Considering a change of job

[hepcat]

I have a job offer on the table and I’m having a hard time deciding if I should accept it. Maybe the Huddle professionals can offer some insight.

Both jobs are similar in the work I would be doing, so that’s been a hard factor to consider.

Job # 1: Post-startup Software company with 1200 employees hiring like crazy. Work on a small team of 10. Nice guys on the team, but slightly boring. Bland office environment, cubicle farms, suburban outdoor environment. Company offers “unlimited” PTO and one work from home day each week. Pays 20% more than Job 2. 20-25 minute highway drive from my house.

Job # 2: Large public university. Work on a team of 25 across a large academic environment. Newer chic office environment in hip downtown area with a wide mix of types of people as coworkers. Strong learning culture and work with current technology. Accrue one day per month of PTO and Sick days. Pays 20% less than Job 1. Job is a 10-15 minutes drive from my house on back roads.

Mainly having trouble deciding because Job 2 is low stress, offers strong job security, and is closer to my house. Money wise Job 1 wins by a long shot. So basically do I roll the dice on a job I might be bored with for the money or take a lesser paid but more convenient and less stressful job.

 

[toldozer]

Job 1 all day long. 

[KSpan]

You summed it up pretty well in your last paragraph, though I'd be interested to hear which one you think most aligns with your greater career goals.

Ultimately though only you can decide what you value most.

[panther4life]

Job 1. 

Higher income, 1 work from home day and appears to have more room for growth.

[hepcat]

49 minutes ago, KSpan said:

You summed it up pretty well in your last paragraph, though I'd be interested to hear which one you think most aligns with your greater career goals.

Ultimately though only you can decide what you value most.

Career wise it's a really tough call. The work is very similar. The support network is much better at Job 2. The team is mostly in house all the way up the chain whereas at Job 1, I'd have to rely on outside vendors and finding my own solutions to problems. So I guess less hand holding, more having to dive into issues on my own. I guess I'm just nervous to leave the security I have now.

I accepted Job 1 today.

[Shocker]

Job 2...money<happiness

[Ja Rhule]

Think 5 years from now.  Which job opens more doors?

[hepcat]

8 hours ago, ARSEN said:

Think 5 years from now.  Which job opens more doors?

Job 2 probably looks better on a resume just because a large university name is very recognizable. 5 years from now is hard to predict because the team is so new and the technology changes quickly. I’m going to a job with more streamlined tech so I’m maybe ending up in a situation to work more in the private sector for the rest of my career, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing 

[Dingo_ate_Babies]

Take Job 2 since it will provide you with both happiness and job security (economy will eventually tank again). It's hard to find both. In the long-term, you will likely receive promotion/pay bump.

I took a job a year ago with 20% increase in pay and no long-term security, but I'm still living as if I were still on my old salary. I accepted an offer for a job with slightly less pay, but way more in terms of long-term security and better benefits.

[Mother Grabber]

job 1 will suck your soul. no amount of $$ is worth that.

[Squirrel]

Which has better upside potential? If you are under 40 job 1 looks better. If you dont care about and just want a stable job then job 2.  

[hepcat]

16 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Which has better upside potential? If you are under 40 job 1 looks better. If you dont care about and just want a stable job then job 2.  

Job 1 has massively more potential. Fast growing company and joining a small team that is supporting new offices sprouting up all over the country. Potential to get in on the ground floor of something and move up into a management role

[Davidson Deac II]

I won't say which one you should take, but I will say if you have a family to support, Job 2 is probably the better option.  If you can afford to take some risk, then do what you want to do.  

[hepcat]

3 hours ago, Davidson Deac II said:

I won't say which one you should take, but I will say if you have a family to support, Job 2 is probably the better option.  If you can afford to take some risk, then do what you want to do.  

I am getting married in Feb. No kids yet. The income level of Job 1 would make that a more realistic possibility. Job 2 barely pays all my bills.