I've been offered two jobs - how do I compare apples and oranges?

June 27, 2017 6:03 AM

I have just moved to a rural area from a large east cost city. The two jobs are so different and the pros and cons don't seem comparable so I'm pretty lost.

This is where we're settling down so I want a job that's long term that I can enjoy. We moved for improved quality of life so this seems like a huge decision. I've been job searching since March so it wasn't the easiest search.

Job #1
Large secure local manufacturing company. Most employees have been there for decades.
Sales/service rep as a liaison between customers/project managers/manufacturing department. A lot of personality juggling, deadlines, sometimes giving people bad news, data entry. I think I'd be good at it but I don't know for sure but I don't think I give myself enough credit for my ability to be good at things. They emphasized the job is stressful.
3 minute drive from home.
Typical cubicles, not the prettiest office.
The salary is $42k - paid overtime
I get 10 days vacation per year to start. Major holidays too.
Their good healthcare plan requires me to contribute $735 per month and would cover my husband and I. Co-pays no need to meet deductible.
There is a disaster only insurance plan for $264 with a $10k deductible before any co-pays so this would only really be used for an emergency and I would pay for my monthly PCP visits/prescriptions out of pocket.
Large company so definite room for growth.
It is possible this job is stressful and I'd end up hating it but it's also likely I love it. Who knows?

I did accept the offer last week. I have been drug tested and am currently waiting for background check results. I don't take drugs and the only thing on my record is a speeding ticket.


Job #2
Small private college.
Admin/office manager/executive assistant position in admissions office - I've done a similar position in a different industry before and I'm good at it. Working with a small team. My boss would be going to meetings a lot, the team travel a lot. I'd spend chunks of time alone in the office, similar to when I was previously an office manager, I like working with people and working alone.
Beautiful location and nice office in old building.
24 minute drive from home.
Salary is $31k - paid overtime
I get 5 days vacation initially but I get a lot of national holidays and some school holidays and have half day Fridays during Summer. I get long weekends for 4th July, Memorial Day weekend, Labor Day etc. I get the entire week off between Christmas and New Year.
Healthcare, vision and dental. $469 a month deducted from paycheck for my husband and I. Comparable to job #1 insurance, very slightly better.
Probably not a lot of room for growth but would be a pleasant long term not super demanding job.
I really don't know how much my salary would increase over the years.

I haven't accepted but would undertake a background check. Once again the only thing on my record is a speeding ticket.

I may have included some really minor silly things but I'm so conflicted I don't know what is relevant.

Other info:
- Both would cover my monthly expenses but I'd be left with more extra spending/saving money with job #1.
- My husband and I are going to be applying for a construction loan in the next couple years so I assume having a higher income would look better.
- I do have managed mental health issues and being unhappy at work can make life a nightmare for me.
- I don't want to burn any bridges because I live in a small town now and who knows whether I will need to reapply to one of these employers in the future.
- Neither employer knows about the other, I don't know if I have an obligation to job #1 because I signed the offer letter? I don't know how long I can keep job #2 waiting and if I should tell them about job #1 and ask for a salary negotiation? Would that do any harm?

And just in case - [e-mail]

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (14 answers total)

I think that you should stick with job A. It sounds like you are up for a challenge at the moment and you should give yourself a chance to stretch. Job B sounds like a perfect job for someone who is feeling burnt out or wants to put their career on a back burner, and from your descriptions, you sound excited about Job A and a little bit bored by Job B already.

You won’t be burning any bridges by turning down Job B, and you might be a little bit by turning down Job A after accepting (though I’ll bet in a few years it would not affect your chances with that company).

The money is also a factor. The difference between $31K and $42K is pretty huge (unless your husband’s income is high enough to mitigate that).
posted by Kriesa at 6:18 AM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]

Well, it's never possible to be certain, because of crucial intangibles such as the personalities of the people you'll work with, but if you want a purely objective view based on your lists, I'd say #1 is better: higher salary*, shorter commute, better holidays, more possibility for future growth.

*Tho I've not done the maths on your take-home if you go for full-whack insurance - yay, being in the UK and never having had to do that, so not sure how your monthly salary would work out relative to the second?

I guess the other thing to take into account is what you hope your life outside work will be like for the next few years. If you're going to have hobbies/projects/family plans that will give you fulfilment and take up a fair amount of mental energy, #2 becomes more appealing - you can do it on minimal effort and you won't be expecting as much from it in return.

If you think you're likely to want your job to provide a higher proportion of your overall mental stimulation/status etc (and there's nothing wrong with that), #1 sounds like it'll give you more back and stop you getting bored.
posted by penguin pie at 6:22 AM on June 27, 2017

I think when a future employer tells you flat-out that a job is stressful, that can be a warning sign. Since you say "being unhappy at work can make life a nightmare for me," I wonder if the cons of Job 1 would outweigh the benefits?
posted by Mouse Army at 6:34 AM on June 27, 2017 [20 favorites]

You say that you want improved quality of life. A stressful job doesn't work in that equation.

If I were you, I would sit down and crunch the numbers. If money-wise you would be okay at job #2, I would go for that one.

Good luck!
posted by Hanuman1960 at 7:00 AM on June 27, 2017 [8 favorites]

I would take Job #2 in a hot second. Unless you know that you like and are good at sales, I would not attempt it, especially given your concerns about being unhappy at work.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:11 AM on June 27, 2017 [7 favorites]

Job 2, without a doubt. You sound like you actually want it. Job 1 would only be for the money, and it's not that huge a difference, really, and that's not why you moved to this place.
Start a side business for a challenge/extra money - you might be able to actually do that with #2, because you'll have something left at the end of the day.

- I do have managed mental health issues and being unhappy at work can make life a nightmare for me.

This should rule #1 right out (I agree with Mouse Army). "Growth" means what? More stress/responsibility in a job you might not even want? Money, ok, at what personal cost?

(And - maybe there's a #3 down the line somewhere? Take #2 for a year or so and maybe something meeting more of your criteria will pop up.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 7:15 AM on June 27, 2017 [5 favorites]

#2, purely for the piece of mind and ability to make this transition into your new home easier.

There are always more sales jobs.
posted by RhysPenbras at 7:42 AM on June 27, 2017 [4 favorites]

i work at a small liberal arts college in a rural setting- getting a foot in the door is typically the hardest part because they're a very desirable employer. jobs are secure, pay is good and work/life balance is important to people here.

you've already got your foot in the door with an offer! at least at my college, once you're here, it's typically possible to move into other positions elsewhere on campus as they become available. it's also possible to stay in the same position for years if that's what you prefer.
posted by noloveforned at 7:50 AM on June 27, 2017 [10 favorites]

#2. I think the lower cost of insurance will help mitigate the salary cut, and it sounds much less stressful. Can you negotiate the salary as well?
posted by Threeve at 7:51 AM on June 27, 2017 [4 favorites]

Mod note: Update from the OP:

- Thank you so much everyone. I explained the situation to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law yesterday and knowing me as they do, they basically made all the same points as you guys. Job #2 gives me the life I wanted to have here. I've responded to them and accepted the position. I was honest about my other offer and they went up to $32k so I got a little increase! I genuinely think the job will be so pleasant and there's so many holidays and it turns out I get 10 days vacation my first year. It increases a little each year too. To be honest I don't even know what growth means to me, it just seems like the adult thing to aspire to. I need to let go of the NYC state of mind and just do what feels right.
- Now is the awkward situation of contacting job #1 and withdrawing my acceptance of that offer. I'm sure at this point there's going to be a little bit of bad blood but this is the right thing for me and my life. Does anyone have any insight as to what to say and how? The employer actually made me wait 8 weeks for the offer and barely contacted me with any updates. Last Tuesday they made the offer and the next day I had the physical/drug test/background check began. After radio silence, yesterday I emailed the HR lady and her out of office said she's away until July 7th. She didn't tell me about this. I don't even know what start date they were looking at. I finally called yesterday and there is another HR lady. Do I email them both as one is away?

Thanks again, this seemed like such a tough decision and you all made me follow my heart and I'm genuinely so excited for my future now. You're the best!

posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:27 AM on June 27, 2017 [11 favorites]

when giving 'bad news' it's always best to keep it short and to the point.

just send an email to both HR people that says "I have accepted a position with another company and will be unable to take the sales representative position at (insert company A). Thank you for your consideration."
posted by noloveforned at 8:31 AM on June 27, 2017 [7 favorites]

Was there any other hiring manager as part of the process? If yes, you can cc him/her as well.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:02 AM on June 27, 2017 [2 favorites]

Yay! I think noloveforned is right, don't bother explaining, I'm sure with such a long process, they must assume that you are keeping other irons in the fire, so they will probably understand. And if they don't understand? Then good riddance. You don't want to work for people like that anyway.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:22 PM on June 27, 2017 [3 favorites]

I really think you made the right decision. Good for you!
posted by clone boulevard at 4:16 PM on June 27, 2017 [2 favorites]