I got laid off from oil industry (NOT Halliburton) about a year ago. Soon, I was able to get a job with less pay in a completely different industry - the pay wasn't as great as oil industry but much more stable than oil industry. Recently, I got contacted by HAL HR regarding a potential job offer. I'd appreciate your thoughts and opinions about joining HAL and oil industry again.
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You really haven't provided enough details to give advice one way or the other.
The current job:
1) You say, more stable. How do you know? What's the industry? Large company or mom-and-pop shop? True job stability is a rare thing these days.
2) Salary growth. Can you expect regular raises in this job?
3) Benefits. How are the health care benefits of this job? How do they compare with Halliburton's?
4) Retirement benefits. Halliburton doesn't really have any retirement benefits, but at least they have a 401k and a decent partial match. Some companies have no 401k or no match.
5) Time away from family vs Halliburton job
A lot to factor in before you make a decision or we give advice.
It's everyone for himself and backstab anyone who's in your way. Dog eat dog is king
I retired from HAL after 40 years but it's a different HAL now and a different employee marketplace in general. You have to consider every job as temporary and get the best deal you can going in. Job stability was king when I was younger. Now it's every "man" for himself. Unless you're a field hand, your position will probably be outsourced in a couple of years anyway.
I wouldn't come back to oil industry unless you're making significantly less in your current, stable job. In oil industry, everywhere you go, you will have to live with low morale, backstabbing, and smart-asses (like some people here). BTW, oil industry will no longer be able provide high-paying jobs in the near future, since profit margins are getting thinner and thinner everyday.
You sold me down the river. Save your water woman i won't drink out of your stream.
You must have something that Halliburton wants. Therefore, YOU are in the driver's seat, and should be able to counter the low-ball offers that HR will say that "is the best we can do".
In all likelyhood, HR is getting a percent of the difference between what you were formerly making, and what they (Halliburton) is telling you what they can pay).
Read the postings on here about those who have been hired back at a fraction of what they had been making before being laid off, and at an entry level position, despite their past job title.
If you do go to work for Halliburton, remember that HR WILL lie to you, and that when the next downturn comes, YOU stand a very good chance of being escorted out the door, UNLESS you compromise YOUR principles and develop an 'under the desk' relationship with your bosses.
You should request a large salary, in excess of what you made prior to account for lost wages and the duress you and those reliant upon you were made to endure, in addition request 4 weeks vacation per year. Now, don't think you are being greedy or making unreasonable demands. Think of the foolish monies HAL has been paying out lately due to stupidity and for bonuses paid as job well done for guiding the company through troubled times . If your little HR person can't make it happen tell them you could not consider the thought of returning the company considering the circumstances of the past 3 years. Besides, what guarantee do you have that the market won't relapse and they will repeat their previous actions in order to save themselves. You may also mention that you want to negotiate any future severance package up front. Of course you can always go for the feel good reply and tell them to get f----d.