Author Topic: Job Loyalty & Dream Job  (Read 13559 times)

digito

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Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« on: October 25, 2015, 10:09:04 AM »
Hey all, I have a lot of anxiety about a job I am applying for today. I've been at my current workplace for ~4 years, and while it's generally good, my "dream job" was posted with another company this week, and I feel like I have to go for it. This is one of those "first world problems" type threads, so feel free to stop reading here if that annoys you ;)

So, I am anxious about 2 aspects of applying for the "dream job": the possibility that I'll have to quit my current job, and the fact that I've had my hopes up for this new job before it was even posted and I likely won't actually get it.

First, I am overly loyal to my employer; I've always worked for small companies, and endeavored to be that "linchpin" employee. Right now, it is paying off - I enjoy my job, and my contributions are recognized and appreciated. I am on track to have more of a "manager" role when that becomes necessary. The main downsides are a fixed 8am to 5pm schedule, and general fatigue with the work. The pluses include a good community of coworkers who I enjoy being around, and a seemingly stable position with decent pay. If I am able to wrangle an offer after applying for this new job, it will be incredibly difficult to leave - I've been telling my boss for years that none of us should be essential to the business, but I think it would at a minimum slow down their success for a few months if I left now.

Second, I've been waiting for this dream job to be posted for about a year; I know the competition will be stiff, and I will try to stand out as best as I can, but somehow I've put a lot of pressure on this exact opportunity working out, and I know it's no guarantee. The position is a lot more flexible (work at home/wherever you want, work around your schedule). I really want it. It's the kind of job that would make me less intent on FIRE, and happier to work past FI. I guess the worst case scenario is I don't get an interview, I am bummed and disappointed in myself for a few months, and life goes on at my current job.

I'm not quite sure what I am hoping for from you, this awesome community; I know you all could coach me on my job loyalty being a losing proposition for me as an employee. I know I shouldn't put all of my career hopes into one job posting. I guess I am wondering, have you had similar dilemma in your career? Do you have any awesome advice for my situation? Thanks in advance for anything you can say to help ease my anxiety!
« Last Edit: October 25, 2015, 10:21:51 AM by digito »

lbmustache

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2015, 10:26:09 AM »
1) I don't really believe in job loyalty. You are lucky to be at a place that views you as valuable. But if push comes to shove they will put the company before you. :)

Also. Don't take this the wrong way. But people at work are replaceable. My old boss used to work during vacations etc. because "what will the company do without me." Then she got pregnant and had to leave for awhile. And things ran 100% perfectly when she was gone. IMO, unless you are doing something highly specific that only a few people know how to do, or are at the top of your field (maybe you are?) then... you're replaceable and things will function just fine without you.

2) Apply for the job. You'll always be left wondering "what if." Maybe you get it, maybe you don't. If you get it - hooray, it's everything you've worked towards/dreamed of! If you don't, at least you tried and you still have a good job at the end of the day.

I understand the anxiety. It mostly has to do with the leap. JUMP!

BlueHouse

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2015, 10:35:17 AM »
It sounds as if you have fear of failure.  Well, the one sure thing is that you WILL fail if you don't try.  So there you go. 

As for being the lynchpin, I agree with the others.  Leave, and you'll see just how fast you are replaceable.  Here are a few questions to ask yourself: 
1. did the company survive before they hired you?
2.  Do you have visions of things falling apart when you're gone? (You'll miss me when I'm gone!)
3.  Do the answers to #1 and #2 sound a little bit arrogant (don't worry, we all want to feel important)
4.  Have you ever heard anyone at work say "Digito isn't in this for the money...he's a team player".  That's what I used to hear all the time, and then I realized that was code-speak for "I'm a moron that the company is taking advantage of"

tl;dr:  apply for the job and worry about the rest after you are offered the new job.  Good luck!

JRA64

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2015, 10:44:33 AM »
There's no dilemma until you get the job offer. Apply, do your best, go in with your eyes open and make sure it really is your dream job. Don't worry about whether or not to accept the job offer until you actually get it.

If you do go, leave on good terms. A lot of people I work with left, worked somewhere else for a while, and came back.

bauhauss

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2015, 01:12:04 PM »
Nobody is irreplaceable.  I was in a "linchpin" type position at my former employer and I left.  They survived.  They didn't value me enough to promote me to director and give me the appropriate compensation, so I decided to do what was best for me.  It was definitely the right choice.  I left on good terms, and still have good relationships with everybody.  Most decent employers/colleagues will understand.

If you are that important to your current employer, let them make you a counteroffer (assuming you get the offer from job #2) that matches the terms that are most important to you.  If they can't do that, then go where you can get those terms.

Good luck getting an interview/getting the dream job!

Amen!

Daisy

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2015, 01:51:22 PM »
Following this thread as I may be in a similar position. Except I have no pre-conception that my current job needs me. I got shuffled around last year and I may be on the chopping block at any moment.

I just applied to a "dream job" and made it through the first round of interviews. If I get the job offer, my decision point would be more along the lines of:

"Do I give up my generous vacation time of 6 weeks and go down to 4?"
"Am I going to have to work crazy hours at the new job?" (it's a small startup)
"Idiot, if you just stick around the sinking ship you are currently on you may eventually get laid off and a severance package and sail on into FIRE."

The new job would actually be a fun job, even though that may sound kind of hokey. The particular company I am looking at is working on an exciting new product that would meld technology, art, music, etc. So I might be able to delve into my artsy side a little more, which is what I'd want to do post-FIRE anyways. But I am getting ahead of myself...

I suggest to the OP to wait and see what the new job offers. I would base the decision on what's best for your personal growth, learning new things. I agree that if you are so needed at your current job, if you leave to the other company and it doesn't work out that you still have your contacts back at the old job. Since your current job is at a startup, how long-lasting is it anyways? I get the loyalty thing, I've got loads of that too. So if you leave phrase it in a form that says you'd like to try a new opportunity, etc, not that there's anything wrong with the old job.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2015, 02:18:30 PM »
Thanks for all of the encouraging feedback so far - I am definitely going for it, and we'll see how it unfolds! The matter at hand right now is writing an awesome cover letter.

There's no dilemma until you get the job offer. Apply, do your best, go in with your eyes open and make sure it really is your dream job.

It sounds as if you have fear of failure.  Well, the one sure thing is that you WILL fail if you don't try.  So there you go. 

Great advice. I *am* afraid of being disappointed if I fail - I feel I am such a great fit for the job, but they might not.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2015, 09:24:14 PM »
They close the application process next Friday - hoping to get word soon afterward about a phone interview.

I've been working on a "spec work" strategy document, some brainstorming exercises that will help show my creativity/skills - has anyone had any experience sending this kind of thing to a company before an interview? What'd you do?

Neva6

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2015, 10:15:18 PM »
I was in a very similar situation a few months ago. A position at an awesome growing small company was opened that matched particularly well with my skill-set and experience. It is a "Dream Job". I was similarly anxious even before applying and thought it was a long shot! I hit up my network and LinkedIn and used that to get an interview. I got a call which lead to a series of interviews. The rest is history. I start next week!

I had a portfolio of work examples and projects that I submitted with my resume and gave to my contact at the company. It seemed to really help provide concrete examples and talking points. I would highly recommend something similar and try to find a connection through an ex-colleague or classmate or friend.

Do you feel comfortable sharing what type of work and/or industry?

Best of luck!

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2015, 09:27:36 AM »
My linkedin network has no helpful connections, unfortunately :(

The work is marketing. I put one example project I worked on in my cover letter, but I didn't have much in the way of a "portfolio" to submit. Now that I've already submitted, I guess I need to find a way to send in more supporting documents.

Neva6

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2015, 02:01:05 PM »
Hopefully something will catch their eye. If you get the initial phone screen I would make sure to be prepared with more material to give to the screener. This will give them concrete things to discuss with you and make you stand out amongst the rest of the candidates.

Dee18

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2015, 02:23:35 PM »
Treat it as the "win win" situation that it is.  If you get the new job, yay for flex hours! If you remain at current job, yay for great co-workers!    My job has wonderful flexibility, but I really do miss the good friends I had at two previous jobs.

letired

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2015, 04:37:42 PM »
I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about the concept of 'job loyalty', but they'd be incoherent and keymashy, so I'm going to drop some links here. This is a series of blog posts aimed at the programmers, but relevant, I think, to any profession or field.

Loyalty and Layoffs
Loyalty and Trust
Loyalty and Your Professional Network


Astatine

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2015, 04:48:33 PM »
They close the application process next Friday - hoping to get word soon afterward about a phone interview.

I've been working on a "spec work" strategy document, some brainstorming exercises that will help show my creativity/skills - has anyone had any experience sending this kind of thing to a company before an interview? What'd you do?

One important thing I've taken from Ask A Manager website (and relevant to all interviews regardless of country and type of organisation) is the interview is as much about interviewing them as it is you being interviewed for the job. You need to find out if they will be a good fit for you, as much as they are trying to find out if you'll be a good fit for them. Jobs that look great on paper may not be so in reality due to corporate culture.

This is a good link for interview prep:
http://www.askamanager.org/how-to-guide

Edit: Edited because I can't read.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2015, 04:52:31 PM by Astatine »

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2015, 08:35:53 PM »
Treat it as the "win win" situation that it is.  If you get the new job, yay for flex hours! If you remain at current job, yay for great co-workers!    My job has wonderful flexibility, but I really do miss the good friends I had at two previous jobs.

This is a good way to look at it. I think part of the reason I have gotten my hopes up so far is because truthfully, my current job is boring me a bit. I will still try and look at this as a win win, because even if they don't ever call me, I still have a decent job.

I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about the concept of 'job loyalty', but they'd be incoherent and keymashy, so I'm going to drop some links here. This is a series of blog posts aimed at the programmers, but relevant, I think, to any profession or field.

Loyalty and Layoffs
Loyalty and Trust
Loyalty and Your Professional Network

Thanks for the links - interesting reading. I think my loyalty stems from the fact that I don't work for a big corporation, but a smaller, relatively new company with a small group of employees.

This is a good link for interview prep:
http://www.askamanager.org/how-to-guide

Edit: Edited because I can't read.

Thanks! That's an awesome resource. I will add this to my list of prep materials (I sure am putting a lot of prep time into the possibility of being interviewed).

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #15 on: November 05, 2015, 08:46:08 PM »
Job closes tomorrow - I just sent a "pre-interview project" document to the hiring guy through linkedin, hopefully that at least inspires them to take a closer look at me.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #16 on: November 08, 2015, 04:51:14 PM »
What are your favorite questions to ask a potential employer during an interview? Which questions will make the best impression in your experience?

The Wire

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #17 on: November 10, 2015, 03:08:36 PM »
Nobody is irreplaceable.  I was in a "linchpin" type position at my former employer and I left.  They survived. 

I hear this too often from people about how the company couldn't get rid of this or that person. Its almost never the case. Humans are engineered to adapt for survival and companies are no different. Unless its some kind of weird situation where the company is composed of 2 people or something out of the ordinary.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #18 on: November 10, 2015, 10:42:35 PM »
They received a *lot* of applications and said to expect a few weeks before they'll reach out to the folks who passed the "first round." Wish me luck!

jeromedawg

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #19 on: November 11, 2015, 11:15:06 AM »
Yep, don't believe the lies about "job loyalty" unless you're the CEO/President and it's your business... unless you can 100% guarantee yourself a job, "job loyalty" is always a non-factor. What you should focus on is networking and relationships with current and past co-workers/managers. Of course, that's always easier said than done, but that's the best way to get yourself on the radar of workforce hiring managers.

Anyway, if you see something you're interested in and is especially your dream job, go for it. You obviously have to balance a lot of things out because usually "dream jobs" end up requiring you to have to give *something* up and that something may be in direct conflict with something that you've taken for granted being at your current place of employment (e.g. salary, a certain benefit(s), working environment, etc). For instance, my friend who is a DA applied for his "dream job" and got an offer for it but it required relocation to the other side of the country and less salary... he has 3 kids so it was kind of a no-brainer that he wouldn't be able to afford the luxury of taking a "dream job" at less pay and relocation. Even if you get offered a job at a tech giant like Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc... there's always going to be a hidden surprise that will probably nip you when you least expected it ("flexible" work hours usually means you can stay as long as you want to get your work done...actually, we don't care if you're at home or in the office - if you aren't logged in most of the day and working on *something*, you're in trouble... LOL)

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #20 on: November 20, 2015, 06:38:19 PM »
Got to the 2nd round! The next phase consists of answering a bunch of difficult questions over email.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #21 on: January 10, 2016, 04:07:35 PM »
After the 2nd round, there was a 3rd round of questions - these focused more on job skills.

Last week I've found out (2 months after first applying) that they would like me to interview in the "final round"!

I am really excited (because, as I said before, this is my dream job), but I am also really anxious. I really want the job, which makes it seem like high stakes, and when I get really anxious I turn into a spaz and can't articulate myself or speak intelligibly. I am trying really hard to find some "zen", while also preparing for the types of questions they might ask, and trying to anticipate where the interview might go so I can be prepared.

All of this, combined with the fact that I probably need to fake a doctor's appointment at work in order to do the interview during the work day, and my head might explode! Wish me luck :)
« Last Edit: January 10, 2016, 04:18:34 PM by digito »

aFrugalFather

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #22 on: January 10, 2016, 04:54:58 PM »
Exciting times! Best of luck with it!

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #23 on: January 10, 2016, 09:49:18 PM »
Thanks!

Plan for Wednesday morning:

get up early
drink coffee
review notes
meditate, deep breathing exercises
awesome interview!
go to work

elaine amj

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #24 on: January 10, 2016, 09:56:18 PM »
Wishing you the best!

JLee

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #25 on: January 10, 2016, 10:52:35 PM »
Good luck!

OvertheRainbow

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #26 on: January 10, 2016, 11:12:02 PM »
I am actually in this predicament. I have been with my current employer for almost 4.5 years. The job has great benefits, state pension, yada yada. But the current dream job I wanted wasn't within my reach within the organization. So I started looking elsewhere. I applied for a "dream job" at another competing facility and forty-five minutes after the interview, I was offered the job!

Life is really too short to be unhappy or complacent. Think of it this way...would you regret leaving your employer more than pursuing that dream job? You are disposable. Your employer will not hesitate to get rid of you if the company sees fit to do so.

I decided to take the job and I start in two weeks. I am now entering a highly specialized field with very little turnover as opposed to sticking with a broader, less specialized area of work that has higher turnover and lower employee satisfaction.

The man (or woman) who finds something he or she loves (and can make a living out of it) is a person who will never have to work another day in his/her life again.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #27 on: January 13, 2016, 07:04:12 PM »
Update:

Interview today went pretty well - I didn't bomb, I had good answers for questions. It was a bit less structured than I imagined it might be.

I was told I am in the "top 5" candidates, and that there is potentially 2 more (phone? video chat?) interviews before a decision will be made, and then a final flight+in-person meet and greet before a job offer is made (a final sanity check?). The only possible wrench in the works is the fact that I will be on an international vacation at the end of the month, but I was assured they could work around that.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #28 on: January 13, 2016, 09:08:20 PM »
A somewhat related question:

Should I tell my coworker, who will be responsible for a majority of my work load if I leave, that I have made it to the "final round"? I'd love for her to have as much warning as possible if I do get the offer, but I've kept quiet about the possibility because I don't want to freak anyone out before I know. I'd likely try to give 3 weeks of notice, but that's likely not enough time to replace me, or to train up the coworker on everything.

letired

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #29 on: January 13, 2016, 09:11:07 PM »
A somewhat related question:

Should I tell my coworker, who will be responsible for a majority of my work load if I leave, that I have made it to the "final round"? I'd love for her to have as much warning as possible if I do get the offer, but I've kept quiet about the possibility because I don't want to freak anyone out before I know. I'd likely try to give 3 weeks of notice, but that's likely not enough time to replace me, or to train up the coworker on everything.

My gut instinct is HELL NO, unless you are friends outside of work with this person and they can be trusted to keep their trap shut. But maybe I missed the part where you've told your current place of employment that you're interviewing/looking to leave?

pbkmaine

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #30 on: January 13, 2016, 10:19:16 PM »
Absolutely not. Tell no one until you have a signed offer letter and a start date.

Astatine

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #31 on: January 13, 2016, 11:36:52 PM »
Absolutely not. Tell no one until you have a signed offer letter and a start date.

This.
Also, it's important to remember that you're interviewing them as much as them interviewing you. You need to be sure that the place is a good cultural fit for you and that the actual job is what you think it is, so make sure you ask questions if you get through to the next round. Good luck!

formerlydivorcedmom

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #32 on: January 14, 2016, 08:36:06 AM »
When I was gearing up for the possibility of leaving my last job, I spent a lot of time documenting every single thing I did, with screenshots.  I also put together FAQs of "this is the kind of stuff that might break/kind of questions I get from users, and this is how I fix it".

When I turned in my resignation, I handed my boss a list of all of my responsibilities, with estimates of how much time each took, and asked him to fill in who my replacement would be for each.  I spent half a day with each of them, showed them where my documentation was and which files related to the tasks they were taking over, and gave a brief overview of it.

They weren't fully trained, by any means, but they had the tools to get the job done.

It paid off, because one of the people I transitioned to quit a few months later.  They just handed my documentation to the person replacing him.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #33 on: January 14, 2016, 08:54:24 PM »
Absolutely not. Tell no one until you have a signed offer letter and a start date.

You are very adamant about this point... is there a specific reason?

Also, it's important to remember that you're interviewing them as much as them interviewing you. You need to be sure that the place is a good cultural fit for you and that the actual job is what you think it is, so make sure you ask questions if you get through to the next round. Good luck!

I have definitely been researching them a lot, and had an opportunity to ask a few questions during this call. Hopefully I will get a more robust picture over the next two calls.

formerlydivorcedmom - thanks for the idea, I think that's a good practice with or without a possible job change!

pbkmaine

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #34 on: January 14, 2016, 09:07:54 PM »
Yes, and you see that others agree with me. Most organizations are hives of gossip. Very few secrets get kept. If the higher ups learn that you are looking, and you do not get the job, they may no longer trust you. I have never seen any good come from telling people you are looking.

tobitonic

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #35 on: January 14, 2016, 09:10:39 PM »
Crabs in a bucket syndrome. If someone's unhappy with their job, they're unlikely to be happy when hearing that you've found a better one.

lbmustache

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #36 on: January 14, 2016, 09:18:13 PM »
Absolutely not. Tell no one until you have a signed offer letter and a start date.

You are very adamant about this point... is there a specific reason?

Also, it's important to remember that you're interviewing them as much as them interviewing you. You need to be sure that the place is a good cultural fit for you and that the actual job is what you think it is, so make sure you ask questions if you get through to the next round. Good luck!

I have definitely been researching them a lot, and had an opportunity to ask a few questions during this call. Hopefully I will get a more robust picture over the next two calls.

formerlydivorcedmom - thanks for the idea, I think that's a good practice with or without a possible job change!

I'm going to echo pbkmaine and give you my reasoning.

There is no real reason to believe that your co-worker is on your side. What if s/he tells your boss that you are planning on leaving? And then you don't get the job?

Also, if the co-worker is unhappy with their job, they may be even more unhappy that more work will be dumped on them, regardless of your well-intentioned "advance notice." Again, they may go behind your back or lash out in other ways.

I would not do it.

edit: I see others have the same sentiments :)

DirtDiva

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #37 on: January 15, 2016, 08:22:24 AM »
Absolutely not. Tell no one until you have a signed offer letter and a start date.

Agreed.  You don't have the job *yet*.  You will only harm yourself ("digito is not loyal, she's just waiting for a better opportunity") and will not help your current employer or coworkers. 

And, I mean this in the nicest possible way ... get over yourself.  The world will continue to revolve when you step off.  I'm a linchpin-type worker and I have similar thoughts and concerns when I leave a position (3 times in 26 years).  Guess what, they will figure it out.  Think of it as giving coworkers an opportunity to grow.


digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #38 on: January 16, 2016, 10:13:18 AM »
Thanks for clarifying, I'm convinced :)

This whole thing has been giving me piles of anxiety, so when I think of anything that might ease that anxiety, I at least think about it a bit.

Haven't heard back yet after the phone interview.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #39 on: January 18, 2016, 09:46:32 PM »
Still no response at this point... Tomorrow I will send a followup email, if I can get over the feeling that it'd be too pushy.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #40 on: January 31, 2016, 11:51:06 AM »
I didn't get it :(

I was in, "the top two candidates" but they "decided to go in another direction." I'm not really sure what that means, as I was expecting to have at least one more interview before being eliminated (especially if I really was one of two finalists!). It's possible they decided to pause hiring for this position altogether for now?

I am pretty crushed. I feel pretty down about it - like I've been dumped in a really promising new relationship.

I was encouraged to apply again in the future, and I certainly will if they post any other fitting jobs any time soon, but I got my hopes way up (despite my efforts to avoid this), and this one will hurt for a while.

DirtDiva

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #41 on: February 01, 2016, 06:43:40 AM »
That kind of sucks, but at least you didn't announce your intentions to anyone.  :p  Hopefully they will keep you in mind for future opportunities.

And you already have a job you enjoy- that's  a fine thing.

mm1970

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #42 on: February 01, 2016, 06:29:20 PM »
I didn't get it :(

I was in, "the top two candidates" but they "decided to go in another direction." I'm not really sure what that means, as I was expecting to have at least one more interview before being eliminated (especially if I really was one of two finalists!). It's possible they decided to pause hiring for this position altogether for now?

I am pretty crushed. I feel pretty down about it - like I've been dumped in a really promising new relationship.

I was encouraged to apply again in the future, and I certainly will if they post any other fitting jobs any time soon, but I got my hopes way up (despite my efforts to avoid this), and this one will hurt for a while.
Eh, I got that exact same rejection "go in another direction" for the company in my case was "well, we identified a need, found a good candidate, but then upper management said - wait - !!  Maybe...well...maybe instead of a senior engineer 'on the floor', what if we hire a director or VP instead?" 

I have a friend at the company, and he said they do that a lot.  Identify a need, interview people, and realize during the interview that maybe they need a different profile.  In my case, they never filled the position, it went away. They then looked for a director/ VP level, offered the job to my former boss.  He turned it down, tried to help them find someone new.  That was unsuccessful.  They offered former boss the job AGAIN, and he accepted, but got a counter offer and decided to stay here.

Anyway, long story short, I want to say I interviewed for that job in 2014.  And six months ago, that job was advertised again.  This time, back to a senior engineer position.  I applied again, and got a "no thanks", but then realized that they'd changed the location of the position to up north (i.e., 6 hour drive north, so totally different city).  Then I think they never filled it (again), because they lost a contract and had layoffs.

In any event, the fact that they never filled the position makes me feel pretty good actually.  Like, it's not me, it's them!

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #43 on: February 02, 2016, 12:35:50 PM »
I think you have good reason to be proud of yourself.  If, as you say, they had a ton of applicants, you should feel pretty happy that you were one of the final two.  As mm1970 said, it may have not been you.  In fact, given how far you got in the interview process, I'd say it almost definitely wasn't a problem with you.  The company's needs may have changed.  Or maybe the other person was simply a better fit.

Worst case scenario, you got some good practice at applying/interviewing for a new job.

digito

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #44 on: February 23, 2016, 08:33:34 PM »
Thanks for the encouraging words! I found out tonight that they did indeed hire someone. I am really struggling with feeling like a complete failure because this other person beat me out... I know that's silly, but that's how I feel. I was holding out a sliver of hope that they didn't hire anyone, and that they might come back to me later this year, but that is now gone as well :(

arebelspy

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Re: Job Loyalty & Dream Job
« Reply #45 on: February 23, 2016, 09:31:18 PM »
Thanks for the encouraging words! I found out tonight that they did indeed hire someone. I am really struggling with feeling like a complete failure because this other person beat me out... I know that's silly, but that's how I feel. I was holding out a sliver of hope that they didn't hire anyone, and that they might come back to me later this year, but that is now gone as well :(

You have no idea what happened.

Maybe someone who had the job before came back mid-interviews.  Maybe mid-hiring the CEO's niece needed a job and they told the hiring committee she was a must-hire.  Maybe that other person just was more qualified than you!

That's okay.  Don't build your identity on being the best, because out of 7 billion others, it's unlikely you are.  Do your best, and strive to keep improving.  Then, next time, you'll have a better shot.  Just keep swimming.  :)
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