Friday, November 04, 2005
Strength, Greed & Fear... A Tale of Two Job Offers
Eric and Andy both received job offers this week. Eric is about to be a
newly selected Marketing executive for a notable law firm. Andy received a
delicious offer from an information technology firm as a Project Manager.
Their journeys demonstrate the endless drama of those who operate from
positions of strength and power as opposed to those who repeatedly become
trapped between greed and fear.
Eric had recently completed his 9th year with a financial institution.
With hard work, he built up a collection of contributions that proved
nearly irresistible to both recruiters and decision-makers. When his job
offer with this big name law firm arrived, he was forced to turn it down
because relocation was required and the cost differential was not factored
in. He relayed the fact that, much to his regret, his family could not
afford the decrease. Because his position was not perceived as one of
greed, the firm restructured a bit and found a spot for him locally. Great
money, great firm, great offer, great future!
Andy executed a different strategy. Several years ago he had accepted a
job offer and then 3 months later resigned to accept a better one. Six
months later Andy was downsized. He came to me claiming he had only 3
weeks to find a job and attempted to severely negotiate my fee. I found
his behavior insincere and unattractive. However after 6 weeks and a lot
of grooming, his job offer came and a lucrative one it was. For Andy no
offer could have been lucrative enough because he always felt the need to
negotiate. Without basis or substantiation and against my counsel, today
he went back to the company and asked for more. As he put it, "It might
work!"
And so went the week at Worthington Career Services. Beginning Monday Eric
is off to Hawaii with his family. Andy is still negotiating, and perhaps
for no more than $1000 and an ego, he may be forced to continue his
search. Let's see it's now three weeks till Thanksgiving. So much for fear
and greed!
newly selected Marketing executive for a notable law firm. Andy received a
delicious offer from an information technology firm as a Project Manager.
Their journeys demonstrate the endless drama of those who operate from
positions of strength and power as opposed to those who repeatedly become
trapped between greed and fear.
Eric had recently completed his 9th year with a financial institution.
With hard work, he built up a collection of contributions that proved
nearly irresistible to both recruiters and decision-makers. When his job
offer with this big name law firm arrived, he was forced to turn it down
because relocation was required and the cost differential was not factored
in. He relayed the fact that, much to his regret, his family could not
afford the decrease. Because his position was not perceived as one of
greed, the firm restructured a bit and found a spot for him locally. Great
money, great firm, great offer, great future!
Andy executed a different strategy. Several years ago he had accepted a
job offer and then 3 months later resigned to accept a better one. Six
months later Andy was downsized. He came to me claiming he had only 3
weeks to find a job and attempted to severely negotiate my fee. I found
his behavior insincere and unattractive. However after 6 weeks and a lot
of grooming, his job offer came and a lucrative one it was. For Andy no
offer could have been lucrative enough because he always felt the need to
negotiate. Without basis or substantiation and against my counsel, today
he went back to the company and asked for more. As he put it, "It might
work!"
And so went the week at Worthington Career Services. Beginning Monday Eric
is off to Hawaii with his family. Andy is still negotiating, and perhaps
for no more than $1000 and an ego, he may be forced to continue his
search. Let's see it's now three weeks till Thanksgiving. So much for fear
and greed!
