Job decision: need help!

[Fritzo]

After 16 years at my current job, I've decided to find something else. I've been stagnating and growing overly frustrated and depressed in my current position (no raises in years, company isn't growing, customer seem to hate us, etc...), so I put my resume out there.

I actually got a lot of solid hits within a few days, and I'm now torn. I have two people that are interested in me, and I don't know what to do:

Job A- A small IT firm that is one of those "do whatever it takes to get it done" places. They have a staff of network experts, software designers, web designers, and engineers that walk into businesses and address every single technical aspect of their business. They've been in business for 30 years and are highly respected in the area. The pay is about $10K more a year than I'm making now, but comes with HSA health insurance with an IRA retirement plan. I've interviewed 3 times already and the next time they're going to offer me the position if I want it.

Job B- Tech II with our local city school system. They're switching the entire county to Google Apps and need an expert to deploy and manage accounts, as well as configure and repair Chromebooks. I can do all of that no problem. It's a very focused job and nobody ever gets layed off from a county job like that A friend can get me in, however, an interview may be a few weeks off (if ever), and it pays $6K LESS per year. On the plus side, it offers a full state pension, and awesome full coverage health insurance with a $250 deductible. The health benefits alone would be like a pay raise, and I might be up for a Network Admin job in 1.5 years that would pay $15K more.

So, do I take the higher pay job, or do I gamble on the lower pay/risky high potential job?

 

[Howard]

Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

[BoomerD]

If you're comparing job A and job B, job B is the definite winner, if only because of (a) job security, (b) better benefits, and (c) opportunity for advancement.

 

[MongGrel]

I vote B.

 

[rudder]

and it pays $6K LESS per year. On the plus side, it offers a full state pension, and awesome full coverage health insurance with a $250 deductible. The health benefits alone would be like a pay raise, and I might be up for a Network Admin job in 1.5 years that would pay $15K more.

So, do I take the higher pay job, or do I gamble on the lower pay/risky high potential job?

Probably a full pension after 30 years. Also check how much debt the county and the state has. Just because you are offered a full pension... doesn't always mean it will be available when you retire. Just ask Detroit retirees. Of course that city was run like shit for so long. The county you are considering might be run by people who are fiscally responsible in a state with low debt. Just something to consider.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Job B -IMO, I'm always looking for which hill to climb next, and if it has a Network Admin position on the horizon all the better. I can't fucking believe you spent 15 years at a job with shit raises or no raises. Christ man, I can barely even take it when they give me the measly 2-3% raises. That alone makes me want to look elsewhere. The only thing that will keep me there another year is if they give me a decent annual bonus that year too.. Otherwise, packing my shit.

Don't show support to ANY employers. Leave them as soon as you can for your betterment. They will fuck you over and turn you over quicker than a pancake. You will be left saying "waaa what happened??!?" I can't advocate enough folks, move your jobs. If you're not moving up, you need to be moving out.

 

[Imp]

I'm going to say B even though I just rage-quit a gubment job. Promotions may be limited though.

Meh on the pension. I prefer to invest the money myself. The good thing for me was that I got my company's pension contribution when I left -- totally thought it was going to be "lost".

 

[Insomniator]

Job B if you want to waste away in the state for the rest of your life. Does have its benefits though... no pressure... no work... security... etc. If its anything like my state IT job, they just like to keep people 'content' enough not to leave.

Job A if you want to continue your career path. Longer hours, pressure, responsibility... etc...

 

[RU482]

I was in a similar situation about 6 months ago. It is hard as hell to leave, and even harder when you get to the new place for the first month or 2. Then it gets better. Then it gets even better. Then you'll be saying "why the heck did I stay there so long"

/YMMV

 

[Liquid_Static]

I vote Job B! Working in the school system is a lot of fun.

 

[Fritzo]

See, that's the problem- I'm guaranteed the first job, but I haven't even been scheduled for a 1st interview for the school job...just a note from a friend saying they'd like me to work there. I'd like the school job too, but I have no guarantees I'm going to get it. I could end up losing both positions

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm surprised at these answers and disagree with the logic. My advice? Job A. My reasons:

1. Job A will give you far better marketable skills than Job B. Job A sounds more like a consulting role and that's the way (along with enterprise sales) you make serious money in IT. Now, if you plan to stay in this next job until you retire, B might be the better option.
2. Job A pays more and that outweighs the benefits of Job B. You're talking about a $16K DIFFERENCE between Job A and B.
3. IMO, you never take a job on the hope you "might" get promoted into a new position unless, of course, you're fresh out of school and want to work your way up. Focus on the position at hand.

There is no question Job B is the job to take if you plan on coasting to retirement and don't plan on looking for another job. I think Job A gives you better skills for the future, however. School system work is low-paid, dull, and not worth it IMO.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Tell your friend that you are getting an offer from another company and that if the school system wants you they are going to have to act quickly.

 

[Majes]

Tell your friend that you are getting an offer from another company and that if the school system wants you they are going to have to act quickly.

I've been teaching 9 years in the same position at my school. We've gone through at least 5 different tech guys for the school. They always move on to something else for various reasons, not the least of which is that they get worked to death here. I can't think of anything that's harder on computers than the school system...

I would take the first job.

 

[Linux23]

Don't show support to ANY employers. Leave them as soon as you can for your betterment. They will fuck you over and turn you over quicker than a pancake. You will be left saying "waaa what happened??!?" I can't advocate enough folks, move your jobs. If you're not moving up, you need to be moving out.

/this.

Currently in a position of over staying my welcome at my current position.

 

[brainhulk]

But can you fix a network printer or connect a laptop to wifi??? Pffft

 

[Fritzo]

Job B -IMO, I'm always looking for which hill to climb next, and if it has a Network Admin position on the horizon all the better. I can't fucking believe you spent 15 years at a job with shit raises or no raises. Christ man, I can barely even take it when they give me the measly 2-3% raises. That alone makes me want to look elsewhere. The only thing that will keep me there another year is if they give me a decent annual bonus that year too.. Otherwise, packing my shit.

Don't show support to ANY employers. Leave them as soon as you can for your betterment. They will fuck you over and turn you over quicker than a pancake. You will be left saying "waaa what happened??!?" I can't advocate enough folks, move your jobs. If you're not moving up, you need to be moving out.

I don't apply to places like that. Company A would be a great place to work- the newest guy has been there for 6 years and they're all chipper and enthusiastic. I would never make a commitment to a small businesses like that and then turn around and leave them in a month. That's just not me.

Also, I priced it out. The health benefits alone would cost a healthy person $900/month, and about $1800 for a whole family. That's a huge plus for the school job.

 

[drebo]

If you go B, your job will be eliminated in 1-2 years as your district realizes the mistake it made with Chromebooks and Google Apps, as quite a few districts are doing already. Lots of districts are realizing how limited they are and with new products like the HP Stream that are full Windows desktops priced not much higher than Chromebooks, it doesn't really make sense anymore to buy Chromebooks.

I work with a lot of school districts and NONE of them are happy with Chromebooks. Printing from them is a huge issue. Hooking them up to projectors is somewhat of a joke. And we get at least one "how do I get powerpoint" ticket per day.

The thing about working in a school district is this: 1) your boss will be clueless, 2) your boss's boss will be clueless or just won't care, and 3) because of that, it's impossible to grow because no one knows anything about pushing the envelope. I work with so many districts that have absolutely the most incompetant/apathetic people running their IT departments. Multi-million dollar budgets run by people who don't understand the difference between a SAN and a dedup data store. It's insane. Yes, you might make "OK" money, but the salary growth will be significantly worse. Yes, you'll have job security, but you will have precisely 0 opportunity to grow your skillset.

My advice? If you enjoy technology and IT, work for the IT consulting firm. If you want a cush job with little need for ambition, critical thinking, work, or accountability, take the school job.

 

[drebo]

Also, I priced it out. The health benefits alone would cost a healthy person $900/month, and about $1800 for a whole family. That's a huge plus for the school job.

Did you price out the costs of the school district's health plan? Most have extremely terrible rates.

My wife's was $1300/mo for the two of us from her school district.

 

[Fritzo]

Did you price out the costs of the school district's health plan? Most have extremely terrible rates.

My wife's was $1300/mo for the two of us from her school district.

There are no costs for the health plan, it's 90/10, it has a $250 deductible, and includes dental, vision, and chiropractor visits.

 

[highland145]

What about the years to get retirement?
+1 rudder and ICF.

When I turned 40 I was looking for something new. The school IT job was a 25% pay cut, 27 years for retirement and advancement when/if someone else retired/quit/died. I would have been stuck.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I don't apply to places like that. Company A would be a great place to work- the newest guy has been there for 6 years and they're all chipper and enthusiastic. I would never make a commitment to a small businesses like that and then turn around and leave them in a month. That's just not me.

Also, I priced it out. The health benefits alone would cost a healthy person $900/month, and about $1800 for a whole family. That's a huge plus for the school job.

I don't have a strong emphasis for Job A over Job B to be honest. I would have to know your exact salary numbers and exact benefits to tell you that plus what you currently have.

Just always be on the look-out for which one has a pathway upwards. I can't tell you enough how important it is that there is another position. Dead end jobs are a no-go for me.

My biggest emphasis is not showing support for the employers and staying for 15 years for no reason. Seriously, it's the equivalency to getting bent over and fucked for a looooooooooong time veeeeeeeery slowly.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I don't have a strong emphasis for Job A over Job B to be honest. I would have to know your exact salary numbers and exact benefits to tell you that plus what you currently have.

Just always be on the look-out for which one has a pathway upwards. I can't tell you enough how important it is that there is another position. Dead end jobs are a no-go for me.

My biggest emphasis is not showing support for the employers and staying for 15 years for no reason. Seriously, it's the equivalency to getting bent over and fucked for a looooooooooong time veeeeeeeery slowly.

Job B is a dead-end job in all likelihood. There "may" be a network admin job opening up down the road. To that, I'd answer that there are network admin jobs elsewhere and you'd probably make a ton more money. Also, job A will give you the skills to move on to bigger and better things if you want to move on down the road. To me, when taking into account benefits, salary, etc, if Job B comes out ahead, I'd keep looking.

I think you'd be nuts to work for a school district unless, as I said, you no longer care and just want to coast to retirement. That will probably be me in 10-15 years -- I'll look for a job with the state and coast the rest of the way to retirement.

 

[Imp]

The thing about working in a school district is this: 1) your boss will be clueless, 2) your boss's boss will be clueless or just won't care, and 3) because of that, it's impossible to grow because no one knows anything about pushing the envelope. I work with so many districts that have absolutely the most incompetant/apathetic people running their IT departments. Multi-million dollar budgets run by people who don't understand the difference between a SAN and a dedup data store. It's insane. Yes, you might make "OK" money, but the salary growth will be significantly worse. Yes, you'll have job security, but you will have precisely 0 opportunity to grow your skillset.

Wow... That sounds like my last job.

 

[Childs]

I vote Job B! Working in the school system is a lot of fun.

It can also be dangerous...