Precarious situation input appreciated Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi TLS. I'm in a bit of a dilemma and was wondering if you could give me some input/insight.

I started work in-house after graduation and was initially not satisfied with the work I was doing. It involved a lot of random tasks and I felt like I wasn't learning much. Instead of quietly looking for lateral options, my dissatisfaction was discovered by the CEO (my supervisor) and him being extremely generous, gave me until August 1 to find an alternate job.

After applying to a ton of jobs, a company I really liked reached out to me to schedule a phone interview (5/1/2014). Phone interview was done 5/21/2014. On 5/27/2014 I had an in person interview (1 hr total). Then, I was scheduled to meet more members of the company on 5/30/2014. This interview was with 4 people, 2 hrs total. The following Monday I sent the typical thank you emails and received responses from 2 people saying they will follow up.

No one followed up so on 6/10/2014, I followed up. They responded on 6/11/2014 saying the team enjoyed meeting me and they are still going through the interview process but hope to wrap up and have a decision soon.

On 6/23/2014, I followed up again telling them I will be in town and if they would like me to stop by to answer additional questions or meet others I would be willing. They responded 6/25/2014 apologizing for the delayed response and said they appreciated my willingness but that won't be necessary at this point. They said they are still continuing through the process and hope to have an answer soon.

The dilemma is, because the market is still bleak, I am thinking about speaking to the CEO about letting me stay and apologizing for being a prick. Other executives in the company I'm close with tell me he will probably let me stay because there is no reason not too - I just have to sell myself again and talk to him sooner rather than later. But I also want the job I'm waiting for since it is in the area I really like. I would probably take it if I got offered.

So I am contemplating sending the company I interviewed with an ultimatum telling them "hey, I got this new offer with a raise and need to accept it by so and so. But I am still very interested in the position with your company so could you give me a decision by then?"

Some of my friends tell me to stay put and quit being annoying. Some of my friends tell me I should be firm since the company has been dragging the process out for too long. If i were to stay put, I'd be risking my current job and gambling with this other company.

What should I do?

[jchiles]

It seems like you need to keep applying for other jobs, it doesn't sound like you will be truly able to make the attitude adjustment necessary to stay where are you at now, and while you don't need to share what exactly you did to essentially warrant getting fired by your current employer I am skeptical that the CEO will just forget about it and let you stick around long term. The other job may or may not hire you, but in that situation I would be applying and interviewing for other positions like my life depended on it until I got a formal offer.

That said I only have very limited legal employment experience, but frankly I don't see this situation (or thread) really ending well.

[Johann]

You need to make nice with your current CEO. Don't pester the company you are waiting on and let them make the decision. Hopefully your CEO will let you stay on and you can keep applying other places. If you end up getting the job at the new company, then tell the CEO peace. For now you need to make sure you are employed on Aug 1, which means saying whatever needs to be said to CEO to get him to reconsider and let you stick around.

[Anonymous User]

You need to make nice with your current CEO. Don't pester the company you are waiting on and let them make the decision. Hopefully your CEO will let you stay on and you can keep applying other places. If you end up getting the job at the new company, then tell the CEO peace. For now you need to make sure you are employed on Aug 1, which means saying whatever needs to be said to CEO to get him to reconsider and let you stick around.

If I did that, I'd be burning the bridge with the current CEO. I don't know if I want to do that....

[Johann]

You need to make nice with your current CEO. Don't pester the company you are waiting on and let them make the decision. Hopefully your CEO will let you stay on and you can keep applying other places. If you end up getting the job at the new company, then tell the CEO peace. For now you need to make sure you are employed on Aug 1, which means saying whatever needs to be said to CEO to get him to reconsider and let you stick around.

If I did that, I'd be burning the bridge with the current CEO. I don't know if I want to do that....

If you see him as a long-term mentor, don't burn the bridge. Otherwise, business is business imo.

[beach_terror]

It seems like you need to keep applying for other jobs, it doesn't sound like you will be truly able to make the attitude adjustment necessary to stay where are you at now, and while you don't need to share what exactly you did to essentially warrant getting fired by your current employer I am skeptical that the CEO will just forget about it and let you stick around long term. The other job may or may not hire you, but in that situation I would be applying and interviewing for other positions like my life depended on it until I got a formal offer.

That said I only have very limited legal employment experience, but frankly I don't see this situation (or thread) really ending well.

Outside of speculating on the poster's ability to make an attitude adjustment, if you don't have actual insight into legal hiring, then why did you feel the need to comment? It's also a rhetorical question, so you don't need to answer.

Make nice for now and at least have a conversation with the CEO about staying with the company. No need to lock into anything while you wait to hear from the other company though - explore options.

[Anonymous User]

You need to make nice with your current CEO. Don't pester the company you are waiting on and let them make the decision. Hopefully your CEO will let you stay on and you can keep applying other places. If you end up getting the job at the new company, then tell the CEO peace. For now you need to make sure you are employed on Aug 1, which means saying whatever needs to be said to CEO to get him to reconsider and let you stick around.

If I did that, I'd be burning the bridge with the current CEO. I don't know if I want to do that....

If you see him as a long-term mentor, don't burn the bridge. Otherwise, business is business imo.

That's the thing. He's a tremendous mentor so far. Not legally per se but just business acumen...

[jchiles]

Outside of speculating on the poster's ability to make an attitude adjustment, if you don't have actual insight into legal hiring, then why did you feel the need to comment?

Fair point, I just was trying to offer some advice but I didn't want to come off like I was an expert or anything. Sometimes these threads go on and on and then it turns out the person dispensing specific, plausible-sounding advice is basing it solely on the time they spend as a legal intern at a law firm their sophomore year of college or something.

[Johann]

Gotcha. If he's a mentor, then this is a different story. In this case, I would send an email to new company HR explaining that you have to decide by July 1 or whatever date whether or not you will remain with your current company long term or at least for another year or so. Just word it in that the company you are with has asked about your future with them and they need to know by X date and you want to provide them with a reliable answer and not mislead them. Then ask if there is anyway new company can get back to you before X date and just say something like I understand the decision process is still going on but you don't want to mislead your current company. That keeps you in good with your current mentor/company and new company should understand why you are being pushy. I don't think being pushy is going to help your cause, but at least this way it shouldn't hurt it.

[Anonymous User]

Gotcha. If he's a mentor, then this is a different story. In this case, I would send an email to new company HR explaining that you have to decide by July 1 or whatever date whether or not you will remain with your current company long term or at least for another year or so. Just word it in that the company you are with has asked about your future with them and they need to know by X date and you want to provide them with a reliable answer and not mislead them. Then ask if there is anyway new company can get back to you before X date and just say something like I understand the decision process is still going on but you don't want to mislead your current company. That keeps you in good with your current mentor/company and new company should understand why you are being pushy. I don't think being pushy is going to help your cause, but at least this way it shouldn't hurt it.

This is great. Thank you. It definitely would make me sound less annoying and ridiculous (compared to my offer email).

Maybe I'll phrase it like you suggested and send the email next Monday.

[DELG]

Gotcha. If he's a mentor, then this is a different story. In this case, I would send an email to new company HR explaining that you have to decide by July 1 or whatever date whether or not you will remain with your current company long term or at least for another year or so. Just word it in that the company you are with has asked about your future with them and they need to know by X date and you want to provide them with a reliable answer and not mislead them. Then ask if there is anyway new company can get back to you before X date and just say something like I understand the decision process is still going on but you don't want to mislead your current company. That keeps you in good with your current mentor/company and new company should understand why you are being pushy. I don't think being pushy is going to help your cause, but at least this way it shouldn't hurt it.

This is great. Thank you. It definitely would make me sound less annoying and ridiculous (compared to my offer email).

Maybe I'll phrase it like you suggested and send the email next Monday.

NO DON'T

Oh my god

Leave these people alone

Don't lie

Just keep applying to shit

[Anonymous User]

Gotcha. If he's a mentor, then this is a different story. In this case, I would send an email to new company HR explaining that you have to decide by July 1 or whatever date whether or not you will remain with your current company long term or at least for another year or so. Just word it in that the company you are with has asked about your future with them and they need to know by X date and you want to provide them with a reliable answer and not mislead them. Then ask if there is anyway new company can get back to you before X date and just say something like I understand the decision process is still going on but you don't want to mislead your current company. That keeps you in good with your current mentor/company and new company should understand why you are being pushy. I don't think being pushy is going to help your cause, but at least this way it shouldn't hurt it.

This is great. Thank you. It definitely would make me sound less annoying and ridiculous (compared to my offer email).

Maybe I'll phrase it like you suggested and send the email next Monday.

NO DON'T

Oh my god

Leave these people alone

Don't lie

Just keep applying to shit

Been applying like crazy.

[shock259]

I would keep applying like crazy, don't push the new company or give them an ultimatum, and try to keep your current boss happy.

[wert3813]

Your boss is a tremendous mentor, is teaching you business stuff, i.e. stuff that's useful, and is awesome enough that upon finding out you were an ass and didn't want to work for him continued to pay you all summer even though you were likely to be at least somewhat mentally checked out. What am I missing?

You're frustrated that you aren't doing enough legal work? Are you doing menial tasks, i.e. making binders or just not all legal work? Because the people who are able to be great in business/life/etc. find ways to make themselves useful in situations so long as they are being given opportunities.

[guano]

Your boss is a tremendous mentor, is teaching you business stuff, i.e. stuff that's useful, and is awesome enough that upon finding out you were an ass and didn't want to work for him continued to pay you all summer even though you were likely to be at least somewhat mentally checked out. What am I missing?

You're frustrated that you aren't doing enough legal work? Are you doing menial tasks, i.e. making binders or just not all legal work? Because the people who are able to be great in business/life/etc. find ways to make themselves useful in situations so long as they are being given opportunities.

This.

If you do leave your job, at least tell TLS, so someone else can apply. It's an awesome opportunity.