Job Offers. What would you do?

[Kelemvor]

OK, Looking for advice on this one.

I'm currently working as a contractor (temp) at a company making not so great pay and no benefits at all.

I was made a job offer from a company that would be an hour drive for me every day. That company offered me about $3/hr more than I make now. However with the extra driving and the Health Insurance being not in my area, it will cost me extra to work there.

THe company I currently work with said they will hire me on. But then haven't told me what they will increase my pay to.

I received the offer from the other company last week Tuesday. I originally told them I'd let them know by last Thursday but then when the current company said they'd hire me on and start the paperwork, I called the other company back and told them I'd need a few more days and would let them know this week.

It's been about a week and a half from the other company and a week from the current company who hasn't given me a pay rate yet.

I don't like dragging the other company on without giving them an answer but I would like to work at the current company because it's so much closer to home (10 minute drive).

What would you do?

My options seem to be:

1) Tell the other company NO and assumg the current company will give me at least $1-$2 raise to hire me on which would be fine. But then if they say they will only pay me what they pay me now, then I'm screwed.

2) Tell the other cmopany YES just to give them an answer but then call them back in possibly a day and say I changed my mind if I hear back from the current company and they make me an acceptable offer. However I don't want to have to lie to them and it's somewhat rude to say Yes and then No right away.

3) Keep stalling and letting the Other company go to V/M when they call until I get something frmo the current company.

Argh, this sucks.

 

[pulse8]

If you're going to lose money by going to the other company, why is this even an decision?

 

[DT4K]

Why not just tell the people at your current job that you've been offered another position and that you would rather stay where you are, but you need to know how much they are willing to pay you so you can make a decision. I don't think they will fault you for looking around considering you were a contractor, not a regular employee.

EDIT: When I was a temp here, my boss walked in while I was browsing Monster.com and didn't say a word. About a week later, he said he was really working on being able to offer me a permanent job soon. They don't expect their temps to be temps forever.

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: pulse8
If you're going to lose money by going to the other company, why is this even an decision?

Because he can continue to ask higher pay rates at each successive job. He doesn't have to stay at that company long, but in the long run it would make a lot of financial sense.

 

[Kelemvor]

I only lose money at the Other job if the current place doesn't offer me any raise at all.

And I've already told the people at my current job I have another offer which is the only reason they said they'd hire me on as it. Problem is they are taking their sweet time in getting back to me and I don't want to keep putting off the other company in case this one falls through.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Okay, a job "offer" means they tell you what you're going to get paid. If they don't, then it's certainly well within your rights to ask them. You need that bit of info before you can make a decision, right?

I say stop worrying about "dragging" the other company on. If they want you, they want you and they can wait. If you really feel pressure, then tell them what the deal is with your current company and maybe the new company will bump up your salary offer. In that case, you still want to know what your current company will offer.

Find out and maybe the answer becomes more clear to you.

Good luck.