Should I change jobs?

[Alfisti]

My gut is telling me you should stay where u are.

[upstatedoc]

What is it exactly that you people do?

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by DJP86

Yes it is a new job function. they hired the VP for the new function about 2 months ago and I would be the first hire in the function under her to build out the infrastructure and team. Keep in mind I have never done anything like that before and the idea is kind of exciting, but daunting given my lack of experience.

Sounds exactly like what I did. $30k more building shit from the ground up. That is very valuable experience in the long run.

If the new company does great, as someone who has been there from the beginning, it leaves a lot of room for advancement based on your performance. If the company doesn't succeed, you'll have on your resume a ton of things most people won't have and you'll get another job easily.

This is a no brainier for me. Who cares if you got to meet athletes - that's what the company throws in the to keep people happy while you don't get paid. Id rather be paid then smile and say I met gronk. Lol

Edit: Long term for your growth I think the right decision is to move. You said daunting - that in itself should make you want to step up to that challenge. Your career path will accelerate and who knows you could always go back to your old company if they really liked you and valued you that much.

[FType22]

Originally Posted by jtodd_fl

Sooo... interesting thread. There does seem to be a lot of upside, but there is also a LOT of risk in a startup. I am not sure exactly what you do, but I am kind thinking the TV show "Ballers". (Not really.) Anyway, the key is the level of risk you that is acceptable to you. It is true that there aren't enough details to really advise well. What funding round are they through yet? Are these A series shares, preferred shares, how many are outstanding? What is the current valuation of the company? Have the primary investors and C-suite ever taken a company public before? What is their exit horizon if IPO in 2nd half 2016 doesn't fly? (They often get delayed - especially in an election year if uncertainty hits the IPO market.) Then again, there are great upside potentials. What risk and sacrifice are you willing to tolerate? For every FB or Twitter, there are hundreds of fucked.com stories. I have worked for a $40 Billion company and I have done 2 startups. They are VASTLY different environments. The third option is to take your skills to a similar company and try to move up by moving on. This is very common. Just my 2 cents.

Haha actually Ballers is a little how my week was during Super Bowl, pretty once in a lifetime. But you raise a lot of good questions with the funding questions. I should probably (and will probably) do my own research on that, but what I know is they have $100 million in venture capitalist backing. They have been around since 2006 and have seen 50% growth year over year since. They saw 78% growth last year. They are a big data start up serving many of the bay areas tech companies (think uber twitter facebook etc). I don't expect to "get rich" off the IPO, it was more of a statement, If I made 14k off the stock they gave me i would be surprised. I just want stability.

I've worked in start ups before and actually prefer them to this corporate mongoloid I'm in now. In all honesty, I've been applying to larger companies but haven't gotten any bites, not sure why but thems the breaks.

[FType22]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Sounds exactly like what I did. $30k more building shit from the ground up. That is very valuable experience in the long run.

If the new company does great, as someone who has been there from the beginning, it leaves a lot of room for advancement based on your performance. If the company doesn't succeed, you'll have on your resume a ton of things most people won't have and you'll get another job easily.

This is a no brainier for me. Who cares if you got to meet athletes - that's what the company throws in the to keep people happy while you don't get paid. Id rather be paid then smile and say I met gronk. Lol

Edit: Long term for your growth I think the right decision is to move. You said daunting - that in itself should make you want to step up to that challenge. Your career path will accelerate and who knows you could always go back to your old company if they really liked you and valued you that much.

I enjoy your enthusiasm about challenges being the recipe for growth and success. I also think you have a point about athletes being a honey pot of sorts, especially for me because I'm big into sports and sponsorships. I'll likely be involved in the NFL draft in the coming weeks, for example.

I do think this will be good experience, I just want there to be more than money that I find enjoyable given the risks, but it's nice to see you have the opinion that there is a big upside to gaining experience in something I don't have any in.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by DJP86

I enjoy your enthusiasm about challenges being the recipe for growth and success. I also think you have a point about athletes being a honey pot of sorts, especially for me because I'm big into sports and sponsorships. I'll likely be involved in the NFL draft in the coming weeks, for example.

I do think this will be good experience, I just want there to be more than money that I find enjoyable given the risks, but it's nice to see you have the opinion that there is a big upside to gaining experience in something I don't have any in.

If you enjoy the interactions you have and that is important to you, you ll have to weigh how important that is vs being stuck in a company and role with very little upside. That's the worst case scenario for everyone. Nothing worse than complacency and being comfortable.

Me personally I like to be the one creating things from the start - having a strategic vision for the company and executing. It may be boring in terms of being in the office 100% of the time but I assume you'll be on multiple projects at once. After a year or two, you'll see the results of all the work that was put in and potentially start hiring people to maintain what you've built. Those are the things that are rewarding and fun to me (I mean, it's work, most of us don't get to do what we have a passion for) and as a side effect I gain new skills. To me it's something I'll have to experience for sure if I want to be a big wig at a company in the future.

[FType22]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

If you enjoy the interactions you have and that is important to you, you ll have to weigh how important that is vs being stuck in a company and role with very little upside. That's the worst case scenario for everyone. Nothing worse than complacency and being comfortable.

Me personally I like to be the one creating things from the start - having a strategic vision for the company and executing. It may be boring in terms of being in the office 100% of the time but I assume you'll be on multiple projects at once. After a year or two, you'll see the results of all the work that was put in and potentially start hiring people to maintain what you've built. Those are the things that are rewarding and fun to me (I mean, it's work, most of us don't get to do what we have a passion for) and as a side effect I gain new skills. To me it's something I'll have to experience for sure if I want to be a big wig at a company in the future.

I agree. I do have the luxury of actually doing what I love for a living, so that's probably why I'm being a little more picky about my happiness because my job as always fulfilled me besides giving just me a paycheck. Lately that's not been the case at my current company. I think finding a sense of accomplishment and reward in building something myself could be very exciting, and I agree, the strategic vision, the hiring experience, knowing how to deal with the challenges of expansion, all these things would help anyone become a future big wig.

[ASBSECU E93]

OP - My best advise to you regarding employment and climbing the ladder to success (provided you do not own your own business at some point in the future)...

Become indispensable or highly critical to your company's success.

This allows you a certain level of comfort and freedom that many will never understand.

I have a skill set that I consider as a commodity. My ability to earn future income isn't limited in my current role, or should I desire to leave my current employer for more lucrative opportunities.

But - if I do decide to leave, I have a skill that is in demand and can easily translate among different financial institutions due to the specific nature of the field within the sector.

[FType22]

Originally Posted by ASBSECU E93

OP - My best advise to you regarding employment and climbing the ladder to success (provided you do not own your own business at some point in the future)...

Become indispensable or highly critical to your company's success.

I have a skill set that I consider as a commodity. My ability to earn future income isn't limited in my current role, or should I desire to leave my current employer for more lucrative opportunities.

But - if I do decide to leave, I have a skill that is in demand and can easily translate among different financial institutions due to the specific nature of the field within the sector.

This role, is it something it took you years to develop and hone? Did it take school and study or hands on effort (of course everything could take a little of both)

Asking for curiousity sake of how i could diversify my employment skillset to be more valuable long term.

[ASBSECU E93]

Originally Posted by DJP86

This role, is it something it took you years to develop and hone? Did it take school and study or hands on effort (of course everything could take a little of both)

Asking for curiousity sake of how i could diversify my employment skillset to be more valuable long term.

When I went to college, planned to be a coach and teacher.....my degree is in Math and History.

I realized soon in my Junior year that teaching is one of the crappiest careers on the planet.

I held a couple of odd jobs (Sales mostly) - and was even a Casino Pit Boss for 3 years....then got a start with First Union National Bank in 1996, who then promptly sold me to another bank due to the Wachovia merger, and was ultimately acquired by SunTrust. My banking career started as a small business banker, and worked my way up to middle management with Commercial lending group.

During my career - the credit (underwriting) side was always similar across all institutions, with simple tweaks to fit their philosophy.

After several other banking stops - I am now over all of lending for a $2 billion asset credit union. I was given the opportunity to basically build each department over from the ground up.....policies, procedures, process work flow, underwriting, post closing, audit, etc....

While this path is mature in the traditional banking sector, the credit union space is playing catch up on the commercial side....basically, I have a skill set and relevant experience that is in high demand within Credit Unions for the next 20 years.

Probably a longer answer than you wanted - but I knew during the last 3 years in banking prior to my current role the credit union space was the future for me. I patiently sought the right fit and I have been here for 3 years now...

[FType22]

Originally Posted by ASBSECU E93

When I went to college, planned to be a coach and teacher.....my degree is in Math and History.

I realized soon in my Junior year that teaching is one of the crappiest careers on the planet.

I held a couple of odd jobs (Sales mostly) - and was even a Casino Pit Boss for 3 years....then got a start with First Union National Bank in 1996, who then promptly sold me to another bank due to the Wachovia merger, and was ultimately acquired by SunTrust. My banking career started as a small business banker, and worked my way up to middle management with Commercial lending group.

During my career - the credit (underwriting) side was always similar across all institutions, with simple tweaks to fit their philosophy.

After several other banking stops - I am now over all of lending for a $2 billion asset credit union. I was given the opportunity to basically build each department over from the ground up.....policies, procedures, process work flow, underwriting, post closing, audit, etc....

While this path is mature in the traditional banking sector, the credit union space is playing catch up on the commercial side....basically, I have a skill set and relevant experience that is in high demand within Credit Unions for the next 20 years.

Probably a longer answer than you wanted - but I knew during the last 3 years in banking prior to my current role the credit union space was the future for me. I patiently sought the right fit and I have been here for 3 years now...

I can see some alignment here, we're in two very different industries-ish, but you took a career in what you knew and grew it - really it sounds like you blew it up - and it's paying off well right now.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by DJP86

I can see some alignment here, we're in two very different industries-ish, but you took a career in what you knew and grew it - really it sounds like you blew it up - and it's paying off well right now.

Pretty much the ability to look forward and building up the skill set needed through experience.

It's harder if you are in a niche market as there aren't too many opty's.

What do you do currently and what is the difference in the new role?

He revoked my man card for my lunch too.

Edit: you should always leverage existing knowledge with whatever it is you do going forward.

[FType22]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Pretty much the ability to look forward and building up the skill set needed through experience.

It's harder if you are in a niche market as there aren't too many opty's.

What do you do currently and what is the difference in the new role?

He revoked my man card for my lunch too.

Edit: you should always leverage existing knowledge with whatever it is you do going forward.

I'm essentially in the creative services industry. I would be building an in-house content team to record educational materials to clients. It's very niche but growing.

Edit: didn't really answer the whole question. Right now I am part of a two man crew that travels, literally, the world, to make videos for different stake holder groups within my company. I also help leverage sponsorship assets with behind the scenes and on site support for external vendors. I also help with commercial marketing production on big projects. Budgets range from 0-$15 million +

I think the new job will have budgets of 0, and the biggest jobs are always the most fun.

[eluded]

I'm a whore so I follow the money & u should 2

[FType22]

Originally Posted by eluded

I'm a whore so I follow the money & u should 2

*waves $100 bill*

[ASBSECU E93]

Originally Posted by DJP86

I'm essentially in the creative services industry. I would be building an in-house content team to record educational materials to clients. It's very niche but growing.

Ok - how could you translate this skill into other segments of the creative arts industry?

[FType22]

Originally Posted by ASBSECU E93

Ok - how could you translate this skill into other segments of the creative arts industry?

Getting in the door seems to be the hardest part but I believe given that I'm in the bay area the best way for me to translate these skills is to look into the technical side of things, such as streaming engineer or transcoding engineer. Not being an engineer is a problem but I have a ton of experience/knowledge of codecs/bit rates/etc, however, being in an engineer heavy environment my experience means less.

Other than that it is about expanding my current skillset to include managing, if I stay on the creative side I need to grow as a creative services guru, running a department kind of thing.

[ASBSECU E93]

Originally Posted by DJP86

Getting in the door seems to be the hardest part but I believe given that I'm in the bay area the best way for me to translate these skills is to look into the technical side of things, such as streaming engineer or transcoding engineer. Not being an engineer is a problem but I have a ton of experience/knowledge of codecs/bit rates/etc, however, being in an engineer heavy environment my experience means less.

Other than that it is about expanding my current skillset to include managing, if I stay on the creative side I need to grow as a creative services guru, running a department kind of thing.

Sounds like a degree is a must - is this a possibility to pursue while you continue to work?

[FType22]

Originally Posted by ASBSECU E93

Sounds like a degree is a must - is this a possibility to pursue while you continue to work?

A degree in engineering? depends. I don't even know if I'm smart enough to pull that off. I have a masters in motion picture and television already though so I have those degrees covered.

[ASBSECU E93]

Originally Posted by DJP86

A degree in engineering? depends. I don't even know if I'm smart enough to pull that off. I have a masters in motion picture and television already though so I have those degrees covered.

Gotcha!

Since you're degree is in that segment, What about music or movies..?

[FType22]

Originally Posted by ASBSECU E93

Gotcha!

Since you're degree is in that segment, What about music or movies..?

Yes to both, competition just incredible though. If I wanted to go all in I would probably take a 60-80k pay cut, move to so cal, deliver coffee for a year, and hope at the end of it I got to apprentice. That's been a donkey pill to swallow.

The best thing would probably be to work for a production company around here but again, $$ ain't really there and everything is freelance.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by DJP86

Yes to both, competition just incredible though. If I wanted to go all in I would probably take a 60-80k pay cut, move to so cal, deliver coffee for a year, and hope at the end of it I got to apprentice. That's been a donkey pill to swallow.

The best thing would probably be to work for a production company around here but again, $$ ain't really there and everything is freelance.

You don't want to take Starbucks orders for the whole dept for years? I've seen way to many of those vs a handful who have become executives. Im in tv production as well but corporate functions.