[RandomAlt]

Graduated in August 2012. Couldn’t get a single interview during hiring season (of 2012). This year I got 3 interviews (1 full time position, and 2 internships). The full time position turned into an offer (The reason I mention it being full time is because it seems every office is only looking for interns or seniors. I couldn’t take an internship, and obviously I don’t have the experience to be a senior). Very good starting salary, what you would expect for a starting position.

I told my current boss and he offered me double my current salary to stay. $75,000. I work in an unrelated field, so I would not be doing tax work, and could not get my CPA license.

I know going into the accounting field & getting my CPA license is what I want to do, but it is so hard to turn down the additional money. I also know exactly what I am doing & what is required of me at my current job… not so much as a new starting associate.

I’ve accepted the position, and let my boss know I am leaving. I guess I am just looking for words of encouragement, advice, etc…

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[RandomAlt]

@jgh1204 – No, the business would not continue, he is the business. And the continuation of the business is a concern of mine. If he ever decided he had enough, and just walked away, I would be out of a job.

@auslaf – I agree about getting the offer. Frankly, I was amazed. This was my second year of putting myself out there. Like I said, 1st year I got zero interviews. I am very lucky, and I'm not minimizing that factor. As my friend said when I was telling him about my dilemma, you couldn't ask for a better one to be in.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[Anonymous]

I was going to say something similar to what @Jeff said – if you've attempted to leave, there's a reason, and you will always be the person looking for a way out. There's clearly things that you want in a job (primarily accounting experience, from what you're saying) that are not offered at your current job.

However, to ease the transition for your current boss, you could attempt to work some evenings and weekends for extra cash and to help transfer things to the new person, whoever that ends up being. Of course if the full-time job includes a lot of OT, then it'd be hard to work at all with a second job, but if you're at a place in life that you can work some crazy hours for a bit, then this might help your boss out.

I understand the feelings of doubting your path when you're leaving someone who counts on you. My last job was at a small accounting firm – most of the year, it was just me and the accountant I worked for. He relied on me very heavily for manging his work flow as well as doing my work (like, he'd come in and ask me what needed to be done in the morning!), and I knew that when I left, he'd be lost. But…my exit opportunities from that position were limited – my non-compete effectively made me unable to work in public accounting for 2 years after I left, and if something happened to him, the business would be gone overnight. And…the pay was low. So as long as I stayed there, I'd be making low wages and have few options to leave. So when a private position came open that would pay me more and have more exit options, I had to take it. And…I was on vacation the week that I accepted the position, so I ended up having just about a week back in the office before I left. I felt bad, in many ways, for leaving him…especially since it was shortly before the Sept 15th deadline. But as others have said, you have to look at the long-term, and you have to consider your career. Do the best you can by your current employer, help ease the transition, etc., so that you don't burn bridges, but you can't stay somewhere just cause he wants you…especially since, in both of our cases, the business could disappear based on one guy.

[Anonymous]

I was going to say something similar to what @Jeff said – if you've attempted to leave, there's a reason, and you will always be the person looking for a way out. There's clearly things that you want in a job (primarily accounting experience, from what you're saying) that are not offered at your current job.

However, to ease the transition for your current boss, you could attempt to work some evenings and weekends for extra cash and to help transfer things to the new person, whoever that ends up being. Of course if the full-time job includes a lot of OT, then it'd be hard to work at all with a second job, but if you're at a place in life that you can work some crazy hours for a bit, then this might help your boss out.

I understand the feelings of doubting your path when you're leaving someone who counts on you. My last job was at a small accounting firm – most of the year, it was just me and the accountant I worked for. He relied on me very heavily for manging his work flow as well as doing my work (like, he'd come in and ask me what needed to be done in the morning!), and I knew that when I left, he'd be lost. But…my exit opportunities from that position were limited – my non-compete effectively made me unable to work in public accounting for 2 years after I left, and if something happened to him, the business would be gone overnight. And…the pay was low. So as long as I stayed there, I'd be making low wages and have few options to leave. So when a private position came open that would pay me more and have more exit options, I had to take it. And…I was on vacation the week that I accepted the position, so I ended up having just about a week back in the office before I left. I felt bad, in many ways, for leaving him…especially since it was shortly before the Sept 15th deadline. But as others have said, you have to look at the long-term, and you have to consider your career. Do the best you can by your current employer, help ease the transition, etc., so that you don't burn bridges, but you can't stay somewhere just cause he wants you…especially since, in both of our cases, the business could disappear based on one guy.

[Author]

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