if you are young, single, and still building a career path

[Ns1]

To me it's a dumbass question.

A

By eleventy billion percent. Work isn't important in life, it's what gets in the way of everything that's important in life. Anything that involves less work is good.

...except you need money for A

B gives you both money AND experience that will be useful for getting a killer A later

 

[SMOGZINN]

Considering that statistically the majority of your lifetime earning potential will be decided in the first 5 years of your career, I would chose to go with the one with the best career path. In this case it would seem that would be choice B.

 

[RbSX]

Young and single, then who cares how much you work, there is not a ton of other things to do when I get home.

I work 40 hours a week and make twice as much as all my friends, and the pay off will be higher in the future.

This is probably the only time in my life I can neglect everything else.

 

[GhettoFob]

B fo sho.

 

[Kev]

...except you need money for A

B gives you both money AND experience that will be useful for getting a killer A later

From my experience, people who start down the "B" path never revert to the "A" path, they just get worse into B

 

[Kev]

Considering that statistically the majority of your lifetime earning potential will be decided in the first 5 years of your career

wat

 

[Zebo]

A unless you need B. Life is fleeting I'd rather do what I want during that short time rather than what someone else wants of me.

 

[Cuda1447]

Look 3 times before you cross the road.

Think twice before speaking...

 

[newnameman]

To me it's a dumbass question.

A

By eleventy billion percent. Work isn't important in life, it's what gets in the way of everything that's important in life. Anything that involves less work is good.

This.

 

[Imdmn04]

Job B with 25 percent more pay may not be that much of a difference initially, but down the line if this difference turns into a wider gap, say 100%, (which is very possible as starting salary has a huge impact on future earning potential) then Job B will be a better choice, at least from financial security perspective.

Out-of-school salaries for the first few years is pretty important (at least for engineering) for earning potential down the line, someone starts out at 75k will hit 100k in 2-4 years. Someone starts out at 45k may take as many as 10 years to hit 100k, if ever.

Present money > future money. 100k at 25 years old > 100k at 35 years old, the sooner you have more disposable income the sooner you can start investing. It takes money to make more money. So the starting point may affect earning exponentially down the line.

Of course, we are only talking about the money perspective. There are definitely people don't give a shit about money and lives perfectly happy on 25k. But for the majority of us, we need money to be happy and provide for those people that we love.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

depends on the actual dollar amounts, but id lean towards A

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I work 6PM - 5AM, Mon-Fri. The hours are long but the job itself is nice and time just flies by. So I'd take the job with more money and longer hours assuming it was something I'd enjoy doing.

 

[NAC]

I'd choose A, and build myself an awesome social life and develop some hobbies and interests. Those will benefit me – give me more happiness - than the extra pay. In the long and short run.

If I were to work 50+ hours a week, I would try to do something entrepreneurial. Sure, it will take a LOT of work – perhaps more than 9-8. But the payout can be huge in the long run... not just 25% more money. But that is a different topic.

 

[PrinceofWands]

...except you need money for A

B gives you both money AND experience that will be useful for getting a killer A later

Barely correct. It's easier if you have some money, but you don't need much and absolutely any old job will give you that much. Meanwhile if you're focused on getting the money the rest of your life (as well as your basic humanity) generally suffers.

Also, intelligence, experience, education, skills...all nearly meaningless unless you choose to either blow smoke or buy the bullshit that corporate America shells out. Since I don't, all the best experience in the world means exactly jack shit when looking for work...ie killing myself working now is in no way related to employability later, other than depressing so badly that I can't even bring myself to work again.

 

[Ns1]

From my experience, people who start down the "B" path never revert to the "A" path, they just get worse into B

I would argue that people who go on B get burned out then go to A, but they go to A with a ton of money and experience that they stocked up at B


Sorry but from the OP description A sounds like a terrible learning experience and will hurt him later on IMHO

 

[roguerower]

B.

What i'm doing now, except it's in construction management.

 

[HendrixFan]

I would argue that people who go on B get burned out then go to A, but they go to A with a ton of money and experience that they stocked up at B


Sorry but from the OP description A sounds like a terrible learning experience and will hurt him later on IMHO

Those people also lost alot of prime years of their life working away. You never regain your youth, but you can always go and make more money. "A" isn't a learning experience, it is a goal in life. You either put work first or you don't. Choosing not to, and instead focusing on the other things in life for happiness wouldn't be a "terrible learning experience" for most people, even if very few try it.

Making work your priority means that you will derive your self worth from work, and define yourself as your job. When you meet people, one of the first things they ask is "What do you do?". They don't want to know your interests or hobbies, they want to know your profession. People do "B" all the time, and many are happy for it. Nothing wrong with that at all, just a different path to happiness.

I went the "B" route for a very short period of time and have been happily at "A" since then. My goal is to be happy and enjoy life, and I just need a stable, modest income to provide for the basics and a few perks. I could easily move up and make more money, but I would have to devote more time and effort and scale back on the things I enjoy doing away from work. It just isn't for me.

 

[Bateluer]

Sorta doing B right now, and it definitely wears you down.

 

[alkemyst]

A) i don't need that 25% extra.

However, what is the 'base pay' we are talking? If $30-40k then I'd pick B) if $100k+ then A).

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I would choose the one that was best for my future and earning potential.

This, and that sounds like option B. Make no mistake though -- you shouldn't do that the rest of your life. Work option B for a few years to get some knowledge, contacts in your industry, and to build a reputation, and then it will open up options like option A without having to take the pay cut.

 

[Pollock]

Considering that statistically the majority of your lifetime earning potential will be decided in the first 5 years of your career, I would chose to go with the one with the best career path.

please explain

Job B with 25 percent more pay may not be that much of a difference initially, but down the line if this difference turns into a wider gap, say 100%, (which is very possible as starting salary has a huge impact on future earning potential) then Job B will be a better choice, at least from financial security perspective.

Out-of-school salaries for the first few years is pretty important (at least for engineering) for earning potential down the line, someone starts out at 75k will hit 100k in 2-4 years. Someone starts out at 45k may take as many as 10 years to hit 100k, if ever.

please expound upon this

 

[xanis]

I was going to go with A originally, but now I'm thinking B would be the better option. I'd rather work the tougher job while I'm young and able, then take an easier job down the line once I'm older and more financially secure.

 

[Jeff7]

...
Out-of-school salaries for the first few years is pretty important (at least for engineering) for earning potential down the line, someone starts out at 75k will hit 100k in 2-4 years. Someone starts out at 45k may take as many as 10 years to hit 100k, if ever.
...

Or happen to work at a company that ended up getting hit hard by the recession, with no signs of when it'll let up. (And even so, I probably started out lower than I should have - I do seriously suck at negotiation, which is to say, I think it would be safe to say that I am entirely lacking in any negotiation skills.)
There've been no raises for anyone in at least 2 years, which I believe is unprecedented in the company's history, and there have been a few rounds of layoffs in the year since I started at the company. Amazingly enough, I wasn't among those selected for layoff, despite the fact that those let go were there longer than I was. I guess I jus' gots mad skillz or something.

 

[alkemyst]

please explain.

because most want prior salary to negotiate today.

Out of school you set a mark that follows you...Too many just want a job and fuck themselves.

This is why so many idiots (actually they were smart in one way) make $250k+ a year.

 

[RichUK]

Financial industry pays the best daily rates.