Offered new position, don't want it. I'm in a pickle!

Dangley

I posted a few weeks ago about talking to my boss about adjusting my work hours. Currently I work 7:30 to 5:30 with an hour commute each way. Well I finally talked with her, and she was very open to the idea. I looked into reduced full time but couldn't swing the 20% pay cut, and was going to talk with her again about just changing my shift a little bit. Before I got a chance to do that, my boss' boss approached me and "informally" offered me another job within the company. (Informal because they won't have any papers put together until next week).

The position they offered is a brand new position in the corporate accounting department (in the past I have referred to corp acct as the "dark side" lol). It would be 40 hours (as opposed to the 45 I work now) and for the same amount of pay, if not more. She said they automatically thought of me when they were putting the job description together. "This is a huge compliment", she says. Sounds peachy right?

Problem is I love the position I have now! This new job is NOTHING like my current job, and even thinking of switching makes me a nerous wreck. In my current position there's a goup of 5 people. We all basically do the same thing but for different projects, and we're an awesome team. AND since it's an informal offer, it's confidential. I can't talk with my co-workers who know me best.

But now...what do I do? They'll officially offer me the job this coming week, and I'll have until the following Monday to tell them if I accept. If I turn this down, won't that look bad? I've had great reviews the entire time I've been with the company, and I'd hope something like this wouldn't tarnish it. But really you never know!

Anyone ever offered someone a new job, and they turn it down? Advice? 

cwm11985

Why would it look bad to turn down a job you didn't express interest in to keep a job you absolutely love? I think they'd be happy to know how much you enjoy and appreciate your current job.  If you don't want it, just be honest with them and thank them for the opportunity.

jeffsjayme

Agreed with PP.  It's not like you went searching for this job.  I think you can tell them that you're really flattered, but it doesn't sound like a good fit.

That said, I'd consider it.  Less hours, possibly more pay?  Seems good to me.

And definitely don't discuss it with your co-workers, even if you don't take it.  That would look bad if it got back to your bosses and who knows, one of them might take it instead and they don't want to think they're 2nd choice.

SLO2005

I would consider it too!  Less hours more pay I am sure you could learn the new job!

cedenton

What about taking it on a probationary basis 6mo - 1yr so you can see if you'll like it or not.  You never know!  

Maybe address like: I love my current position, but I understand that you'd like someone with some experience to flesh out the duties of this new position.  I'd be willing to accept the offer on a probationary basis and if it doesn't work out then I'd be happy to help train my replacement before I return to my current position. 

jnealet

Less hours/more pay is a huge draw!!!

I would ask more about it, find out whose on the team.  You may like that team just as much, then you would have double the amount of great coworkers. 

LALASEPT05

I did turn down a job change when about 6 months after I came back from maternity leave. I have been doing the job I have now for 10 years and 3.5 years at this company. I really like my job although it involves travel. They offered me a job where I'd be managing people, and I'd be internal and have to be in the office 5 days per week. I turned it down. I said that I was flattered that I was considered but that I was just coming back from leave and adjusting to a new schedule and did not feel that I wanted to take on a wholesale job change at that point. It was the right decision now that I look back on it. I think if you do not want the new job you should not take it and I don't think it's necessarily a negative.

katie4253

I think I'd wait to see the job description before you decide if you really don't want it.  Change is scary, but this sounds like it could be a great opportunity.  Fewer hours and more money would appeal to me (as long as the work was interesting too).

PartiallySunny

katie4253:

I think I'd wait to see the job description before you decide if you really don't want it.  Change is scary, but this sounds like it could be a great opportunity.  Fewer hours and more money would appeal to me (as long as the work was interesting too).

This. Don't be hasty and take your time thinking about it. Don't let your preconceived notion of the "dark side" make you automatically turn the position down. And no, as long as your gracious, it won't look bad to turn down the offer if that is what you decide.