Yay! Now what?
January 20, 2011 3:31 PM Subscribe
In the next week or so I am likely to be in the lucky position of being able to choose between a handful of job offers. How do I pick which position to take? Looking for general and career focused ways to make a decision.
I work in digital design, and, fingers crossed, I will be able to choose between a few different offers soon. The companies and positions are fairly different (but most of the work is work that excites me). Whenever I go in and interview, though, I leave super excited about the latest option. So I have no idea what I really want.
The options in brief, assuming the same pay & interest in projects.
1: Industry leader, position at the bottom of the totem pole, not too huge. Definite learning opportunity.
2: Tiny. Great group. More senior role. Definitely some challenge in living up to the role, which is exciting. Good work-life balance.
3: The most corporate option. Good work-life balance, as well. I can definitely see where my skills will make a difference, but the role is somewhere between 1 & 2 in seniority.
The bottom line: I am interested in both general decision-making advice and specific comments. (I already know about the coin flip > what does your heart want option.) Thank you!
I work in digital design, and, fingers crossed, I will be able to choose between a few different offers soon. The companies and positions are fairly different (but most of the work is work that excites me). Whenever I go in and interview, though, I leave super excited about the latest option. So I have no idea what I really want.
The options in brief, assuming the same pay & interest in projects.
1: Industry leader, position at the bottom of the totem pole, not too huge. Definite learning opportunity.
2: Tiny. Great group. More senior role. Definitely some challenge in living up to the role, which is exciting. Good work-life balance.
3: The most corporate option. Good work-life balance, as well. I can definitely see where my skills will make a difference, but the role is somewhere between 1 & 2 in seniority.
The bottom line: I am interested in both general decision-making advice and specific comments. (I already know about the coin flip > what does your heart want option.) Thank you!
Try a decision matrix. Google turns up lots of examples and explanations. Basically, list the criteria that matter to you (size of company, challenge of role, work-life-balance...), weight these criteria according to how important they are to you, and then rate each job offer for each of the criteria. You get a numerical result telling you which is the "best" decision.
Although... sometimes when I use this to get a "best" decision in personal matters, I find myself juggling the weights and ratings to get a different answer... thereby revealing the one "my heart really wants."
posted by evilmomlady at 3:47 PM on January 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
Although... sometimes when I use this to get a "best" decision in personal matters, I find myself juggling the weights and ratings to get a different answer... thereby revealing the one "my heart really wants."
posted by evilmomlady at 3:47 PM on January 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
Based on a cursory glance at your list, you sound like you want 2 the most. Senior role is good. Tiny group means you have greater influence, and it will be a challenge. Run with it.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:57 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
As a freelancer of long standing, I always lok at the job after next-- does this job put me in a place for an even better one, and after that one, a really great one? Which position gives you more standing in your field, more visibility, and more range? Do you get sent to conferences, will you have the chance to meet more and better colleagues and future employers, will you have latitude to do amazing work? And don't discount money and benefits! Money is how you're valued, make no mistake. Backrubs at lunch are nice, but a company who wants you, pays you.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:58 PM on January 20, 2011
posted by Ideefixe at 3:58 PM on January 20, 2011
Look at the benefits offered, too - health care, vacation time, etc.
All other things remaining equal, though, I would take #2. Good coworkers are golden, and it sounds like that position is the one that would most challenge you in a positive way.
posted by something something at 3:58 PM on January 20, 2011
All other things remaining equal, though, I would take #2. Good coworkers are golden, and it sounds like that position is the one that would most challenge you in a positive way.
posted by something something at 3:58 PM on January 20, 2011
I firmly believe that atmosphere is everything. Go with the place you feel most personally comfortable.
posted by anastasiav at 4:00 PM on January 20, 2011
posted by anastasiav at 4:00 PM on January 20, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks so far everyone. I guess part of my issue is I don't know where I would be most comfortable. I seem to have the imagination to see all the situations ending in either happiness or despair. Asking about conferences, etc., is a great idea, though.
posted by dame at 4:05 PM on January 20, 2011
posted by dame at 4:05 PM on January 20, 2011
Go with your favorite group as coworkers. Seriously. Many aspects of my job kinda suck, to be honest, but my awesome coworkers more than make up for it.
posted by maryr at 4:17 PM on January 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by maryr at 4:17 PM on January 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
I seem to have the imagination to see all the situations ending in either happiness or despair
Which happiness scenario seems the best to you?
Which despair scenario is the worst?
I.e. think about the absolutely best case and worst case scenarios for each and rank them. Is the best case scenario for each job such that you would be content and never stressed again? Is it such that you would be singing on your way to work each morning? Is it such that you would tell all your friends that you have the best job ever in the whole world and that you wouldn't ever want to retire because you are having too much fun?
Is the worst case scenario for each job such that you would be grumpy and stressed and maybe look forward to the weekends, or is it that you would quit and live in a box rather than have to deal with it all, or is it such that you would think about suicide on a regular basis and need serious medication to survive?
Now that you have the various best and worst case scenarios worked out, are you the sort of person who prefers to maximise potential happiness, or minimise potential disaster?
posted by lollusc at 5:01 PM on January 20, 2011
Which happiness scenario seems the best to you?
Which despair scenario is the worst?
I.e. think about the absolutely best case and worst case scenarios for each and rank them. Is the best case scenario for each job such that you would be content and never stressed again? Is it such that you would be singing on your way to work each morning? Is it such that you would tell all your friends that you have the best job ever in the whole world and that you wouldn't ever want to retire because you are having too much fun?
Is the worst case scenario for each job such that you would be grumpy and stressed and maybe look forward to the weekends, or is it that you would quit and live in a box rather than have to deal with it all, or is it such that you would think about suicide on a regular basis and need serious medication to survive?
Now that you have the various best and worst case scenarios worked out, are you the sort of person who prefers to maximise potential happiness, or minimise potential disaster?
posted by lollusc at 5:01 PM on January 20, 2011
Assuming digital design is like graphic design, this is how I would approach it:
3) When you say "most corporate option" is this still an independent design shop? Or is it a design department within MegaCorp? If it's the latter - nix it. In the field of design, it's always easier to get into a corporate dept than it is to get out of one. Take this job when you need to - when you have a family, need stable hours, benefits, etc.
Re: 1) and 2) What are your long-term plans? Do you want to be a field "visionary" and "thought-leader"? Then working at 1) might not be a bad gig. You might learn the most here, learn industry-leading practices, attend + speak at conferences, and hob knob with the biggest clients. Re: 2) Does the former not matter to you, and are you more inclined to strike out on your own when the iron's hot? Working at 2) might be more advantageous here - you'd be a more senior designer, have more personal interaction with clients, and have more hands-on experience with the challenges that a small business faces. Does 2) want to be an industry-leader? Some shops want to shoot for the moon, others are content to satisfy their local markets.
posted by unexpected at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2011
3) When you say "most corporate option" is this still an independent design shop? Or is it a design department within MegaCorp? If it's the latter - nix it. In the field of design, it's always easier to get into a corporate dept than it is to get out of one. Take this job when you need to - when you have a family, need stable hours, benefits, etc.
Re: 1) and 2) What are your long-term plans? Do you want to be a field "visionary" and "thought-leader"? Then working at 1) might not be a bad gig. You might learn the most here, learn industry-leading practices, attend + speak at conferences, and hob knob with the biggest clients. Re: 2) Does the former not matter to you, and are you more inclined to strike out on your own when the iron's hot? Working at 2) might be more advantageous here - you'd be a more senior designer, have more personal interaction with clients, and have more hands-on experience with the challenges that a small business faces. Does 2) want to be an industry-leader? Some shops want to shoot for the moon, others are content to satisfy their local markets.
posted by unexpected at 5:08 PM on January 20, 2011
Go for tiny. If it succeeds, it will eventually get corporate and start sucking, but you'll be in a great position to move on, and meanwhile you will have had a good chance to have fun while making money. The more corporate places will suck already and will suck worse the longer you stay. (Languagehat's Iron Rule of Corporate Life: corporate jobs suck and suck worse the longer you stay.)
posted by languagehat at 5:09 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by languagehat at 5:09 PM on January 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'll go out on a limb and say this - your dilemma, like many major life decisions, is not analyzable. Matrices, etc. are good tools, but people generally make these decisions ultimately based on "gut" decisions. I know you say you already know about the "do what your heart wants" option. But it's not the same thing to really figure out what you will like the most and fit you the best. You want to hit the virtuous cycle of doing what you enjoy, liking the environment, excelling in what you do, getting positive feedback, advancing, and enjoying your work, etc.
If you gave more information about what criteria were the most important to you, we could try deducing which job is the best. Absent that, I recommend you mentally convince yourself you took job A, live with it for a day, then convince yourself you took job B, live with it for a day, etc. Once you thusly own the decisions, you'll probably see clearer which is the job that fits you best.
I hope this helps. And good luck!
posted by ccl6yl at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2011
If you gave more information about what criteria were the most important to you, we could try deducing which job is the best. Absent that, I recommend you mentally convince yourself you took job A, live with it for a day, then convince yourself you took job B, live with it for a day, etc. Once you thusly own the decisions, you'll probably see clearer which is the job that fits you best.
I hope this helps. And good luck!
posted by ccl6yl at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2011
Assign each option these values:
Option 1 = 1-2
Option 2 = 3-4
Option 3 = 5-6
Now roll a six sided die - you know a regular one. What number comes up? Wait! read on:
Ask yourself how that makes you feel. What was your first reaction? Was it "Yess!!! (fist pump) - or was it, "Oh, ok, well, lemme roll again (shrug)..." or "mmmm best four out of seven?"
That's a sometimes good way to identify your own intuition, which your "rational" mind will try to suppress. That's not woo, there is a good reason your rational mind does this. This is not a time to listen to your rational mind, though.
ccl6yl, posting above, has a good answer. Go with "your heart".
FWIW I think intuition is simply the sum of all your mental processes at work. It's not psychic powers or anything like that, but your mind picks up on all kinds of data that never enters the rational equation. Body language, tone of voice, etc...all these things enter into your subconscious and help form intuition. People give off a lot of information when you are talking to them, but if you only listen to the rational information they communicate, you'll miss a lot.
posted by Xoebe at 6:12 PM on January 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Option 1 = 1-2
Option 2 = 3-4
Option 3 = 5-6
Now roll a six sided die - you know a regular one. What number comes up? Wait! read on:
Ask yourself how that makes you feel. What was your first reaction? Was it "Yess!!! (fist pump) - or was it, "Oh, ok, well, lemme roll again (shrug)..." or "mmmm best four out of seven?"
That's a sometimes good way to identify your own intuition, which your "rational" mind will try to suppress. That's not woo, there is a good reason your rational mind does this. This is not a time to listen to your rational mind, though.
ccl6yl, posting above, has a good answer. Go with "your heart".
FWIW I think intuition is simply the sum of all your mental processes at work. It's not psychic powers or anything like that, but your mind picks up on all kinds of data that never enters the rational equation. Body language, tone of voice, etc...all these things enter into your subconscious and help form intuition. People give off a lot of information when you are talking to them, but if you only listen to the rational information they communicate, you'll miss a lot.
posted by Xoebe at 6:12 PM on January 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Whichever way you decide, once you make the decision you need to own it and move on.
My daughter was in a similar situation, made the choice, then called me in tears freaking out about whether it was the right choice or not. I pointed out that there is NO WAY to specifically analyze which would be the better choice, given two jobs that are very similar. "You never know," I told her, "there might be someone visiting in your office one day who sees your work and offers you a really good job." She wailed - "yeah, but what if that guy was visiting the OTHER job that I didn't choose???!!!"
So, yeah, make your choice, then move on and do a great job wherever you land.
posted by CathyG at 9:23 AM on January 21, 2011
My daughter was in a similar situation, made the choice, then called me in tears freaking out about whether it was the right choice or not. I pointed out that there is NO WAY to specifically analyze which would be the better choice, given two jobs that are very similar. "You never know," I told her, "there might be someone visiting in your office one day who sees your work and offers you a really good job." She wailed - "yeah, but what if that guy was visiting the OTHER job that I didn't choose???!!!"
So, yeah, make your choice, then move on and do a great job wherever you land.
posted by CathyG at 9:23 AM on January 21, 2011
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posted by brainmouse at 3:41 PM on January 20, 2011