Solidly sitting on a fence between two opportunities.

Anonymous

May 4,2023 at 12:04AM UTC

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Solidly sitting on a fence between two opportunities. Sorry for a bit of a long post, but I need some advice. I want to give all the details I can so hang in there with me please.

I am a SaaS product manager who was laid off from my company of 8+ years back in March. As part of my severance, I receive 60 days of preferential rehire status, but after those 60 days, I cannot work for them for a year (silly I know, but that's their rules). Needless to say, my 60 days expires on Tuesday May 9th.

A few options are on the table - kind of.

Option #1 is working for the sales team of my previous company, selling the product I used to manage. It would be more of a technical role, where yes I would need to sell, but more problem-solve for customers by introducing and implementing our product. The benefits at the company are pretty great as far as PTO, back up care, insurances, etc. I'm getting a written offer shortly. The salary is not quite where I wanted to be, but close.

Option #2 is with a company who isn't a direct competitor to my old company but close. The director of product really wants me in the company but they don't have a PM position open for me just yet, and no firm timeline on when there would be one. Just his word that he wants me in his SW PM team. His (verbal) offer is for slightly less salary than opt1 and is for a technical service and support role (that's how I started on my product at my old company). The path until a PM position opens would be support > team lead > process improvement team. I don't know the details of the benefits of the company just yet, but should be hearing soon.

Pretty much I have no idea what to do and not a lot of time to decide. Both options carry the same number of Pros and Cons. I am hesitant about option 2 as I don't have a written offer yet. Is it worth taking option 1 until a formal PM position opens with option 2 company, or is that bad form on my part? Help please ?

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AnonymousMay 4,2023 at 12:06AM UTC
A quick nother add - I know the team I'd be working for/with on option #1
AnonymousMay 4,2023 at 12:26AM UTC
Personally I wouldn’t worry about loyalty to your current co if you want to accept and then later refuse it, if other offer is ok. Unless you’re in an industry where you need the relationships to be intact from the team mgr you’d be rejecting (at your co.).
The other angles to use it as leverage with the new co … (“I’m considering another offer, will you have details soon?”)
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMay 4,2023 at 6:27AM UTC
First of all, I would hope that you have learned from your recent experience being laid off that your concern should not be what is or is not "bad form" but what is best for you and your career.
I see a ton of red flags with option 2. That manager cannot make you a "verbal offer" on a position that doesn't even exist. He can tell you what the salary range looks like, but those are not the same thing.
They don't have a PM position open and if I understand your post correctly, will not be offering you a PM position, only a potential "path" to a PM position. If you started out in a support position with your current company, based on your comment I'll assume you were a PM there before you got laid off, why are you going backward? No judgement from me, just curious.
IF you take option two, I would try to have them lay out very specifically what the path from support to PM would look like for you. I highly doubt they would be will or able to do this though. There are too many variables. So you have no idea how long you'd be in that support role. Would you be ok with being in that position for 3 years?
At this point this is all hypothetical because you don't have an offer from them.
My suggestion would be to take the position with your former company and don't stop your job search - keep looking. Don't even slow down your job search. It sounds like you're in the tech space so with all the layoffs in that sector it could take a while for you to land something else. Having the job at your former company would give you the luxury of time to be able to find the next best fit for you.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
GOOD LUCK!!
AnonymousMay 4,2023 at 12:36PM UTC
I don't know how you know both have the same pros and cons without all of the information you have with #1
Jerri WalkerMay 4,2023 at 1:14PM UTC
I would personally go with option #1. It's a known environment and a real job offer.
AnonymousMay 4,2023 at 2:01PM UTC
Option 1, it’s the only real offer on the table.
AnonymousMay 6,2023 at 5:12PM UTC
Definitely option #1, for all the reasons you shared and more. Getting direct to the customer will harden your experience as a product manager - its probably the best way to get real customer feedback, user interface feedback and to really learn about why the product is doing well and/or not. Use the time to learn. Clearly your company views your experience there as valued and though your old role is gone (for now) moving into somethig else sthere is the better solution for now. You should express gratitude with the other company for their interest diplomatically with little other information. My suspicion is that they wanted to pick your brain as a "competitor" but not to put you into product and use you for getting info. If you stay in touch with them and they offer you a true product role then I would suggest cond
AnonymousMay 8,2023 at 12:33AM UTC
Also being in software product management, take #1. You will find yourself becoming a better product manager and will still have the opportunity to pursue without risking being unemployed if you miss it. Also, you can say yes if the other role comes through- you will have greater leverage for pay should they want you!
Good luck!