I work in book publishing and am lucky enough to work within one of the “Big 5”. I’ve been in my current role for just over a year (junior position) and love it. The work is great and the company culture is incredible. However, before I got this role, I had my heart set on another publisher (another imprint within the same larger company) as a dream to work for one day. A role has become available and I wasn’t expecting to hesitate to apply. It’s more money, a promotion and it’s in the dream publisher. I know I can do the job. Obviously, if I apply that doesn’t necessarily mean I’ll even get an interview but stick with me here. I don’t know why I’m hesitating. I love where I work and would miss the job and people, but this job would open up more opportunities. I’m worried it won’t be the same kind of culture and I’m worried I’ll regret the decision if I did leave. Should I apply still? Is it normal for a dream job to be put on hold?
My manager is putting my up for a promotion in a few months, of which the director is well aware of, and I’ve been told by both of those people that I’m well on my way to getting it. So in a few months, I’ll most likely be in the same role that this job is advertising for. But I guess I feel like I’m betraying myself as I’ve always said it’s a dream to work there… Again, I know I might not even get an interview but these are my thoughts.
10 comments
Dreams and reality are not the same. If you really love where you are then you have to ask yourself why you _want_ to work for the dream publisher, why is it the dream? Now you know what you know about your current publisher, could it be the new dream? Being happy in a job is very important.
The unknown is the promotion. Until you have it, they can say anything they like and it doesn’t change your money at the end of the month.
Applying for the other job doesn’t mean you get it and doesn’t mean you have to accept it, so it’s relatively low risk to go through the process at least.
In my experience these are some of the best circumstances in which to apply for another job: you are enjoying your current job, feel confident in what you’re doing and have people telling you that what you do is valuable. There is absolutely zero pressure on you which means you can apply purely to give yourself options. If you get to interview you can keep all that in the back of your mind and spend more of the time interviewing them, as well as indicating your salary and benefit expectations would be on the higher side.
Tough one. I have a feeling publishing is one of those industries where reputation matters and burning bridges could be risky. In a more faceless industry it would be easy to just go, but I feel like I’ve heard publishing is a closer network.
At the end of the day it’s a job, and they shouldn’t feel hurt or slighted if you move on. I am wary of promises of future glories – I’ve been told similar stories twice of where ‘I will be in a few months’ and neither came to fruition. A cynical part of me thinks it is a ploy to keep people around without giving them anything. I’ve worked for two companies who instead have said “we are happy, here, have this pay rise/promotion” without needing to be asked. I respect that more than promises.
Apply. You don’t know what will happen but you’ll always regret it if you don’t.
If your current place are as nice as they seem, they should be happy to see you move up. And hopefully kick themselves for not promoting you last week, rather than saying they ‘will soon.’
One thing to always remember: you’re interviewing *them* as much (if not more) than they’re interviewing _you._
If you’re confident in your abilities, the soul purpose of that interview is to feel out the company. Ask the question you want the answers to which will convince you it’s a solid move.
There’s nothing wrong with being offered a position and turning it down. You’re not ‘wasting anyone’s time’ you’re simply making the right decision with the information gained from the interview.
Throw that CV in!!
The most successful people I know change jobs all the time (by which I mean every 1-2 years). I would say you should apply, based on the fact you are referring to the other position as your ‘dream’ job. If you get offered a position then you can do some more thinking, but until then it’s all hypothetical.
Nothing to lose by applying, good interview practice at the very worst and even if you got the job, you wouldn’t have to take it – you could try and use the offer to negotiate a higher salary at your current employer if it came to that.
>The work is great and the company culture is incredible.
More money can sometimes not beat this sentence above. I will easily take a slight pay cut to have a good culture at work.
Good mental health is worth the money.
That’s what people call ‘gut instinct’, whether you act on it is entirely up to you and you have no way of knowing if it’s the right thing to do or if you’re just drinking too much coffee this week and your brain is a little befuddled and you are associating it with your decision making process.
Personally, I’d apply/interview for the other job. Make a decision once you’ve got both options in the bag. You might find you get a weird vibe from the other company, or you find something about feels perfect. Either way, you’ll kick yourself if you don’t at least investigate.
If your current employer becomes aware that you’ve applied, just be upfront and clear with them. You love your current position and are very keen for promotion at the company. But it’s just good practise to weigh options. Better you do your research now than once they’ve already promoted you.
I worked for one of the big 5. My experience was that the juniors in each of the divisions in the group were jostling for the next promotion and had usually already been identified. Advertising the post within the group, and externally, was purely an exercise. If you really want to work for the other publisher, your best bet would be to apply for a junior post with them – but it sounds as if you are making a mark where you are and are happy there, so I would stick.