Ask HN: Would you change job in this climate?

[thisiswrongggg]

Given the looming crisis imagine you having a decent role in a rock-solid company/product. Now, would you take on the opportunity to a scale-up for double the salary? There will be no fall back to your previous role if things go bad.

I know this is a personal question depending much on the specifics of each but I just want to see different angles on it.

TIA

[Manuel_D]

This post needs some more details to give a good answer. Is the new role's long term viability more uncertain? Is the company on solid footing? If not, then isn't changing jobs strictly better?

My main questions for you are:

* Are you able to make do without a job for an extended period of time? I assume you don't need a work Visa to stay in country. Do you have enough savings to go for a year without work.

* How confident are you that the new role will last for at least a year?

Imagine you work a the new job for a year, the company folds, and you take a year to find a new job. Then you're no worse off than you were working at your existing job for those two years. So I'd say go for it.

The main factors that would lead me to dissuade you from making this change are: if you can't go without work for an extended period of time (Visa requirements or lack of savings). Or if you're not confident this new role will exist for at least a year.

[dossy]

If you are trying to optimize for income, then go for it. If it doesn't work out, try something else. There's an abundance of opportunity and not enough people willing to take (measured) risks, so if you're smart and willing to take on sufficient but not excessive risk, net over the long term you will succeed.

If you are risk averse, or poor at assessing risk, or not very smart, then don't chase money: you will most likely end up poor, unless you're incredibly lucky, which you cannot control.

[alex504]

A 100% salary boost is pretty large.

If they are doubling your salary at the start up your compensation at your previous role is probably at about the bottom or even below the bottom of what you would make on the market if the startup goes bust.

If the economy gets so bad that you get laid off from the startup and (seems unlikely at this point) that you would be unable to get any job at your current low salary, there is a decent chance you would have been laid off at the first job regardless.

I would say go for it, completely ignoring all quality of life variables like work life balance, getting along with your team, doing interesting work, and so forth. These things matter a lot as well so it's worth thinking about those. In terms of money it seems like a no brainer to me.

[jki275]

I'm changing jobs for a 20% increase, but going from a very stable job to another very stable leader in the industry, not a startup. So not quite the same and I'd be a bit worried about going to a startup in this climate. Might be fine, but how much runway do you personally have available in case you do lose your job, that's probably the main decision driver.

[rjh29]

In the UK - no. My current salary is fine. A larger salary implies more work/responsibility/hours, a larger percentage will be taxed, and if I don't like it I can't easily go back. I can also be fired more easily in the first six months of employment.

[switch007]

Actually it’s 2 years. The probation periods don’t have much grounding in anything. 2 years is in law.

(It’s a common misconception that once you “pass” “probation” that you’re safe)

[rjh29]

It's written into my contract, so I get a larger notice period and potentially redundancy money if I'm fired after six months.

I haven't studied the actual law, probably should!

[tkiolp4]

I did (although 8 months ago). 20% salary raise. Same responsibility. I was getting around 5% salary raises (annually) at my previous job… it was almost impossible to get more (unless you were willing to take over way more responsibilities).

[ineedausername]

Yes I would, but only because I don't have responsibilities or loans and I've got savings too.

If I had a family to feed then idk...

[flappyeagle]

Yes. Bet on yourself.