Worklopnik / work-moral question

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
10/17/2014 at 13:59 • Filed to: None

Is it wrong to take a full-time job knowing you will be leaving in 5-6 months?

(917 for your time)

Back-story. About a year and a half ago I quit a good job I had and took a Massive pay cut to the tune of $18,000 / yr to go work for a company (to remain un-named) in the performance aftermarket industry. Essentially they promised me lots of travel and the ability to work with many large names in the tuning and racing side of things. None of that happened.

Every time I ask about when Ill get to take the trip or work with X client they feed me some BS line about "when we feel your up to date enough on the products", which again, is total BS proven by the fact that they all (management included) come to me with questions about how products work and advice on troubleshooting certain things (so if I don't know enough, why do you ask me).

Anyways, $ has been tight since I started, and now it's apparent that they wont be following through on their promises, plus business has been slowing down TREMENDOUSLY (proven by the fact that I am literally on Oppo all 9 hrs per day I am at work).

So here is the 5 - 6 mo bit. You may recall, I am !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! This is still happening, and I am aiming for early to mid spring to have my house sold and be on the road. I can find plenty of low to mid level management jobs (and / or other work) that will pay me more than I make now, by a rather significant amount, as well as not letting me be bored out of my head so much that my refresh button is worn out beyond recognition from refreshing Oppo so much.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

At the same point in time I find it a bit scummy to take a job (at least at a management level) with the preconceived notion of leaving 5 to 6 months later (becasue you know they are going to say during the interview that they are looking for someone long term and I will have to lie and say "Oh, Of course".

My dilemma is that, other than the basic issues I listed above, this company is terrible at doing its job, and I am sick and tired of being the only one to try and pick up the slack. It's just not worth it. So do I stay for 5-6 mo and become more and more miserable, or do I be a lying dick and take another job that will pay more and be more satisfying, knowing I will be leaving?

Sorry for clogging up oppo with non-car stuff but I value your opinions.

DISCUSSION (29)

Dsscats > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:03

Take the other job. They'll be able to find someone else to take over. "Plans just changed"

phenotyp > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:03

Do companies show you any loyalty? If yes, then maybe it's not worth doing.

If not, though, I wouldn't worry about it. Take the job, do it well or as long as you're there, and enjoy the raise.

mr_gofast > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:03

what are you there for? to make them a better company or to make some cash>?

my 2c here is that you stay as long as you can - make the money you can, while AT the same time you prepare to leave on a moments notice when the next job hits. If the company is doomed to fail and sucks at what it does, thats on the owner and not on you - think of yourself first because the company ( with VERY few exceptions) never will.

pdx107 > Dsscats
10/17/2014 at 14:04

This pretty much.

CAR_IS_MI > Dsscats
10/17/2014 at 14:05

Yea it just feels like a dickish move to me, like if I had hired someone to be a manager under me and they were like yea I'm here for the haul, and all was going well on both parts (or so it seemed) then they just left... I'd be a little pissed.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:05

Plans change. Take the job. When I took my current job, I was only expecting to be here for about a year. Three years later and I'm still here and will be for probably one more.

Sn210 > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:05

Take the other job. You don't owe them any sort of long term commitment. Your current employer had no problem not following through with the original plan, why should you feel you owe that to the next employer? Take care of yourself first

505Turbeaux > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:06

take the job. Very few employers are loyal enough or honest enough to give you the same sort of consideration, so screw it. Look out for #1

CAR_IS_MI > phenotyp
10/17/2014 at 14:08

True, but I like to hold myself to higher standards, rather than drop to their level.

CAR_IS_MI > mr_gofast
10/17/2014 at 14:11

I came here as it was an industry I always wanted to work in and it was (appeared to be) a great opportunity (mostly smoke and mirrors it turns out).

Bandit > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:12

Your happiness comes first.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:12

You don't owe a LLC anything my man. Do you!

Leadbull > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:12

You make it sound like there's a plethora of jobs waiting for you. If that's the case, surely one of them will accommodate your plans.

I'm not exactly the archetype of morality, but I don't think I could intentionally lie to someone who's willing to pay me thousands of dollars.

CAR_IS_MI > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/17/2014 at 14:12

Yea, if I cared at all to stay in the area I am currently in, I would consider the option of staying at a good job, but I hate being here in the summer months (120* every day for 4 months...) and WILL NOT do one more summer here.

jaguarenvy > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:13

I would err on the side of being honest. Maybe a company only needs some mid level managers for a 5-6 month project, you don't truly KNOW what their needs are without talking to them.

But in the long run you never know when this could come around to bite you in the ass. Maybe the same person who hires you ends up moving somewhere where you really want to work for or with in 5 years and you've burned that bridge or he's friends with someone where you are applying and your new prospective employer sees you used to work with his old friend for 6 months so he calls him up. It just wouldn't be worth the risk in my opinion.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:15

As much as it sucks, I say stay where you are or find a similar, non-management type position. In the long run when you settle wherever you decide to, you'll have to brush off your resume and explain to someone why you were there for only 6 months.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:18

Yeah, that's my situation too. I can't stand the area. Pretty much the only reason I'm still here is because of my job.

CAR_IS_MI > Leadbull
10/17/2014 at 14:19

I wouldn't say a plethora, but I have a wide range of experience in varying fields and titles as well as a large number of high ranking professional acquaintances in this town whom could aid in attaining a job.

And yes, I feel the same way, which is why I posted this, but if I told a potential company "Well I'm only interested for the money and personal fulfillment and I plan on leaving the state within 6 months time", I probably couldn't get hired at McDonalds...

crown victor victoria > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:21

As long as you don't have a contract, I say go for it. You don't owe them anything beyond work in exchange for monetary compensation.

Leadbull > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:24

You don't have to word it like that. You don't even have to tell them why you're leaving. Just say "personal business". Some places just look for temporary guys for temporary jobs, anyway.

You obviously have way more job experience than I do... I think you know it'll turn out ok.

CAR_IS_MI > jaguarenvy
10/17/2014 at 14:25

Which again, is why I am in this dilemma... I would hate for something like that scenario to play out, becasue thats not really me, but I fear if I stay where I am I will literally go insane and in 6 months time I will be leaving but it will be as they forcefully place me into a white padded room...

CAR_IS_MI > Where have all the lightweights gone?
10/17/2014 at 14:26

I mean I could always go back to a sales position where I am likely to make what I make now or more, but thats a bit hit or miss...

CAR_IS_MI > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/17/2014 at 14:28

I mean I would leave now if I could but I have a project car, a project motorcycle, and another motorcycle that need to be finished and sold, plus god knows how many projects around the house that I need to finish before I can sell, which, at the earliest, puts me leaving middle of winter, and I don't want to go check places out when they are under 6 feet of snow...

CAR_IS_MI > crown victor victoria
10/17/2014 at 14:30

Other than a non-compete so I cant go work for a competitor... No.

CAR_IS_MI > Leadbull
10/17/2014 at 14:33

Well yes if I could find a 6 month restructure deal I would jump on that like a fat kid on a video game remote...

phenotyp > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:37

It's tough, having standards. But, hey, the company you're with didn't live up to its promises. The company you're potentially moving to will pay you to do the job that you'll presumably do well, for as long as you're there. How long you're there is up to you.

Pitchblende > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:48

Take another job, you never know what will happen in 6 months and you may find your plans change or take longer than expected, or if they don't then you have added another string to your bow.

JGrabowMSt > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 14:53

Take the new job. Things come up, people change their minds, and life moves on. It's not an employer's business in many cases. If you feel like up and going somewhere else, the only defense you need is that your life is changing. It's not feeding any sort of bullshit, it's just how you are.

Regardless, survival is #1 on the list, and if you are barely making the money required to do that up to your personal standards, you're not in the right place. Were you wrong for moving to this company? No, absolutely not. In the end however, they promised you something they completely failed to deliver, and if they're shocked and appalled to hear that, it's their own fault.

jaguarenvy > CAR_IS_MI
10/17/2014 at 15:57

I'm not saying stay where you hate it ... but try to find some sort of consulting or short term gig.