Deciding between two job offers....

[CrushNasty]

 

Yes, I know I'm fortunate to have them in today's economy, etc. etc. but now having to decide is going to be a struggle.   

They're in diff. industries, but working 50-60 hours/week. 

Option 1:
In Dallas for the foreseeable future, but it sounds like frequent travel during the week after a 8 mo to a year of training/customer service.  Base + some incentives.  (area  of business = what my Master's degree is in).  Fairly young (<=10 years old) and rapidly growing company.

Option 2:
Train in KC for 10 mo-year. then relocate every 1.5-2 years depending on where the work is. Base salary.  (area of business = what my undergrad degree was in... degrees quite different). Established company.



Base of option 2 is $15k greater than Base of option 1, but again incentives would bring them about equal.   Benefits are pretty similar I think.

 

Plan on sitting down and listing positives and negatives of each opportunity, but such a big decision 

[michigancat]

what are the "incentives" that make money equal?

family situation?

[Pete]

Choose the job in which you will learn the most and be the most marketable/highest paid later.

This same advice was given to me when I was choosing my first job, and it was the best advice I received (that I followed) in my entire life.

[CNS]

Yes, I know I'm fortunate to have them in today's economy, etc. etc. but now having to decide is going to be a struggle.   

They're in diff. industries, but working 50-60 hours/week. 

Option 1:
In Dallas for the foreseeable future, but it sounds like frequent travel during the week after a 8 mo to a year of training/customer service.  Base + some incentives.  (area  of business = what my Master's degree is in).  Fairly young (<=10 years old) and rapidly growing company.

Option 2:
Train in KC for 10 mo-year. then relocate every 1.5-2 years depending on where the work is. Base salary.  (area of business = what my undergrad degree was in... degrees quite different). Established company.



Base of option 2 is $15k greater than Base of option 1, but again incentives would bring them about equal.   Benefits are pretty similar I think.

 

Plan on sitting down and listing positives and negatives of each opportunity, but such a big decision 

I would rather be relocated every other year than be on the road most of every week.  Provides much more stability to a personal life.

Also, if money is equal, I would go with the more established company.  They should have a better training/mentoring program/opportunities, a stronger company name will make you more marketable if you should leave them, and stability should be greater.

[I_have_purplewood]

If you're single, choose Dallas. 

[kougar24]

what are the "incentives" that make money equal?

family situation?

I assumed he meant like some sort of bonus or commission-based structure.

[OK_Cat]

I'd play it safe and go with the more established company, but that's just me.   

[steve dave]

Option 1 (but it sounds like you've already decided that and want someone to tell you)

[michigancat]

I'd play it safe and go with the more established company, but that's just me.   

I would do the opposite, all things equal.  I just question the $15k incentives.

[Dr Rick Daris]

Choose the job in which you will learn the most and be the most marketable/highest paid later.

This same advice was given to me when I was choosing my first job, and it was the best advice I received (that I followed) in my entire life.

i'd go with this. you need to realize that these are just jobs and that the economy isn't that bad and that you probably won't keep either of these jobs past a couple of years anyway. pick the job that will make you happy now and is in a field that you like. as long as you're not a total moron, the rest will just work itself out over time. it always does.

[felix rex]

Choose the job in which you will learn the most and be the most marketable/highest paid later.

This same advice was given to me when I was choosing my first job, and it was the best advice I received (that I followed) in my entire life.

i'd go with this. you need to realize that these are just jobs and that the economy isn't that bad and that you probably won't keep either of these jobs past a couple of years anyway. pick the job that will make you happy now and is in a field that you like. as long as you're not a total moron, the rest will just work itself out over time. it always does.

+1

Treat both like degree programs. Which one gets you a better career later?

[Pete]

Choose the job in which you will learn the most and be the most marketable/highest paid later.

This same advice was given to me when I was choosing my first job, and it was the best advice I received (that I followed) in my entire life.

i'd go with this. you need to realize that these are just jobs and that the economy isn't that bad and that you probably won't keep either of these jobs past a couple of years anyway. pick the job that will make you happy now and is in a field that you like. as long as you're not a total moron, the rest will just work itself out over time. it always does.

+1

Treat both like degree programs. Which one gets you a better career later?

Exactly....more succinctly stated than mine.

[pissclams]

hotness of potential co-workers needs to be factored in, cannot stress this enough. 

[chum1]

Visit Dallas and ask yourself if you'd want to live there.

[felix rex]

hotness of potential co-workers needs to be factored in, cannot stress this enough. 

Yeah. That's a def downside to my career field. Lost one of the few office hotties the other day. Really only about 2-3 in the entire freaking company now. 

[Dr Rick Daris]

hotness of potential co-workers needs to be factored in, cannot stress this enough. 

Yeah. That's a def downside to my career field. Lost one of the few office hotties the other day. Really only about 2-3 in the entire freaking company now. 

i work in a building that probably employs five hundred people and i go days. days.

[WillieWatanabe]

I'm in a career dominated my guys but work for a "business" dominated by women(clients).

[WildCatzPhreak]

Option 2 is the safer route.  Established company, better money.  Just from my experience the more established (and I'm presuming larger) companies can make you more marketable later on.  Traveling less often.

Option 1 is more risky, but could potentially pay off more in the long run if the company continues to grow successfully(assuming there's room for advancement, potential stock options, etc.)  Traveling more often.

Your call.  If I was single, I would go with option 1.  If I had a family, I would go with option 2.

[michigancat]

FWIW, I don't think any jobs at any companies are "safe" any more.

[felix rex]

FWIW, I don't think any jobs at any companies are "safe" any more.

this. that's why you need to approach each job as a section on your next resume.

[kougar24]

FWIW, I don't think any jobs at any companies are "safe" any more.

[michigancat]

FWIW, I don't think any jobs at any companies are "safe" any more.

Not being a downer at all, just dealing with reality.   I actually enjoy this because companies require no loyalty in return and you can change jobs fairly often these days. 

That said, my point was that the only "pro" for the established company I see is "stability" or "security" - which is basically non-existent.  The smaller, younger company is a lot more attractive in about every other way. 

[kougar24]

FWIW, I don't think any jobs at any companies are "safe" any more.

Not being a downer at all, just dealing with reality.   I actually enjoy this because companies require no loyalty in return and you can change jobs fairly often these days. 

That said, my point was that the only "pro" for the established company I see is "stability" or "security" - which is basically non-existent.  The smaller, younger company is a lot more attractive in about every other way. 

I don't think you can paint it with such a broad brush. Not all big "established" companies have great benefits, just like not all start-up companies have crap benefits, and vice versa.

Basically, what CrushNasty gave us to go on wasn't nearly enough for any of us to render an opinion. Naturally, that won't stop us from doing so.

[michigancat]

I don't think you can paint it with such a broad brush. Not all big "established" companies have great benefits, just like not all start-up companies have crap benefits, and vice versa.

That has absolutely nothing to do with what I said. 

[steve dave]

FWIW, I don't think any jobs at any companies are "safe" any more.

Not being a downer at all, just dealing with reality.   I actually enjoy this because companies require no loyalty in return and you can change jobs fairly often these days. 

That said, my point was that the only "pro" for the established company I see is "stability" or "security" - which is basically non-existent.  The smaller, younger company is a lot more attractive in about every other way. 

I don't think you can paint it with such a broad brush. Not all big "established" companies have great benefits, just like not all start-up companies have crap benefits, and vice versa.

Basically, what CrushNasty gave us to go on wasn't nearly enough for any of us to render an opinion. Naturally, that won't stop us from doing so.

No, I had heard enough.  It was Option 1.