I landed 2 job offers within 60 days of my layoff. Here's how I found them and decided on the best fit.
A search shaped by timing
Specht, 33, had about three months of severance pay and savings set aside with his wife for a home down payment. He tried to treat the job search as a chance for a fresh start and faster career growth.
About a month after losing his job, he began to worry as his COBRA coverage was running out. Social media connections helped him find both opportunities: hiring managers and employees encouraged him to consider their companies.
He interviewed with 12 companies and took part in about 27 interviews overall. Company A and Company B each made an offer after roughly five interviews and conversations.
Accepting one offer first
Specht accepted Company A while he was still interviewing with Company B. He believed Company B might make an offer but did not feel sure enough to turn down the opportunity in hand.
He worked at Company A for two and a half weeks while negotiating with Company B. Balancing the new job with the possibility of leaving soon was difficult, he said.
Specht said his manager at Company A understood his choice. He did not think leaving quickly had damaged the relationship, and felt it was better to move on early than after several months.
Comparing the roles and pay
Both jobs were remote and in the SaaS field, but Company A involved some travel and Company B did not. Specht also considered benefits, job security, salary and opportunities to grow.
Company A offered $85,000 with a 50/50 split, with about $170,000 possible if he met his sales goals. Company B’s base salary was almost 50% higher, but its 80/20 split meant lower total potential earnings.
With a wife and child at home and a house purchase in mind, Specht valued Company B’s higher base salary as a more stable source of income. He also consulted mentors from his previous company, who had been affected by the layoff.
Choosing leadership and growth
Company A’s role was an individual contributor position focused on selling and closing deals. Specht saw a path there from sales development representative to account executive and eventually into leadership, a goal he had long held.
Company B offered a manager-level role and more exposure to leadership decisions and strategy. The Series A startup had 40 employees, while Company A had operated for 25 years and was backed by private equity; Specht saw more room to advance at the smaller company.
He chose Company B, saying he thought he would enjoy working at a startup most, even if it were sold and he stayed only six or eight months. He reached one year there in October and said he remained happy with his decision and had gained valuable experience.
Key points
- Specht found both offers through people who contacted him on social media.
- He accepted Company A before Company B finished its interview process.
- Company B offered a higher base salary but less potential total pay.
- He chose Company B for its manager role, leadership exposure and growth prospects.