Turning down a promotion?
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- vaxorcist0
hmm..... I used to work for a really, really good art director who explicitly told his CD that he didn't want to be promoted into management... and he's still an AD.... and from what I hear, loves it....
My father's a physicist, he was once promoted into a management role and hated it, he switched jobs to a university setting where he could mostly avoid management stuff, as he told me he strongly believes that promoting good creative people into management is often a huge mistake....
- dijitaq0
@fooler2
not all can be so lucky. in this case, may end up without a job and with little freelance work for back-up.take the promotion. a higher rank up the ladder in your c.v. won't hurt and you can always quit later.
- gramme0
Either take the promotion with gratitude, or commit 100% to freelance and take the plunge. Anything else seems like trying to have your cake and eat it too. It's neither fair to yourself, nor to your employer.
- Hombre_Lobo0
This is a good read. Very helpful stuff :)
I'd agree with others, take the promotion for a while so that when you are looking fr work elsewhere or freelancing you have that new title which may earn you more clients.
- i_monk0
Take the promotion, you can always quit later.
- vaxorcist0
I was twice in management jobs... in both cases there seemed to be a 6 month honeymoon or so, then the politics started, so you could take the gig, and keep looking around, make sure you don't get burned out or have all your brain RAM used up in meeting randomness...
- hellojeehae0
mm tricky. i would take the promotion and see how it goes. but turning it down definitely sounds sketchy to your company
- ETM0
With only the extra1 day off every 2 weeks, I assume you are putting in a lot of hours in the evenings and weekends. Don't forget the personal time or you'll burn out and it will all crash around you.
But it can be worth it. I built my business nights and weekends while working. I just did it slow and steady and when I had enough saved to live off of for six months if I didn't make a dime, I took the plunge.
- fugged0
is a fortnight like when you sleep in your treehouse?
- PIZZA0
1 day off every 2 weeks is lame, if you really cared about freelancing you would be doing it at the weekends/evenings.
I'd say go with the promotion.
- fooler20
I worked at this one place for like 2 months before I watched the VP scream and yell at my Art Director until she cried, yelled "I QUIT!" and packed her stuff up and left the building.
An hour later he pulled me to the side and asked if I wanted to be promoted to her job.
I politely said no thanks, and he had such a puzzled look on his face - like who would turn down a promotion.
I found a new job a few months later.
- toe_knee0
Tnx for all the feedback guys/gals. Good old qbn. :-)
Having chatted with my better half, and slept on it. I have officially accepted the promotion. Nothing to lose really and the experience will do me good.
thanks again!
- ckentish0
1 day every 2 weeks on your own stuff doesn't sound like you are that busy freelancing.
How different is the new role?
- toe_knee0
It'll mean alot more admin work and directing juniors.
I know 1 day isnt much, but I'd like it to grow
- formed0
careful about turning something down, esp. in this economy. Anyone will wonder why, which will make you less likely to be considered next time. If an employee of mine did that, I'd assume that they were thinking of doing their own thing more and would be less inclined to think of them as an integral part moving forward.
- comicsans0
To ask for a promotion then decline it when offered would seem odd to most people.
- detritus0
If you have ambition, why would you care what these people think? I fyou have a good relationship with your management, just explain your position to them. Ambition isn't just about climbing ladders, it's about personal fulfilment.
My only concern for your argument would be whether they then suspect you of harbouring a desire to leave, potentially putting them in an awkward position in x months/years time.
- toe_knee0
Yeah it one of those - my head says grab the promotion by the balls, but my heart is telling me to start to build something away from it also.
I love my current role, And i'd quite happily do that as well as work freelance. Maybe I ask them if they can give me the promotion but also the 9 day fortnight.
- < exactly - negotiate for the 10th workday off as part of the promotion (26 days a year)jmilligan
- ukit0
- airey0
welcome to a crossroads.
if you're serious about the freelance then shit or get off the pot. 1 day a fortnight won't work for either direct clients nor studios you might want to do it for.
the reality is that until you freelance fulltime, and that could include a 2-3 day a week contract with your current employer, you won't grow the freelance in any real way, unless you;re one of the 1% designer-savants. sad but fucking true.
the main question is are you happy working there at all? would someplace else be better? would you be smarter taking the promotion then move on someplace else with the new title? it's up to you. but put the freelance aside for now is my 2 cents.