Don’t Confuse Great People with the Right Career Move
“I’m not excited about the company, but I like the manager so maybe it wouldn’t be terrible.” - career coaching client
Let me take you back to baby Amanda, a senior in college, wide-eyed, and deep in the recruiting process for public accounting firms. After initial interviews with 20+ firms (yes, really), I’d narrowed my focus down to two. We’ll call them Company A and Company B.
On paper? Identical. Same salary. Same perks. The only real difference? The people.
Now, I already suspected accounting wasn’t my life’s great passion (that’s a story for another day), but I ultimately chose Company A because of one person: the manager I’d be working with. He was engaged in the recruiting process, invested in me, and frankly made me excited to join his team. That connection tipped the scales for me.
Fast forward five months into the job. I get an IM from said manager: “Hey, just wanted to let you know - I’m leaving the firm.”
My response? Panic. Confusion. Anger. “Cool cool cool… except I turned down an offer at Company B to work with YOU!” And where was he going you ask? Correct, he was leaving to work at Company B.
Cue the “Did I just ruin my career??” spiral.
Lesson Learned: Don’t Pick a Job For One Person
Yes, the people matter, a LOT. The thing that differentiates one company from another when the jobs are otherwise similar, is the humans you’ll be surrounded by day in and day out. But if your only reason for saying yes is one individual, that’s a massive red flag.
Because here’s the truth: people leave. Managers change roles. Your “work bestie” might get a new job. If your entire sense of happiness and stability at work depends on one person, you’re standing on shaky ground.
Instead, flip the order:
Like the job for the job. The work itself, the opportunities for growth, the industry.. It has to have something that excites you or at least makes sense for your goals.
Then consider the people. Do they make the job better? Great. Do they align with your values? Even better. But they should be the cherry on top, not the full reason you accept an offer.
Next time you’re evaluating a job opportunity, ask yourself:
Would I want this job even if that one amazing manager left tomorrow?
Does the role itself give me something I can build on?
Are the people an enhancement, or the only selling point?
You deserve a career that stands on a solid foundation. Don’t just follow the manager - follow what’s right for you.
Ready to make job decisions that actually hold up long-term? Let’s talk. Book a discovery call today!
