Which job? Difficult decision.

rIcK

rIcK

rIcK

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5 Jan 2004
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I have 2 job offers on the table:

One is the same rate of pay I was on 3 years ago and is a current drop of approx £8-10k per year ( more if including bonus ), it is 20 minutes walk from home but is a large company who seem to be *excellent* to work for. This would be a fairly basic role in an operations style team with lots of scope for progression. I really want this particular role but the wage is a big thing holding be back.

The second is a smaller company with ~100 employees where I have been offered pretty much my current salary but is an hour drive from where I live right now. The role would be a more senior networking position they have also offered me to go on multiple training courses paid for in work time by the company to bring me up to speed in the areas I am missing.

I am utterly thrown by what to do, what would you guys do? I have managed to get a few days to think about it.
 
Go for the closer job. No brainer to me really. You'll save so much £££ in petrol/diesel and it's nice to be at home within a few minutes of finishing work. I've travelled an hour + each way everyday for the past 3 years and this year I'm 10 mins drive from work and it is so much less stressful and tiring.
 
I would say the closer one sounds more appealing, if you can take the pay-cut and still live comfortably, and from the sounds of, you'll make the pay-gap up fairly shortly (assuming progression = payrise)
 
so current role, i took a pay cut to work closer home, in a company that had more prospects. 3 yrs on i've had several pay rises and and far surpassed my previous salary.

go for the one that had better progression prospects and take that initial hit.
 
Have you asked the first company for more money? Theres really no harm in doing this since its a huge drop from what your currently earning and if you tell them this is something holding you back I'm sure there should be some wiggle room.

Also the scope for progressions is a bit :/, since typically when your promoted pay is 10-20% increase and still might be less then what you used to earn, off course this varies from company to company.
 
I think the second role is the no brainer here. Sure it's a longer commute, but it's a better position with training. Assuming this isn't going to be the last job you ever have, the second role not only looks better on your CV, it also gives you a better bargining position over salary, due to it being higher than the other place, it also provides you with training.
 
I have asked for a slightly higher wage ( 2k more ) from the first company, they simply can't because of the role on offer. The person running the department was being *very* persuasive at the interview telling me it was the right place to work and trying to say I should be working there even before making the offer...
 
I'd go with the second job. The first sounds like a step back in position and salary with the only benefit being that you can fall out of bed and be in the office. This is not a great way to figure out who to work for unless everything else is equal.
 
2nd job by far. More senior, will help with progression when you move next time, more cash and paid on the job training can be very worthwhile for career improvement. 1 hour commute is not exactly that tough, unless you have a young family?

Then perhaps 1 might be the better bet till kids are a bit older.
 
Is there an option 3? i.e don't move anywhere or are you currently unemployed/about to lose a role?

If it has to be between the two then unfortunately there is no way I'd take a £10k pay drop to work a few minutes from my house. The cost of travel will be nowhere near that vs the alternative unless you have zero need to own a car otherwise. If it was such a great company for progression then why aren't there roles at your current level available?
 
2nd job for me. Not because if the money but because it sounds a better job with a commitment for training.
 
Option 3 is: I have a further interview at a place around 20 minutes away likely on the same sort of salary but a smaller company ~10 people and this again looks like a good role for a decent company

My current commute is 2.5hours ( 5 in total a day ) both options are considerably better.
 
I'd go for the second role tbh. It sounds like by taking the first you'll basically be setting your career (and as you've said, wage) back by several years, just for the convenience of being a bit closer to work. (Nothing wrong with deciding based on distance/commute, but as Magnolia has said, not when other factors are far more significant).

Edit:

rIcK said:
Option 3 is: I have a further interview at a place around 20 minutes away likely on the same sort of salary but a smaller company ~10 people and this again looks like a good role for a decent company

My current commute is 2.5hours ( 5 in total a day ) both options are considerably better.
Click to expand...

In which case option 3 is the better option, but option 2 will still be a significant improvement over your current situation.
 
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Why are you changing jobs? Is it because of your commute?

I wouldn't take an 8-10k pay cut in a more basic role unless I had to. Option 2, more senior position with training sound like the winner.
 
rIcK said:
Option 3 is: I have a further interview at a place around 20 minutes away likely on the same sort of salary but a smaller company ~10 people and this again looks like a good role for a decent company

My current commute is 2.5hours ( 5 in total a day ) both options are considerably better.
Click to expand...

If you are used to a 5hour roudn trip per day then take the 2nd job.
 
I am not happy at my current role I, something doesn't feel right I have been contemplating a move for some time anyway I want to become part of something "bigger". I currently do get decent wage rises regularly but I have no job satisfaction at all the commute is also rather painful.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I needed some impartial opinions since this could make a big difference to the next years of my life. I did recently move to a city centre and a *big* part of this was specifically to be able to find a job closer to home.

As far as my wage is concerned I could top it off with doing work for other companies I have relations with, I will also get an on call allowance once I have gone through the initial phase with job 1 which closes the gap further.
 
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About 6 years ago I made the choice to take a significant pay cut to do the job I wanted to do and I haven't regretted it since.
If you can survive the pay cut and the job is something you really want to do then go for it; job happiness is not something to be underestimated, so go with your gut instinct, which one do you think would be more satisfying?
 
rIcK said:
I have asked for a slightly higher wage ( 2k more ) from the first company, they simply can't because of the role on offer. The person running the department was being *very* persuasive at the interview telling me it was the right place to work and trying to say I should be working there even before making the offer...
Click to expand...

Of course they'd say that, no one voluntarily moves for a 8-10k pay cut and they need someone to fill a role.

Always be wary of what they promise, it can mean little once you start working there. Not saying they're lying, but you need to take things with a pince of salt and think about what their motivations are too.

For me personally, 8-10k seems like an excessive pay cut. If they want you that much they can give you a better offer.
 
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