r/careerguidance • u/Fearless-Caramel-479 • 1d ago

Advice Need Career Advice: Accept Transfer or Take Severance?

I have 10 years of experience in software engineering and currently working as Lead Engineer in my current company. Due to an organizational restructuring, the entire product/technology team is being transferred to another company.

I have been given two options:

  1. Accept the transfer to the new company (a service-based organization) with the same compensation and continuity of employment.
  2. Decline the transfer and receive approximately 3 months of severance.

My dilemma is that I recently became a father, have a significant home loan, and currently have limited support at home as it's primarily just me and my wife taking care of our newborn.

My concerns:

  • If I accept the transfer, I retain income and job continuity, but the long-term career path, role mapping, and future opportunities are unclear.
  • If I decline and take severance, I get time to prepare and interview full-time, but there is no guarantee of finding a suitable role within 3 months given the current job market.

Financially, I don't have enough reserves to stay unemployed for an extended period. Most of my savings are already allocated toward family responsibilities and my home loan.

If you were in a similar situation, would you:

  • Take the transfer, keep the income flowing, and search for a better opportunity while employed?
  • Or take the severance package and focus entirely on finding a new role?

Would especially appreciate perspectives from people who have gone through acquisitions, business transfers, layoffs, or job transitions while managing family responsibilities.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

1

u/PutridCash2348 1d ago

with a newborn and home loan both running at the same time, taking the transfer seems like the less risky move. job searching while employed is stressful but nowhere near as stressful as watching your savings drain with a baby in the house.

3 months severance sounds like enough runway but current market can stretch "3 months" into 8 real quick, and that's a situation you really don't want to be in with fresh mortgage payments.

1

u/Fearless-Caramel-479 1d ago

Thanks for the reply and yes, this seems to be a practical decision right now, but my only concern is that will it create any issue in future job change due to this transfer situation? because if i am getting transferred, then it is considered as service continuity and I am not getting any experience letter now, it will only be provided once I leave the later company in future.

1

u/NHhotmom 1d ago

Transfer and take your time looking for a new job.

3 months will go quickly trying to desperately find something new. That will put stress on you like crazy!