point that i cannot tahan the politics there??? Not sure how viable is this option. What say u??

~Lyn~ SG

of cos this choice is viable but be aware that since the world of work is changing rapidly, it may not be as easy to job hop. so be prepared to be jobless temporary in the worst scenario but remain "employed"==> be engaged in activities, courses or even volunteering work to keep urself occupied so u wont get disoriented when u are jobless.

by the way from the ans u gave to my questions, i would choose the job in the banking sector provided i haf the knowledge of how the job prospect will be.. ur skills and interest seem to match better with the job in the banking sector. so the only major prob will be the politics. to me if i can ignore the unpleasant, the environment may not be as bad.. it all depends on ur level of tolerance..

maybe one last qn to help u make the decision: what do u see urself as in the next 5-10 yrs? (this would be somewhat related to the goals u haf in ur life.)

all the best! Wink

Magnus SG

Some things come only once in a lifetime.
Think u should go for it. Just for the exposure.

As for politics, it's there as long as there are people & hierarchy.
Choose your side wisely and it may just tilt in your favour.

Anyway, it may not be as bad as what you have heard.

Li Ka Shing SG

I think u should consider very carefully about the "politics" as u have mentioned.....

Coz...since u said the bank has a famous (infamous) reputation on it....n the interviewer even admitted it.....n u urself r weighing about it......I think u wouldn't want to work there.....Coz u r not the type of person who can take politics lightly / heck care about it, otherwise u wouldn't even bother to consider politics....am I right?

So u r someone who care about politics/ working environment (meaning u don't like politics), to a certain extent (more or less and how much u can tolerate/ adapt, I don't know), n this bank has nasty politics....so, what do u think?

It all depends on u. Whether u r willing to work in such an environment, whether u think u can adapt. Coz ultimately...working environment plays a major part.

It would be great if u can get a clearer picture of the working environment and the politics there.

Ask employees/ ex-employees. Ask ur interviewer(s) specific questions, like, what's ur direct superior's management style like? what's the corporate culture like? How would the appraisal be made? Any peer appraisal? Do u have individual/ or group targets u have to meet by competing with others? How do different departments work together? ..etc..........Bad politics don't just happen, it comes from certain foundation....n u can't ask the big boss (ur next interviewer) about the politics too directly n too much about it. But u definitely can ask those foundation questions n as a result get urself a clearer picture.

If u don't like the picture u get, don't force urself.

zensweetie SG

heehee, that's one possible "plan" we can have for long run as well Laughing

zensweetie SG

Hmm, in 10 yrs time, i hope to return to the banking sector and have climbed up somewhere there already...'cos when i accepted this position, i tell myself that I will give myself 2 yrs here in my current industry (steel industry) and then will return to the banking industry as a more experienced person Smile

zensweetie SG

yes, last nite i thot about it and what u wrote exactly matches my thots... Wink

icebaby0 SG

Agreed that u shld try to have more exposure.

Last yr I was also in that dilemma on whether to stay or to leave the company.
MY ex-boss fought hard to give me a better increment than what my current company paid. But as I felt I needed more exposure, I chose my current company though the pay is more than 10% lower. For me, it's like trying to find out what career I am suitable for rather than just solely $$.

I really felt bad for leaving. First, my ex-collegue who came in to be supervised by me. She expected that I will stay and teach (eventually what I did was a training manual for her). Second, my ex-boss who really had to fight all the way to the CFO of the MNC (not the region only - that made me realise that "hey I am not so bad after all")

But anyway, if you really get the job, go with ur heart. If ur boss means well, he/she would also understand.

zensweetie SG

thks for ur detailed reply. i really appreciated it Smile

To answer ur questions,
direct superior's management style - leave staff on their own. a lot of independence. as long as assignments done well and completed in time, u won't hear very much from him

corporate culture - was told to be very political

appraisal? - not sure. Any peer appraisal?- No

individual/ or group targets u have to meet by competing with others? - No

How do different departments work together? - myself will work with IT dept primarily for systems testings, system design, system implementations. Myself will also have to work with pte bankers for training, 1st level system end user support, gathering of feedback, ideas, etc.

u can't ask the big boss - why not?? sorry, very innocent for this...

Hope to hear more from you.

Wink Wink Wink

zensweetie SG

thks for ur comforting words. 'cos i am really worried about my COO who will "kill" me if i disappoint him Rolling Eyes

So from your experience, do u think u have made the right decision?
Have u achieved what u want in ur new workplace?

macjoe SG

You have to ask yourself honestly what are the compelling reasons
for you to leave the company.

Is it because of more money?

Is it because of higher career opportunities?

How's the human factor in those companies?

Going into management, you should be up to it to give yourself the
answers you need to make a decision decisively. I'd be worried
for you if you're struggling for a simple task.

Cool

gerrykoh SG

Most impt is your immediate boss & working environment.
Are u happy in your present place?
Do u have an understanding boss who acts as a mentor & guides u?
If yes, then u should stay cos you have better chances of moving up & learning new things.

Pay is not the most impt. Sometimes u may get an increase of $200 but u end up working long hours. Also in big organisation, competition is keen, office politics is unavoidable.
It is better to get a job with regular hours so u have time for your kids.
U should avoid working late every day even if u are in mgt. position.