Guessing you don’t have any tattoos? From personal experience I can confirm looney tunes characters didn’t stand the test of time.
And with that I will check out of the thread. That’s all folks!!
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I guess it varies by industry. In tech it’s very commonly encouraged to interview even if not seriously looking to understand your market value and what’s out there. I get a lot of HR recruiters (vs headhunters) reaching out asking to talk even if I’m not really looking to make a move.
I’ve even been on internal team calls with execs where they mention that it’s something people (speaking directly to their employees) should do as a regular part of career maintenance. They understand that employees are free agents and also want to ensure that people are staying because their company is competitive, not because they’re somehow locked in.
At least in my industry, I’ve never heard of a company blacklisting a person for having declined an offer. That sounds kinda self-defeating.
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I think only you know if this is a right decision. At 55 I decided that I don’t want to take part of the rat race anymore and if I want more challenges I can do consulting on the side. I would not take a risk near retirement if I don’t have too. Specially risk that involves potential moving. Unless I was planning to move to that location before this job offer came along.
I don’t believe we know that OP is in the tech space? I agree it varies which is my point. In some industries or client facing roles the rules are different then tech. Super imposing our experiences doesnt inform OP but may serve to reinforce a desired bias or approach based on erroneous assumptions.
Agree if you have no real intention of taking a new job (location/relocation, expected comp, job description/responsibilities), it is bad form to waste the hiring company’s time and resources just to kick the tires. However, if there are circumstances where you would take the job, even though you are currently leaning against, I would continue the process to make sure you have as much information as you need to make a decision you can live with. As an employer, I would be disappointed but not hold a grudge against someone who we made an offer to but who turned us down unless: they obviously took us for a ride, e.g. brings family along for a mini-vacation which we funded (wholly or partially) or made numerous demands that we met/accommodated which are somewhat out of the ordinary and still turned us down, especially if we lost an alternate candidate.
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Sounds like the Florida job was with the same company that laid our OP off in 2016. That explains why she says she lost her job because she did not take the Florida job…
The current situation apparently involves two different companies. I would go through the interview process. It is not a guarantee that there will be a job offer at the end.
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OP might know more about the interview process. I can agree it does not make sense to go through 6 interviews with a company you know by interview #2 that it’s probably not for you.
But taking one interview - or 2 if the interviewing process would be multi-stepped is a way you can advocate for yourself.
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@Catcherinthetoast I actually said that in my post, but you did not quote the entire thing. It really depends on where the OP is in the process. Finding out more about expectations for things like travel, being at the office vs remote which may make her decide to continue the process or not are legitimate reasons to continue to interview, even if she decides not to take the job.
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What does your spouse think? If they are supportive of you pursuing this opportunity, then I agree with PPs and think you should go for at least one interview. If they are not supportive of it, and you think their reasoning is sound, then I’d reconsider it.
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Funny you post this, I am a bit older than you and talking to a new company this week. For me, it will be nearly entirely about whether it can fit with my accustomed lifestyle, within reason.
I think I could see going another 5 years being productive in the work arena, but I agree with many posts that there is a bit of a late-stage career feeling that I am in a comfort zone and could cruise, not being lazy or not working hard, but that once you are familiar with your current job & set up, you are not having to constantly challenge yourself.
At the beginning of Covid, I figured my job would be terminated/off-shored/given to someone younger and cheaper, etc. and I started mentally preparing to retire. Some days it seemed like the right time- check out while I’m still healthy, and other days I dreaded it…
It’s two plus years later, and I don’t think I’ve ever been happier professionally- in pretty much the same job but with more responsibility which is TONS of fun, working with super smart and kind and ethical people who challenge me every day, and I’d be lying if I said that the money didn’t factor into it. I see my peers and friends and neighbors retire- some willingly, some due to lay-offs, some due to health reasons- and it’s a really mixed bag. But for the most part- the people who have well funded retirements seem to be a lot happier (even with health issues, partner’s illnesses and death) than the folks who watch every move of their 401K with trepidation. Markets go up- that was the story people told themselves while planning to retire. And markets go down- and prices go up- that’s the “new normal” and a lot of people I know did not bake that into their financial plan.
I like working with younger people. I like learning new things. I handle the stress of my job MUCH better than I did when I was 45. And every dollar I bring in is going to make for a less stressful retirement- for me, my spouse, or my kids if I don’t spend it all…
To me, setting up a temporary household in a fun city like Boston would be a feature not a bug!!! As long as the company was paying for furnished housing- what a blast, right???
Good luck with your decision!!!
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I do know the company and would have loved to work for them when I was much younger. My husband supports this. We spend a lot of time together and have traveled extensively. He is not looking to retire anytime soon and we still don’t know where we would want to retire.
I am currently at the conversation stages. I would not waste their time if I reach something that I thought was a roadblock for me.
The Florida job was at another company and I had accepted that job but my manager wanted me to move sooner than later. I just think that it was the reason I eventually lost my job there but no one said that for certain. I just had a feeling that was the case.
I enjoy my current job and have friends there but I know there is no mobility and there are days that are just ho-hum and there are days that are really good when I feel I accomplished something. The flexibility I have there is a big plus.
Is the increased salary significant, and would it offset the costs of having to get a Boston apartment?
What retirement age do you envision?
“It would be a step-up position full of challenges and working with high-level executives.”
“Do I really have the energy to take on a challenging job at this stage in life?”
These two quotes indicate the new job could be quite stressful. I do anything to avoid stress these days. Personally, I would be inclined to coast towards retirement. YMMV.
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Recently did something similar – at age 60, I was offered a position which pulls together my years of expertise to work in an institution which values what I do. I had been feeling like I could just keep “going through the motions” at my former employer until retirement, knowing what to expect each day. Or, I could commit to something new, challenge myself, and feel valued for the last stage of my professional life. My partner was supportive and so I moved alone across the country (no longer “midwest mom”) while my partner continues in their work. I’m loving it – the new environment, the new (younger) colleagues, the new challenges are rejuvenating. So I’d encourage you to at least see the interview process through so that you can weight two real choices – you don’t know what you might discover about yourself!
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Another piece of food for thought.
I’m 62 and will likely need to work until 65 for health insurance purposes. While I like my job fine - I’ve been in this position for 21 years - I wish I would have considered a job change a few years ago. It was sort of easy to say, nah, just stay and ride it out until retirement…but I have to say, with a little over 2 years until 65, things feel REALLY stale and 2 years is a LOOONNNG time to “ride it out”.
Edited to say, how long do you think you’ll work (sorry if you already mentioned that) - if you’re 58 and figure to work until you are 65 that could be a nice 7 years at another job. Seven years is a fairly long, worthy commitment in my book!
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lia_b - best of luck to you. I’ve been thinking along those same lines (explore new career opportunities or stay in same job for 6-7 years?).
I can add that when I interviewed about 5 years ago for a management position - the whole process was really helpful. It was scary, I felt unqualified, but I knew that I had to build myself up and believe in myself in order to be convincing in an interview(s). Worked with friends on that and it went well.
Have been in that job for 5 years (it’s had its rough spots but is very gratifying). I still remember learning how forcing oneself to really believe in one’s own capabilities (as part of the job search/interview process) provides so many benefits in terms of overall professional growth and satisfaction.
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I’m just trying to imagine any company anywhere who has spent a nanosecond worrying about wasting a job candidate’s time and who would be penalized for dragging them through multiple hours long interviews and then not extending a job offer. In the immortal words of Cher Horowitz, “AS IF!!”
IMO, an industry where that would actually happens should be avoided at all costs.
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It seems like there would be more appeal if you didn’t have to relocate. It could be pricey and stressful/lonely to be far from spouse and friends. As you think though this, play some “what if” games to analyze further. For example, if the job were in you town would it be a slam dunk Yes for interest? Then perhaps it could be worth the relocation challenge.
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I haven interviewed candidates multiple multiple times and then at the end my company decided to eliminate the position. It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. I don’t understand why it is any unethical for OP to continue with the interviews until at such point she has enough information to decide if she wants to move forward. At the same time if the company doesn’t feel OP is sincere then they can always eliminate her c
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I agree - move forward and get more information. But only you can decide if this is for you. To me, it’s less about the stage in life and more about the fact that your husband and you would live in separate cities for an indefinite time. That’s a very personal choice and I personally would not want to do that (especially as we’d finally be nearing retirement). But others do it no problem and it works for them. So personal. But it also would depend on financial situation and whether that extra money is needed for retirement or just nice to have. How does your husband feel about it?
It would be less about the challenge honestly. I recently changed jobs (added responsibility/same money) but it was a fairly easy decision that worked for my lifestyle despite the added responsibility (more flexibility for remote).
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