WWYD: Potential for Two Job Offers

AprilH81 · May 2015

There is a a fairly decent chance I could be presented with two job offers (and of course I could end up with none). The jobs are similar but also different and I'm curious what you would do. I've been out of work for 2 months (due to a layoff) so I'm itching to have something to do again but I don't want to make the wrong decision. I would not be disappointed to do either job but if I have a choice that is awesome.

I know the pay rate for Job A and it would be a $5k a year raise, but there are some drawbacks.

Job A Pro:

-Pay raise

-The more interesting job description where I would have my hands in different tasks each day.

-I could make an immediate impact to the department by lightening the heavy load but still be exposed to new tasks and people who could teach me new things.

Job A Con:

-Contract for 6-8 months then possibly hired full time (could also be a pro since we are currently TTC)

-New wardrobe needed since my last job I could wear jeans every day

-30+ minute commute each way along heavily traveled parts of town (so it could be longer most days)

-No 401(k) until hired full time, I would have to rely on funding my ROTH (which I already do)

Job B Pro:

-Work from home full time (which means no commute, no new wardrobe, and not as much gas for the car)

-This is with the company I just left so I would be able to restart my benefits right where I left off and most likely they would honor my original hire date for purposes of vacation accrual and 401(k) vesting.

Job B Con:

-Salary unknown at this time, I would think it would be about what I was making before, possibly a slight increase.

-This job could become somewhat boring with the routine tasks over time.

-Being a virtual position could possibly limit my opportunities for growth since I wouldn't be in an office with the team (but then again the whole team is virtual so it might not be an issue).

A little bit more about me. I don't mind working but I'm not "career driven" in that I'm always striving for a more important title or to manage a team. I like to be productive and have my work be valued. I work well on my own and am somewhat an introvert.

I'm leaning towards Job B, even if it mean a small salary cut. The biggest drawback is that I think I might become bored once I settle in. That being said if/when we have kids DH would like me to stay home but I'm on the fence. I know it isn't the same, but being home these last two months have been pretty boring. With a child(ren) at home I would have more to do, but still.

So WWYD?

southernbelle0915 · May 2015

For me, this would basically hinge on what the salary for Job B would be. If it's more or less on par with your ending salary or Job A, I would take it. Working from home is the shit. Plus you have the security that it's not going to end in 6-8 months.

If you're TTC and tight on cash, I would take the more secure option even if it's a little less money and not as exciting.

STARMOON44 · May 2015

I would take Job A. I don't like the idea of going back to the last place you were at- seems like a step backwards. And personally I would hate working at home.

I think this is one choice where Lean In's advice really makes sense to me- don't plan you career around your kids when they don't exist. Plenty of time to figure out how you want to balance kids/work once they are reality.

AprilH81 · May 2015

southernbelle0915 said:
For me, this would basically hinge on what the salary for Job B would be. If it's more or less on par with your ending salary or Job A, I would take it. Working from home is the shit. Plus you have the security that it's not going to end in 6-8 months.

If you're TTC and tight on cash, I would take the more secure option even if it's a little less money and not as exciting.

Money isn't "tight" so much as I'm bored. DH can fully support us on his salary (including retirement savings) but there aren't a lot of extras. We have enough liquid savings to cover hospital bills right now and I'm on his insurance (crappy, but I'm on it).

I've worked from home before and it is awesome. I can work in my sweats and shower on my lunch break and have HGTV on in the background. lol

AprilH81 · May 2015

STARMOON44 said:
I would take Job A. I don't like the idea of going back to the last place you were at- seems like a step backwards. And personally I would hate working at home.

I think this is one choice where Lean In's advice really makes sense to me- don't plan you career around your kids when they don't exist. Plenty of time to figure out how you want to balance kids/work once they are reality.

This job would be for a different client and I would be doing a different job with a different boss. The only thing that would be the same is where my benefits and paycheck would come from.

lovegood90 · May 2015

Oof, this is a tough one. For ME personally, I have a thing about accepting jobs that are not permanent hire jobs. I like the security. But that's because in my industry, there are always tons of similar positions around the corner that are permanent hire that it doesn't make sense to take the contract ones (especially because they don't seem to offer anything different).

If job A wasn't a contract job I'd jump on that right away. It also sounds more innovative, exciting and like it could lead to more opportunities in the future. But it's up to you if you think you'd be okay financially if you ended up out of work again in 8 months.

Also not related to your question, but don't stay home with your kids just because your H wants you to. This should be a choice you two make together. Your career is important too, so if you choose to stay home of your own choice then great, but it doesn't really sound like you want to. He doesn't get to make that choice for you.

Good luck!

emmaaa · May 2015

I would lean toward job B. You could have flexible hours. This could also be beneficial in your TTC plans if you plan to or want to stay home with an infant. Routine tasks could get boring, but I personally would counter that by learning knew hobbies in my spare time. Being able to pick up on your benefits where you left is a huge plus for me.

I don't remember the specifics and don't feel like looking back at your posting history, but why did you leave your previous job to begin with. If it were on good terms, I wouldn't hesitate going back. But if it were a little shady or you were hesitant to work for the same company again, that's somehting to consider.

AprilH81 · May 2015

emmaaa said:
I would lean toward job B. You could have flexible hours. This could also be beneficial in your TTC plans if you plan to or want to stay home with an infant. Routine tasks could get boring, but I personally would counter that by learning knew hobbies in my spare time. Being able to pick up on your benefits where you left is a huge plus for me.

I don't remember the specifics and don't feel like looking back at your posting history, but why did you leave your previous job to begin with. If it were on good terms, I wouldn't hesitate going back. But if it were a little shady or you were hesitant to work for the same company again, that's somehting to consider.

I was laid off in mid-March (I'm not sure I posted about it here honestly) due to lack of client funding for the position. HR deemed since my salary wasn't being picked up by the clients I was working for that it was an "unproductive position" and my responsibilities were split up among other employees. I had some issues with my boss but the company itself was okay. I would be happy to go back as long as I had a different boss (which I would in this case).

For example my old boss has a job opening posted that I am qualified for, but since I know the position reports to her I didn't even bother applying.

blabla89 · May 2015

Last summer DH started a new job as a contractor. That was a risk he was willing to take in order to get into the company and do the kind of work he wanted to do. It was crazy stressful, since there were some times when they were on the verge of letting him go because there wasn't enough work for him. In the end he got hired on permanently but we never want to go through that again.

I guess my line of thinking would be: Is the stress of the lack of security, plus the commute and adjusting to a new company worth the $5k raise? What does taking this job cost me in terms of gas for the commute, making up for the lack of benefits, etc.? Would doing this work make me significantly happier than what I could be at Job B?

AprilH81 · May 2015

emmaaa said:
I would lean toward job B. You could have flexible hours. This could also be beneficial in your TTC plans if you plan to or want to stay home with an infant. Routine tasks could get boring, but I personally would counter that by learning knew hobbies in my spare time. Being able to pick up on your benefits where you left is a huge plus for me.

I don't remember the specifics and don't feel like looking back at your posting history, but why did you leave your previous job to begin with. If it were on good terms, I wouldn't hesitate going back. But if it were a little shady or you were hesitant to work for the same company again, that's somehting to consider.

I was totally on board for staying home until I was laid off. lol He would never force me to stay home and would support any decision I made, but he does have a preference for me to stay home.

I think working part time would be a great option if/when the time comes.

julieanne912 · May 2015

I'd probably go with B as long as the salary is ok. Commuting is no joke (my current one is 40-60 minutes to go 22 miles), and gets even worse if the weather is bad. I also think a boring job is made less boring if you're doing it at home, because you can break up your work with other non-work related tasks.... ie you can go watch TV for a half hour, or go out and take a walk, or whatever. Nothing worse than a boring job far from home.

I'm in a similar boat to you, we're getting married in Sept and want to start TTC right after that. But, I have to remind myself to not plan my career decisions around a hypothetical baby. Baby could come right away, or could take a year or two. So it's best to make the right career decision for you, baby or not.

Also don't plan your career decisions based on wardrobe. You can start up a decent work wardrobe for a few hundred bucks. I switched to a job in Dec that required business attire, and I hit up JC Penney and bought 5 pairs of work pants (I hit up a black Friday sale so I got them for $12, but they can usually be had for $20-30). I also picked up a few plain tops/sweaters and also used what I already had. I didn't look super cute at first, but it did the job and as time has gone on I've added in other cuter things that I find on sale.

AprilH81 · May 2015

julieanne912 said:
I'd probably go with B as long as the salary is ok. Commuting is no joke (my current one is 40-60 minutes to go 22 miles), and gets even worse if the weather is bad. I also think a boring job is made less boring if you're doing it at home, because you can break up your work with other non-work related tasks.... ie you can go watch TV for a half hour, or go out and take a walk, or whatever. Nothing worse than a boring job far from home.
I'm in a similar boat to you, we're getting married in Sept and want to start TTC right after that. But, I have to remind myself to not plan my career decisions around a hypothetical baby. Baby could come right away, or could take a year or two. So it's best to make the right career decision for you, baby or not.
Also don't plan your career decisions based on wardrobe. You can start up a decent work wardrobe for a few hundred bucks. I switched to a job in Dec that required business attire, and I hit up JC Penney and bought 5 pairs of work pants (I hit up a black Friday sale so I got them for $12, but they can usually be had for $20-30). I also picked up a few plain tops/sweaters and also used what I already had. I didn't look super cute at first, but it did the job and as time has gone on I've added in other cuter things that I find on sale.

True, I tend to shop "cheap" anyway because my weight fluctuates so much. Spending money on well made wardrobe staples is lost on me because from one year to another I may or may not fit into them.

Also I'm on the shorter side and when I'm at the weight I am right now shopping isn't fun because it is that much harder to find the right fit. Even if I find a petite or short fit of pants I still have to get them hemmed most of the time. Throw in the potential need for maternity wear in the future and I would hate to spend a bunch of money on work clothes that I would only get a little wear out of before needing to go shopping again.

kvruns · May 2015

How comfortable do you feel that Job B wouldn't lay you off again? Is it a more secure position from a funding perspective? The 6-8 month contractor thing might worry me but if Job B isn't really more secure based on past actions that would be a con for it.

I think it depends on if you would be ok working from home all the time and not having that office environment or interaction. You said you're not super career driven so the lack of visibility in the office probably wouldn't be an issue (I know some who work from home are afraid of not being considered for promotions bc they sort of get forgotten by not being seen at the office).

AprilH81 · May 2015

kvruns said:
How comfortable do you feel that Job B wouldn't lay you off again? Is it a more secure position from a funding perspective? The 6-8 month contractor thing might worry me but if Job B isn't really more secure based on past actions that would be a con for it.
I think it depends on if you would be ok working from home all the time and not having that office environment or interaction. You said you're not super career driven so the lack of visibility in the office probably wouldn't be an issue (I know some who work from home are afraid of not being considered for promotions bc they sort of get forgotten by not being seen at the office).

This job is 100% client paid and the contract is good for 2 more years with another 2 years extension available. It is about as stable as you can get.

Job A is a very stable company (probably close to 100% name recognition if I stated the name) and I think the changes of me getting hired full time would be pretty good.

I'm a corporate meeting/event planner, so meetings and events are some of the first things on the chopping block when the economy starts to go downhill or a company's financial pictures starts to look bleak. That being said both jobs would be what I consider stable outside of the contract period itself.

julieanne912 · May 2015

I will also say, if you take a contract job, you wouldn't be eligible for unemployment benefits once it ends and they don't bring you on. If for some reason job B ends up laying you off, you would.

AprilH81 · May 2015

julieanne912 said:
I will also say, if you take a contract job, you wouldn't be eligible for unemployment benefits once it ends and they don't bring you on. If for some reason job B ends up laying you off, you would.

That is a good point. I assumed that if the contract ended I would be eligible due to "lack of work".

julieanne912 · May 2015

AprilH81 said:

julieanne912 said:
I will also say, if you take a contract job, you wouldn't be eligible for unemployment benefits once it ends and they don't bring you on. If for some reason job B ends up laying you off, you would.
That is a good point. I assumed that if the contract ended I would be eligible due to "lack of work".

It'd be something to look into for sure. I just know I did contract work for a long time and never was eligible for unemployment once the contract ended. Could be different depending on the contract and what the employment status of that is.

AprilH81 · May 2015

julieanne912 said:

AprilH81 said:

julieanne912 said:
I will also say, if you take a contract job, you wouldn't be eligible for unemployment benefits once it ends and they don't bring you on. If for some reason job B ends up laying you off, you would.
That is a good point. I assumed that if the contract ended I would be eligible due to "lack of work".
It'd be something to look into for sure. I just know I did contract work for a long time and never was eligible for unemployment once the contract ended. Could be different depending on the contract and what the employment status of that is.

It might also have to do with the length of the contract. To be eligible you do have to work a certain number of time before claiming benefits.

photokitty · May 2015

If you are ttc and b would get you to fmla bc they would honor post service, I would take it hands down. Your job doesn't have to be held if you go on fmla before a year of service.

WWYD: Potential for Two Job Offers

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