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0 points · 0 comments · 7 years ago · steven2012

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19539485

Right now I'm struggling with whether or not to leave. I'm currently at a well-known company, and I'm uncharacteristically happy because my WLB is the best it's been in my career.

However, I'm getting a bit bored and I also know I could make at least $50,000 a year more if I leave. Hell, even the new engineers joining my company at the same level are making more than I am.

But the culture and pay at my company is just good enough such that staying isn't a horrible decision. And I don't want to start studying dynamic programming again for my interviews (I've never used it except in interview environments, so I keep forgetting and losing the ability to quickly answer questions).

So yes, I could make a nice amount more (plus large sign on bonus) but WLB is good enough to keep me, at least for another year. I pick up my kids every day at school and I love it, it's worth the money for now.

bmdavi37 years ago
What if you went to your manager, or whoever you feel is the right person, asked if you could speak one on one, and said...
"I really love working at this company. The work is interesting, I love the people, the culture, <one more legitimate pro goes here>. But I also know I could be making X if I went elsewhere. I love the work I'm doing, and I want to keep doing it here, but I also don't want to be leaving money on the table. What can we do?"
This phrasing, pretty much verbatim, has worked really well for me in the past.
readingnews7 years ago
Saying things like "I could make 50k more at blah" seems to be taken so lightly these days. I would party/panic/freak out like I won the lotto if you told me I could make 50k more somewhere else. 50k... do you have any idea what that does to your future earnings? Your 401k/retirement? Hell, even if you live the same as now, sticking 25K in the bank every year is worth a whole heaping spoonful of whatever hell they could possibly throw at you in the new position... but it seems almost daily I read about someone or hear about someone who says "eh, Ill pass on that 20/50/75/100k increase in salary, I'm not into "money"..."
I suppose all of those people already have their million in the bank for retirement... or are independently wealthy. Where do all of those people come from?
war10257 years ago
I was in a very similar situation at the end of last year. Young kids and a work life balance that couldn't be beat. Had a couple expenses pop up that aggravated my irritation at being underpaid to the point that I looked for a different job. Calculated out how much I thought I'd need to offset the work-life balance bit, and went out and got an offer for that amount. Actually accepted the offer but my employer said they'd match that offer, which was a much better outcome for me given the work-life balance part. I figure if it doesn't end up working out, the worst case scenario is I'll feel comfortable asking a higher salary next time I am on the job hunt. For now I'm living in the best of both worlds.
neogodless7 years ago
I didn't see the WLB acronym in the article. Something like "whole-life benefits?"
ETA: Just remembered "work-life balance." Gotcha!
xiaodai7 years ago
Why don't you just ask for a raise if new people are making more than you?
BenMorganIO7 years ago
I'd recommend a side project and see if you can start your own business. Sounds like a good time.

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19539485

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0 points · 0 comments · 7 years ago · steven2012

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19539485

Right now I'm struggling with whether or not to leave. I'm currently at a well-known company, and I'm uncharacteristically happy because my WLB is the best it's been in my career.

However, I'm getting a bit bored and I also know I could make at least $50,000 a year more if I leave. Hell, even the new engineers joining my company at the same level are making more than I am.

bmdavi37 years ago
What if you went to your manager, or whoever you feel is the right person, asked if you could speak one on one, and said...
"I really love working at this company. The work is interesting, I love the people, the culture, <one more legitimate pro goes here>. But I also know I could be making X if I went elsewhere. I love the work I'm doing, and I want to keep doing it here, but I also don't want to be leaving money on the table. What can we do?"
This phrasing, pretty much verbatim, has worked really well for me in the past.
readingnews7 years ago
Saying things like "I could make 50k more at blah" seems to be taken so lightly these days. I would party/panic/freak out like I won the lotto if you told me I could make 50k more somewhere else. 50k... do you have any idea what that does to your future earnings? Your 401k/retirement? Hell, even if you live the same as now, sticking 25K in the bank every year is worth a whole heaping spoonful of whatever hell they could possibly throw at you in the new position... but it seems almost daily I read about someone or hear about someone who says "eh, Ill pass on that 20/50/75/100k increase in salary, I'm not into "money"..."
I suppose all of those people already have their million in the bank for retirement... or are independently wealthy. Where do all of those people come from?
war10257 years ago
I was in a very similar situation at the end of last year. Young kids and a work life balance that couldn't be beat. Had a couple expenses pop up that aggravated my irritation at being underpaid to the point that I looked for a different job. Calculated out how much I thought I'd need to offset the work-life balance bit, and went out and got an offer for that amount. Actually accepted the offer but my employer said they'd match that offer, which was a much better outcome for me given the work-life balance part. I figure if it doesn't end up working out, the worst case scenario is I'll feel comfortable asking a higher salary next time I am on the job hunt. For now I'm living in the best of both worlds.
neogodless7 years ago
I didn't see the WLB acronym in the article. Something like "whole-life benefits?"
ETA: Just remembered "work-life balance." Gotcha!
xiaodai7 years ago
Why don't you just ask for a raise if new people are making more than you?
BenMorganIO7 years ago
I'd recommend a side project and see if you can start your own business. Sounds like a good time.

news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19539485