Career Transition

[Strider]

Hey all. I figured I would toss this out here as I could use some feedback from neutral parties. This may a be a bit long, so please bear with me.

To give the background, I've been at my current company for just over 5 years. They gave me a shot when I was less than a year out of being an undergrad, and I've gotten a ton of experience there. I was hired at an assistant level role, and I've progressed to being a department manager with two direct reports. I'm grateful for this, but as my career path has developed, I've come to realize that there's only so much I'm ever going to learn there. I'm in the midst of earning my MBA, and I'm already realizing that a lot of the skills I'm learning in school are just relevant there. It's a small, family-owned company, with a pretty conservative business model, and I've realized that I've ultimately outgrown them. At the end of the day, I'm getting married next year, and I need to put myself in an environment that's going to be in the best interests of my relationship and in the best interests of the family we hope to get started on in a couple of years.

So, I'm currently in the midst of attempting to transition and I'm in the middle of two interview processes right now. I'm a little leery about even posting this as I've always had a bit of a superstitious streak and don't really want to be counting chickens before they hatch. It's entirely possible neither of these come through and I'll be back to square one. But ultimately, if a choice has to be made, I want to have more than 24 hours to consider it, so it's best start looking at pros-and-cons now.

One is a specialist-level supply chain position in a pretty well-known biotechnology firm. I don't particularly mind that it's technically a lower title than I've got now as there's simply so much more to learn there in terms of best-practices and methodologies; additionally, when I met with their Director for Clinical Supply Chain he was pretty clear that the fact that I'm currently earning an MBA was a plus. So the appeal in this position if I can prove myself over the next couple of years, I'll already be relatively established within the role when I have my degree and there's definitely room to grow into a longer-term leadership role within the supply-chain department. Beyond that, if I decide I don't want to stay there, supply-chain work is very marketable. Once you've got that experience, you tend to be jumped to the front of the line, even if you're applying to work in a different industry.

The other one is in a mid-sized IT firm that's currently public, but not that far-off from being a start-up. This one is a manager-level role but it's a bit more nebulous in terms of concrete duties (the title is Business Operations Manager). Basically, my portfolio would be project management and running the administration in a relatively new service they're rolling out. The appeal in this role is that it plugs me in directly to the West Los Angeles tech cluster (Silicon Beach, as we call it here), and offers the chance to be a bit more entrepreneurial.

Compensation is largely comparable between the two, what I'm really torn on is company culture and environment.

On the one-hand, I've got an IT firm which offers all the ridiculous perks like a video game room, unlimited paid-time-off, and an in-office tavern. On the other hand, if you're going to turn down a Fortune 200 company, you better have a damn good reason for it, and at this point in my life, I'm not sure if 'well, the other place will let me have visible tattoos and dye my hair green' counts.

I feel like I'm a head vs. heart situation.

Feedback?

 

[rdhd]

Well, I'd say you do have a head on your shoulders, and are thinking hard (and a bit logically) about your options. My opinions are those of an old fogey; but the "IT firm which offers all the ridiculous perks like a video game room, unlimited paid-time-off, and an in-office tavern", well, that just sounds all too fun. How much is that company wasting with those kind of perks? (Remember, I'm old school.....no one offered those perks in my younger days.) The biotech firm may be better, especially if it's a Fortune 200 company. And again, my choices in life haven't been the best. Hopefully others will chime in with better advice. At any rate, good luck....I think you'll do quite well in your new career, whatever it is.

 

[jediofthefeet]

No matter where you work, there is always something to be learned from the experience. Do at any company exactly what you are doing with the family-owned company, absorb all you can before you feel the want or need to move onward. The days of staying with a company for a life time are all but gone. Just as the days of a company keeping you for a life time are all but gone.

Both of your prospective companies should have tuition reimbursement, but you usually have to be employed a period of time to take advantage of it. Furthermore, you may be reimbursed based upon your grades/performance, and if the course or major applies to the company. Finally, you will usually be required to remain in the company's employ for a about a year post graduation.

Will you be able to continue your education and maintain your grades with company A or B?
Demands, duties, and deadlines could sideline your education or make your grades falter.

How does your fiance feel about company A and B, especially company B's almost outlandish perks?
She may feel the frat boy environment may lead you to stray.

What are the next levels of promotion, and how long does it usually take to get them?

Are there any opportunities for lateral jobs, i.e., same salary, but different title?

Where is the industry for company A and B going?

What are your long-term goals, and do you think you can reach them with company A or B?

It would really be good if some people in those industries gave their input on this for you.