Job offer not as expected
I am currently a VP of Ecommerce for a mid-size fashion company and recently I was offered a role with another larger omni-channel fashion company. The role was initially presented to me as VP of Ecommerce and all subsequent interviews pertained to the VP role but I was recently notified that they really liked me and decided to create a new role for me as Sr. Director of Ecommerce Merchandising because they were impressed by my merchandising background and this new role will now report up to the VP of Ecommerce. I'm somewhat stumped by this turn of events because I've already been a VP of Ecommerce for 3 years and I have more than 10 years of ecommerce experience with other fashion companies. I'm not sure if I should view this role as a new opportunity or a step down from my current position. I could use some advice because I've never been in this position before.
Anonymous
10/16/19 at 5:30PM UTC
Anonymous: it sounds like you are being offered a role that is beneath the position that you originally applied for, with respect to authority and pay,
How does this compare to your current role with respect to responsibilities, pay and perks? If the offer is from a significantly larger or more prestigious company, and the e-commerce merchandising role has more challenge than your current job, you might want to take the job.
If the above conditions are not present, I would stay where you are and continue to look for a new position that has the title, pay and responsibilities that you desire.
Anonymous
10/16/19 at 7:10PM UTC
Yes, the company is larger and more well known than my current employer but I've held comparable positions with even larger companies in the past. This new role would not prove to be more challenging as it only focuses on one aspect of my skills and qualifications and the pay and perks are not better than my current role.
I've decided to stay in my current role and see what other opportunities will surface in the near future.
Anonymous
10/15/19 at 12:04AM UTC
In addition to the title being different, has the pay range changed? I agree with Dawn that if you are moving to a much larger company, the VP title carries greater weight than it does at a smaller company and some companies are also much more rigid with titles than other ones. I'd want to meet my new prospective manager before accept a job, though, even if the pay and responsibility set is somewhat similar to what you originally interviewed for.
Anonymous
10/15/19 at 12:36AM UTC
Hi Amanda,
Yes, the pay range is now at a lower salary base.
I do like the suggestion of meeting the new prospective manager before I accept the role because I have no idea regarding their personality or management style.
Dawn S. Cross
Goals should scare a little & excite a lot
1.35k
10/12/19 at 12:29AM UTC
Have you thought about asking how this new role would work? Is there the potential to move into the role of VP? It is possible that with the larger company, this is not a step down, but a road to a new role. I would also think about asking them why the departure from the VP role.
CALLIE WILSONIdentifying opportunities to accelerate growth.
168
10/12/19 at 1:20AM UTC
Hi Dawn,
Since this is a newly created role, I have asked additional questions regarding how this role would work within the team and with other departments throughout the company but the responses so far have been vague to say the least since this role is new to all. I'm still taking the offer into consideration but thanks for your insight and I will also ask about why the departure from the VP role.
Thank you!
Dawn S. CrossGoals should scare a little & excite a lot
1.35k
10/12/19 at 2:41AM UTC
One other thing that just came to mind, is the current VP new in this role? If so, I think this might make a difference in how I would look at the role. Good luck, however you go.
CALLIE WILSONIdentifying opportunities to accelerate growth.
168
10/12/19 at 4:45PM UTC
The former VP is no longer in this role.
