I’m looking for some neutral advice on a career dilemma. I’ve been in my industry for 10 years and generally stay at companies long-term (only two employers in a decade), so I value my professional reputation.
I was recently job hunting for a few months and had two paths:
Option 1 (The Bank): This was my preferred role. I have professional contacts there, but the recruitment process was stalled for over a month due to internal red tape and BEE approval. I couldn't get a firm timeline or guarantee.
Option 2 (The Current Job): Because I was burning through savings, I accepted an offer from a consulting firm that moved very quickly. I’ve been there for about a month now. They hire 10 to 15 people monthly, so it seems like a high-churn environment.
The Dilemma: Yesterday, the Bank finally came back with an offer. It’s for the role I originally wanted and pays 15% more than my current salary.
Leaving after only a month feels like bad practice and potentially insulting to the company that stepped up when I needed the work. However, Option 1 is the better long-term fit and offer.
What would you do? Is the 15% bump and the better role worth the bridge-burning at a high-volume consulting house?
– Hope this is the right place to ask this, since its to do with money.
Should I quit a new job after one month for my preferred offer?
byu/Mobile-Marsupial-994 inpersonalfinance
Posted by Mobile-Marsupial-994
16 Comments
Easy, leave for the new job. If your consulting firm had their budget cut the day after you started, you would have already been shown the door.
If you’re planning to stay at the Bank for an extended period of time (multiple years) then take the job.
If Option 1 is a good long term fit, definitely take it. In a few years no one will bat an eye at the short stay unless it becomes a pattern. Just be respectful when it comes to resigning and hopefully the bridge won’t be as burnt as you expect. If they do raise hell… that’s more of a reason to be thankful for moving on
Don’t burn bridges, but that’s also what probation is kindof for, the role doesn’t suit you and you have a more suitable one that you see yourself in longer term.
No brainer. Take the better job.
Your primary responsibility is to yourself and family for 15% & better benefits take the new job.
Don’t bother to list the short job on your resume.
Take the new job. You don’t owe anyone anything. Give two weeks if the starting job for the bank can be pushed don’t put the consulting firm on your resume in the future.
I’d say take the better job AND keep the current job on your resume. Why? Easier to explain leaving the job after a short time than to explain why you hid it, if they find it in a background check (ESPECIALLY in a highly regulated environment like banking). The assumption will be that you are hiding something, the prospective employer’s HR team will label you accordingly, and it’s game over for that job.
Quit and leave it off your resume
Agree with the other comments and also you don’t have to declare that you’re leaving because of another job with a higher salary. You can always say a personal situation came up and you need to quit and step away.
No question – go to the new bank job.
Take the bank job.
It’s a business decision. Your career is you growing your business. You and they won’t even think about it in a few months.
Yes
Before they get used to you and they can back fill possibly with someone from your hiring list as it was recent
here’s the truth: nobody will even remember you after a month. take the bank job.
Yes leave for what you want. Sounds like it’s not a bridge you want to cross later so who cares if they think you burned it
You owe them nothing, and yourself everything. Do what is best for you. And congrats.