Avoid This Career Trade-Off

A good boss at a bad company or a bad boss at a good company? It's never an easy choice.

"There is a very good chance that at some point in your career, you are going to have to make the incredibly difficult decision between working for a good boss at a bad company, or a bad boss at a good company," CNBC contributor Suzy Welch tells CNBC Make It. "This dilemma is so common and such a hard call that my husband, Jack Welch, and I refer to it as 'The Classic.'"

Welch says there are two common but different scenarios that you'll likely encounter at different points in your career. In one instance, she says, you may find yourself working for an encouraging boss who gives your work meaning and provides challenging assignments. "They probably believe in you more than you believe in yourself," she says.

In this case, she says, "work isn't always easy, but it's fun."

In another instance, Welch says you may find yourself dealing with a discouraging boss who likes to pit people against each other. "This tact might get results, but it's an unbearable work culture, and a lot of times you're miserable," she explains.

While both scenarios put you in a bind, Welch says that choosing to stick with a good boss at a bad company is the wrong decision.

» Subscribe to CNBC Make It.

About CNBC Make It.: CNBC Make It. is a new section of CNBC dedicated to making you smarter about managing your business, career, and money.

Connect with CNBC Make It. Online

Get the latest updates

Find CNBC Make It. on Facebook

Find CNBC Make It. on Twitter

Find CNBC Make It. on Instagram

Avoid This Career Trade-Off | CNBC Make It.