Hi! I’m torn between staying in a stable role or taking a higher-level position at a new company and would love some outside perspectives.
Current job
– Base: ~11M
– Bonus: ~1.6M (not guaranteed but historically very reliable)
– Strong benefits + more leave
– Pension plan
– Big, established company outside Japan. Techinally a young company in Japan but already has strong presence in the industry. However, it is explicitly mentioned that long term plan in the region is largely dependent on future project successes.
– Non-manager role
– Low Japanese usage at work
– Strong internal politics
New offer
– Base: ~12M
– Bonus: up to ~3.5M (not guaranteed, historically can be lower than maximum)
– Fewer benefits + less leave
– Manager-level role (管理職以上)
– Newly created role, broader responsibilities
– Much higher Japanese usage
– Smaller/younger company, but has strong financial backing
– In a more stable industry than current
Both have flexible hours and hybrid options.
On paper it seems the compensation upside in the new role is very variable. Other non-monetary benefits are stronger in the current role.
However, I feel like the new role will help me take my career to the next level, and is better overall if I plan to stay in Japan permanently. For context, I have passed JLPT N2, but my speaking is lagging because I haven’t had much real workplace exposure. This new role would force me to use Japanese daily.
Please help me decide – should I stay or take on the new challenge?
Thanks a lot!
by SnooMuffins8328