Graduating from college- now what?

March 3, 2007 8:23 PM

I'm graduating from college this upcoming May (Finally!) with a bachelors degree in engineering. I have two job offers both with their own pros and cons, which unfortunately manage to even out both offers to me. I'm not sure what to really do now and any personal insights or advice would be much appreciated.

THE JOB
One is in distribution in Connecticut (CT) and the other job is manufacturing in New Hampshire (NH). Both are inherently different and I've enjoyed my internship experiences at both sites.

Job CT is a major US company with four other sites just like it in other regions of the country, undoubtedly offering potential for growth at the particular site I'm working at and through other locations.

Job NH is a large manufacturing plant with pretty much no potential for another site, as the plant sits on a huge piece of land and is constantly being expanded. NH job seems more stagnant, especially highlighted by my supervisor pointing out his lack of potential in moving up since there isn't such a great need for engineers of our area in the company and a lot of the upper positions being held and replaced by people migrating from our parent company.

At CT I get to work with a team of two other engineers of my background along with our supervisor. The two other engineers are around my age and we got along fantastically; it's great to be able to sit around and bounce ideas off of each other plus just hanging out. My supervisor is not very approachable as he's got more of a "I'm your supervisor" feel, but otherwise he's a good guy to work for.

At NH, I have an excellent relationship with my supervisor and we work together no problem, none of that "You work for me" feeling. The only problem is that it's just the two of us when it comes to working on a project without any other people to really turn to for ideas. This shouldn't matter, but he also graduated from the same college and degree program. I would feel guilty for hypothetically leaving him after having such a great work relationship and experience with him.


LIFE
My long term boyfriend and I would ideally like to live together after college; we've lived with each other for 3 years now so that shouldn't be a big problem. He recieved a job offer barely a 20 minute drive away from job NH. We can easily get an apartment together in NH and share a car to get to work.

For the job CT, the distance of his job in NH from CT is considerably more- 100 minutes of driving time distance between the two sites. Therefore, we'd probably end up getting a place smack in the middle (Massachusetts), and have to get a second car and having a commuting time of ~50 minutes each.

In terms of salary, I can see the CT position offering more since it's a larger company and because of it's location, but the benefits of that are eaten away by having to get a second car, insurance, gas, etc. Additionally, there is no state income tax in New Hampshire.

Both offer full tuition reimbursement if I decide to go to graduate school...both locations are pretty close to multiple schools in Boston for this purpose. Both offer the same 401(K) plan and amount of vacation time.

In regards to family, my boyfriend is from CT but it's nowhere near where the CT job is so that's pretty much irrelevant. I'm from the West Coast so I'm not loyal to any particular New England state.


Again, both offers weigh evenly to me and I'm not sure how to move forth. At this point, flipping a coin is pretty much what I'd end up doing. Are there variable I am totally underestimating here? Any opinions and past experiences in your job hunting adventures and personal life would be most helpful.

posted by Jimmie to work & money (16 comments total)

CT sounds a lot better. Good luck!
posted by k8t at 8:40 PM on March 3, 2007

I am also an engineer, by degree. I have a BS in Chemical Engineering. I work for a production facility (food plant, actually). I work in production supervison, so what I do isn't really engineering. I love my company and love what I do. I can't imagine doing anything else. I feel like I lucked into the best job fit for me. It wasn't my first job either. I lucked out on company #2.

I wish I had some advice. Looking at what you've laid out, it would seem the NH job has more perks. But, I don't have enough detail about you personally to offer much advice. However, as a very competative/ achievement oriented person, I find room for growth and promotion to be a great motivator. It's not my #1 motivator, but it is a nice perk to have options. In 10 years, I have moved jobs 7 times and been promoted 4.

I do hope you keep in mind that you are young. It's not like you have to work for either place for 30+ years. If the job you choose doesn't work out, move on...

I wish you luck. I'm sure you'll be great no matter what!
posted by beachhead2 at 8:42 PM on March 3, 2007

The NH job sounds better to me. If your boss isn't on your back and you don't have to spend so much time commuting, you'll have more time to pursue personal and career interests. Although I'm not an engineer, I found I needed to spend some of my non-work time researching topics and networking with other people. Perhaps you could do something like that.
posted by acoutu at 9:05 PM on March 3, 2007

I really have no advice about which job would be better professionally. However, as a person who just relocated to NH, I think you need to visit both places to get a good appreciation for the differences.

NH is a very odd state, and I say that in the best of intentions. The people are a odd blend of socially liberal and bureaucratically conservative - most are okay with whatever you want to do, as long as you stay off their lawn and don't bother them. :) While no income and sales tax is awesome, you're going to pay quite a bit if you buy a house (property taxes are outrageous), and the government is damn near to having a bake sale each week to finance the police or some essential service.

I would suggest coming up here to visit, for as long as you can. I don't know what area in NH you're planning on living, but if you want, you can email me and ask me more questions. I think I can provide you a good prospective, and answer some more specific questions if you have them on what its like to live here and what relocation is like.

I'm in Concord, BTW.
posted by plaidrabbit at 9:05 PM on March 3, 2007

From a job point of view, it sounds like Connecticut would be the much better choice. Maybe it's not the easiest for you and your boyfriend, but since you're young I would look at it from the place that will give you room to grow and provide more intellectual (and career) stimulation. I'd pick Connecticut.
posted by schroedinger at 9:06 PM on March 3, 2007

To take a totally different tack on this, I recommend the following methods anytime you can't decide between two things that seem equal. Read it through, though, I promise it isn't as retarded as it's going to sound at first

The coin method
1) Obtain a coin.
2) Have someone flip the coin, call it in the air (i.e., say "heads means CT" as it's doing the hole F=Gmm/r thing)
3) When the coin lands, the person flipping the coin should tell you which job you've picked via this coin toss.
4) This is the important step: pay attention to how you feel when this person informs you of the result. Often times, even when the two choices seem equal, when you actually hear what the other person says, you will either feel relief or disappoint. Base your choice on this feeling, not the results of the coin toss.

The descriptive method
1) Find someone you find to be generally perceptive, a good listener, insightful, etc.
2) Describe each job to this person. Just start describing and go with it, don't overthink it.
3) Often times, you will describe one job more favorably than the other, sometimes significantly so. This person, whom you trust to have listened and to understand your communication style, should tell you which job you described more favorably. This may well be an indicator of which job you like more, consider it.

A friend and I have been using these methods to make choices lately and found they both work pretty well a lot of the time. If they don't though, I'm sure a lot of other cool people will provide more useful replies.
posted by !Jim at 9:31 PM on March 3, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

My long term boyfriend and I would ideally like to live together after college; we've lived with each other for 3 years now so that shouldn't be a big problem. He recieved a job offer barely a 20 minute drive away from job NH. We can easily get an apartment together in NH and share a car to get to work.

Love or money? If it were me I would choose love. If the boyfriend doesn't work out you can always trade up on jobs as well.
posted by caddis at 9:37 PM on March 3, 2007

A few things to consider, if you haven't already (you probably have, to a greater or lesser extent, but make sure and really consider well)

-First, and most importantly, make sure you both know where eachother stands on the relationship. Are you sure you want to be together, even if one of you has to make a career sacrifice. It's important that you're honest with each other and yourselves, and that you each know how yourselves feel, as well as how each other feels. (Poorly worded, but I hope you get the point).

-Are you sure you would enjoy either one of the jobs you mentioned?

-Is he sure he would enjoy his NH job?

To summarize what I would do, given the information I have (emphasis that only you have all the details), is: option a) if he's sure he would enjoy his NH job, and you'd enjoy yours, you both move there. When you outgrow that position, look for another job in the area (or by that time, maybe you're both ready to move, who knows). This option offers stability, and as long as you both will enjoy your jobs for the time being, you just need to make sure you don't get stuck at that company forever. option b) if by any chance he's not sure he'd actually enjoy his NH job, and you are sure you'll enjoy your CT job, that sounds like the better long term option for you (though your NH job doesn't sound too shabby, just not long term future there). So he could perhaps move to CT with you and look for a job there? Would you be able to afford this, and would he have much hope of finding a job there? ifthere's any doubt that he won't actually enjoy his NH job, this might be an option. option c) you move smack in the middle of CT and NH as you said. Personally, this doesn't sound good to me. But it depends on how much you mind commuting quite a distance, and how much you mind the tighter budget. I would think you wouldn't want to do this forever. How long do you think you could take it? Do you think you'll have other options open up before you get tired of it? option d) whatever options I haven't mentioned. There are definitely some out there. Who knows what they are?
posted by gauchodaspampas at 10:01 PM on March 3, 2007

On reading again, and yes I previewed, but on reading a third time I'm not sure I was clear on part of what I said: "How long do you think you could take" the long commute and tighter budget due to two cars and insurance? It's probably very difficult to guess, but do you think you'll have other options open up where you don't both have to commute long distance before you both grow tired of doing it? Maybe it was clear the first time, but if it wasn't, I hope this clears up what I meant.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 10:07 PM on March 3, 2007

50 minute one way commutes, in the dark, short days of New England winters suck. You scrape your windows, while the car is warming up, you get in and hope your defrosters are ready to go, and then you realize you need gas... OTOH, barreling along I-495 on a crisp fall day, when the sky is blue and the trees are every possible color, is nothing short of spectacular.

I'd go with the NH situation, and go leaf peeping only on the perfect fall days...
posted by paulsc at 11:55 PM on March 3, 2007

I personally think the CT job would be better (were I in your shoes) just because I've had the opportunity to be "in charge" with nobody to answer to, and it gets boring and lonely. You need other co-workers to bounce ideas off of. And if the company in CT is growing, that means your potential career future has more legs to it.

That said, however, I also think there's no way in hell the both of you are going to put up with an hour commute both ways every Monday-Friday. No way. You're going to be paying MA housing rates (renting or buying) and you will be paying MA income tax. Yes, even though you work in New Hampshire. You're going to leave before dawn, work all day, be dead-tired when you get home (late) and will barely have enough time to eat, watch an hour of television and pass out. Your life will be hell without those two hours, and you'll be paying through the nose for it.

Which is why, in the end, I recommend the NH job. NH is cheaper than CT (and MA). Living in NH is cheaper, to boot. The job sounds like it'll be pretty painless and easy-going. You'll have more time for your own life because you won't be driving two hours a day (believe me, it'll probably be closer to three all total).

And you get to stay with your boyfriend.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:40 AM on March 4, 2007

Go to new Hampshire. Your boss there will be a good ally if you decide after a year or two that you need to go elsewhere.
posted by wryly at 1:56 AM on March 4, 2007

It depends on how much job satisfaction/career development you are willing to sacrifice for a short commute and time to spend with BF....you will end up spending a lot of time at work and job satisfaction can make all the difference.

It is worth bearing in mind that initially any job is interesting as you have to learn how the company works, the systems, the people etc. as well as your 'actual' job.

However after a while you are competent to work on a certain level and the challenge then would be to broaden the range of work or move up a step and get challenged that way. As you have worked for both companies this time will come sooner rather than later.

That is my experience anyway. In the last 3.5 years I left two jobs after 14 months or so because I got bored and because there was no scope for me to progress. My crurrent job is with a large multinational and ticks all the right boxes. On the downside I have to pay for the privilege by long hours and a lot of travel...which I am happy to do for the time being.

Clearly your relationship is important to you. What you don't seem to be sure about is how important job satisfaction and career development are, which - to me - is the key to deciding this one.

ps - if you turn out to be very good the NH boss might get less supportive as he may get worried you're after his job. That happened to me a couple of times, too. People can be very protective about their tasks/knowledge etc.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:21 AM on March 4, 2007

!Jim's suggestions are cool.

My 2 cents is that you should follow the people you feel comfortable with. I think it's a big plus that going to NH would put you both together with your boyfriend, and at a job with a cool boss. Plus you get the bonus of an expanding plant... if that means that promotions or more responsibilities are possible.
posted by msittig at 5:53 AM on March 4, 2007

Both jobs offer training (paying your tuition). Are you really expecting to stay at one job your entire life? Take the one that's easier on you (i.e. no commute, easy living arrangement). You'll learn something for sure, you'll get your feet wet, and you can even go to grad school if you want. Stress of a possibly difficult boss, complicated commute, less personal time and extra expenses will never be good for you.

Unless the NH job is absolutely dead end (and you don't make it sound that way) make life easy for yourself. Oh, and take them up on that school thing. Also, never underestimate the value of a truly good boss. One of those, even in a so-so company can pave a road to your career much better than a crappy one in a great company (he/she won't be there long anyhow)

Good luck. Oh, and ask your boyfriend. He's your partner, what does he think?
posted by Yavsy at 11:10 AM on March 4, 2007

One thing I wish someone had told me about that I had listened to when I was starting out was the value of working for for an organization with good established procedures. You've got a degree and some internships under your belt, now one of the best things you can do, IMNSHO, is soak for a while in the organization and see what kind of best practices they've set up. That's the kind of knowledge you want to have when you walk into a smaller/younger/your own setup .

Maybe the two are equal in this but your comment about multiple facilities and advancement potential made me wonder.
posted by phearlez at 12:16 PM on March 5, 2007