Constant turnover at the top can be distressing, but is it problematic enough to turn down a job? In FINS' informal Sign or Decline survey, 36% of 691 respondents said they'd turn down their dream job if their new manager had been replaced three times.
While low turnover rates have historically been championed as an indicator of great management and company culture, some experts say that turnover rates don't mean what they once did.
Working under a manager in a high-turnover role could be an advantage, says Roy Cohen, a career coach in New York City and author of The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide.
"If you come in in a more junior capacity, below management level, it offers you the opportunity to figure things out without the pressures of being a manager," says Cohen. "You can learn from their mistakes, and see repeatedly what's not being done right, without being in the hot seat." By learning where previous managers slipped up, you could be more successful than those who failed before you.
Nonetheless, if the manager hiring you is the third or fourth person to hold the job in a short period of time, it could signal that the division isn't stable or the business model isn't working. That could mean you'll eventually be laid off. "If they find that no matter who runs it, the initiative itself is a waste of time and resources, the changes may be even more dramatic," Cohen says.
It's also important to note whether your new manager is new to the company itself. "If they have been at the company for a long time, the new boss may be more likely to know his or her way around the organization," says Cohen. Someone from outside, however, may have as steep a learning curve as you do when they start in the new position. Proving yourself won't be easy, especially when your manager is in the midst of doing the same.
What Would You Do?
Answer the question and see how you match up with the rest of the FINS community.
You've just been offered your dream job, but... your boss has been replaced three times.
Write to Kelly Eggers
Sign or Decline is a series of questions on FINS.com that ask what you would do for your dream job. Since its launch late last year, over 100,000 answers have been received and compiled in our database. Participate in Sign or Decline here.
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