Need advice on starting my life.

[fuzzybabybunny]

Just got done with an internship in Phoenix. I have a job offer in procurement that is largely sitting in front of a computer screen all day using an ERP software from the late 80s. Offer is $42,500, 10 days of vacation. I currently have no other offers and this would be my first job.

I'm not too big on this. I like the coast or the high mountains. I love backpacking, hiking through forests and alpine, snorkeling, and photography. The fact that I have to drive 2+ hours to Flagstaff just to do the kind of backpacking that I like sucks.

Some people, like my parents, have told me to take the job and get experience first. The economy's not good, and they say I'm lucky to have this offer. They say I should "get on the horse first before worrying about getting a better horse." I should endure it for a couple years to get my feet wet so that I can go onto better things. But I see my time and life as the most valuable currency. A couple years "enduring" in a place where I can't do the things I like to do is a couple years I'll never get back. In college I was more or less a home body because the things that I liked to do simply couldn't be done in Ohio. This translated into never really meeting people that I related to. Now I'm looking at getting stuck in Phoenix, but I really want to go to some place like Colorado, California, Oregon, or Washington.

Should I just take the job offer, or should I forfeit it (it expires tomorrow) and hope something else will turn up? I'm straight out of college with $4,000 in the bank. I can pack all my stuff into my car tomorrow and leave.

EDIT:

Well, I've made my decision, and I don't think most of you are going to like it.

I'm declining the offer and getting back on the road this weekend. While traveling I will be applying to a lot of other jobs, both outside and inside the company (they've got branches in California, Oregon, and Washington, and my foot's still in the door and I've got good people inside who can help me). I'm making a break for a new life in a new locale. Sounds scary, chaotic, and dangerous. Sounds like fun.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Do you have decent grades? If I remember right you're a supply chain major... Michigan State University has the top Supply Chain school in the country (Often switching between #1 & #2 spot with MIT). I don't think it is terribly hard to get into, and I know a few people who got their masters in Supply Chain who were able to pick pretty much any large company to work for after they graduated. Even with an undergrad degree from MSU in Supply Chain job placement is something like 99.9% within 6 months of graduating.

I'm pretty sure the Masters program is one year and isn't terribly difficult.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i would take the job, save money, and look for better opportunities in the places you mentioned
but you and i are two very very different people

 

[LittleNemoNES]

if you can get paid as you learn, that would be great.
I am working as a network administrator for a clinic -- I've learned a lot and am excited about managing a large company once I get enough wind under my wings.

 

[zoiks]

What I would suggest you do is accept the offer you currently have. Once you do this, look for a job exactly where you want to go. Keep looking until you find one. The reason I say this is that companies always prefer candidates who currently have jobs. You could always tell the truth which is that you would like to move away from the state once you do get an opportunity.
Besides, $4k is not a lot of savings for someone to start over with.

 

[SpunkyJones]

Who says you have to stick around for two years? Accept the job, and start looking for a job in an area that you want to live in. You make money, get experience, and start the search for the better gig.

 

[OdiN]

Take the job fuzzy. You're not too far from some mountains in northern AZ I don't think.

I'd hate the heat though.

Save up - live cheaply, and keep looking while you're working.

Maybe stay there a year. You don't want to jump around too much, and a little experience on a resume will do wonders.

Then look up here in CO for a job, it's awesome here

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Do you have decent grades? If I remember right you're a supply chain major... Michigan State University has the top Supply Chain school in the country (Often switching between #1 & #2 spot with MIT). I don't think it is terribly hard to get into, and I know a few people who got their masters in Supply Chain who were able to pick pretty much any large company to work for after they graduated. Even with an undergrad degree from MSU in Supply Chain job placement is something like 99.9% within 6 months of graduating.

I'm pretty sure the Masters program is one year and isn't terribly difficult.

Yup, SCM major, got 3.5 in my major from Miami University of Ohio. I'll definitely go for my masters, but I need something like 4 years of real world experience before I'll be accepted into one. I did really well during my internship. Worked my butt off, devised the solution for our big huge intern project, worked on lots of mini projects by myself, and won an award at the end. I think at this point it's not a matter of IF I can get another job offer at the company, but when, and where. The company's also among the Fortune 500.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Ever thought about San Diego? There are quite a few manufacturing companies here that need supply chain people.

This area is beautiful too, we have sun, surf, mountains, skiing all within 2 hours.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Take it and live on the bare minimum and save as much as possible. I remember your thread about parents saying you should buy a car - that's nonsense, all you'd do with that is create debt and get yourself stuck into something you don't want to.

Just save as much as possible and look for something better. If you think you know how to improve the situation though, go talk to someone higher up (request a meeting with them) and tell them how things can be improved.

 

[S Freud]

Originally posted by: zoiks
What I would suggest you do is accept the offer you currently have. Once you do this, look for a job exactly where you want to go. Keep looking until you find one. The reason I say this is that companies always prefer candidates who currently have jobs. You could always tell the truth which is that you would like to move away from the state once you do get an opportunity.
Besides, $4k is not a lot of savings for someone to start over with.

I agree with this. Right now you have no stable income (that you mentioned) so you are riding on the money that you have in the bank. Take the job to allow you the opportunity to look for something in the places you mentioned. This way you have a way to support yourself in the meantime and a reference if you find something you want to pursue.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: zoiks
What I would suggest you do is accept the offer you currently have. Once you do this, look for a job exactly where you want to go. Keep looking until you find one. The reason I say this is that companies always prefer candidates who currently have jobs. You could always tell the truth which is that you would like to move away from the state once you do get an opportunity.
Besides, $4k is not a lot of savings for someone to start over with.

I agree with this. Right now you have no stable income (that you mentioned) so you are riding on the money that you have in the bank. Take the job to allow you the opportunity to look for something in the places you mentioned. This way you have a way to support yourself in the meantime and a reference if you find something you want to pursue.

Just a couple of things:

My foot is already in the door at this company due to the internship. I'm pretty sure other offers will pop up, just not immediately.

If I accept the offer, I'll be there for at least a year, maybe two. The company isn't looking for someone who will switch out in a year or less, and if I do so it may reflect badly on me?

I've already dealt with living in a place I don't like for 4 years during college. Frankly, it sucks. It sucks not being able to do the things I enjoy. It sucks not being able to meet people who also do the things that I enjoy. I'm sick of it.

I can live very cheaply on the road. The drive from Phoenix to Seattle is 1,500 miles. That's about $150 in gas for my car. I can live for free camping on public lands. I have internet on my cell phone and public libraries. Food can be just $5-10 a day. $4,000 can float me for a pretty long time while I'm on the road traveling, sightseeing, taking photos, and applying for other jobs...

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Take the job, work it but keep looking for a job where you want to live. Just because you have a job doesn't mean you are stuck there two years. Take it, earn money, bank it, pay off debt, etc while you look for a job in one of those other states. Once you get one, then move and be in a better financial spot, along with having experience to be able to get better jobs.

 

[ViviTheMage]

up to you. Almost everyone here will say take it and live as cheaply as possible and save up looking for another job.

I thought the same thing, but I decided to stick around a little longer then I thought...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
up to you. Almost everyone here will say take it and live as cheaply as possible and save up looking for another job.

I thought the same thing, but I decided to stick around a little longer then I thought...

Why?

 

[dirtylimey]

Take the job. Even if you leave in a year, its not a big deal. How will it reflect badly on you? You have a nice 1 year chunk on your resume and will have gained some experience. Not like they are going to go door to door telling people not to hire you if you leave early.

Dont be arrogant and turn down a good job offer on the hope that you might get a better one. Take what you can and worry about the rest later.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
up to you. Almost everyone here will say take it and live as cheaply as possible and save up looking for another job.

I thought the same thing, but I decided to stick around a little longer then I thought...

Why?

I bought a condo (mortgage), got a better car (loan)...great rates on the both of them and I hate 'wasting' money into renting/leasing...Now I feel a bit more 'stuck' then I was while in school.

Plus, the job I landed is a GREAT way to start in this industry..maybe in 3-4 years me and the GF (if she is still around, haha) I can try my luck living in Europe (specifically UK-London area..if I found a job there I would move ASAP)...I wanted to do a lot of traveling, but $$$ and paying off school and the credit cards I used during school.

it is not fully a bad thing too be 'stuck' here, but it was not in my plans I guess.

But I live in Minneapolis, and there is a boat load of stuff to do and I make sure to travel out of the US 1-2 times a year, with or without PTO.

 

[The Stigenator]

take the job.. 42K isnt bad for the first job.. heck I got paid lesser than that and I live in So.Cal, cost of living in Phoenix is lower than So.Cal

Take it, gain experience, move up!

 

[Q]

I say take it and start looking where you want to while you are working - but you did say you might be there for 2 years, and if you really want to get out of that area taking the job may not be the best thing.

Where are your parents? If they live kind of close to you or where you want to live you can move in with them for a few months and look for jobs and just work hourly wage until you find one that you like/like the area.

It's not the end of the world if you don't get a job right away, you have your whole life to work, settle down somewhere that you like and go from there (as long as you know there are jobs there, you don't want to go in the middle of nowhere with one gas station around)

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: S Freud

Originally posted by: zoiks
What I would suggest you do is accept the offer you currently have. Once you do this, look for a job exactly where you want to go. Keep looking until you find one. The reason I say this is that companies always prefer candidates who currently have jobs. You could always tell the truth which is that you would like to move away from the state once you do get an opportunity.
Besides, $4k is not a lot of savings for someone to start over with.

I agree with this. Right now you have no stable income (that you mentioned) so you are riding on the money that you have in the bank. Take the job to allow you the opportunity to look for something in the places you mentioned. This way you have a way to support yourself in the meantime and a reference if you find something you want to pursue.

Just a couple of things:

My foot is already in the door at this company due to the internship. I'm pretty sure other offers will pop up, just not immediately.

If I accept the offer, I'll be there for at least a year, maybe two. The company isn't looking for someone who will switch out in a year or less, and if I do so it may reflect badly on me?

I've already dealt with living in a place I don't like for 4 years during college. Frankly, it sucks. It sucks not being able to do the things I enjoy. It sucks not being able to meet people who also do the things that I enjoy. I'm sick of it.

I can live very cheaply on the road. The drive from Phoenix to Seattle is 1,500 miles. That's about $150 in gas for my car. I can live for free camping on public lands. I have internet on my cell phone and public libraries. Food can be just $5-10 a day. $4,000 can float me for a pretty long time while I'm on the road traveling, sightseeing, taking photos, and applying for other jobs...

I wouldn't count on waiting on getting other jobs since there are always people with better qualifications and experience out there that do not have jobs and who would probably take precedence over you.
Why would it reflect badly on you? In the professional world people get hired and quit all the time. Your company definitely would get rid of you in an instant if thats what they chose to do. Do you really think that they would think how badly they reflect in your views? Looking out for yourself is really the best thing you can do.

Things will come in tune for you over time. The only thing is not to get frustrated on the way.

 

[EvilYoda]

Stick around, I'll help build up your tolerance.

Fuzzy's slowly becoming an alcoholic...he just doesn't know it yet.

Plus, if you go on the road, you won't be able to use my awesome home theater!

 

[RaistlinZ]

You don't need to stay there two years. Take the job. You'll find it much easier to search for another job when you are already employed. You can take your time and find the perfect opporutnity for you.

Living furgally, you should be able to bank at least $1,000 a month straight to savings. Just keep your eyes on the prize and I think you'll be right where you want to be sooner rather than later.

Good luck!

 

[JEDI]

hey fuzzy hossenfeffer:

it's like the old saying goes:
Bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush

take the job. start looking for a new job while working there. get piad to surf the web to look for jobs in the states you want to live in

also, $4k in the bank aint going to get you far.

 

[mortong]

If you've got the money to spend some time looking for a job, make the move to a city you'd like to land in. Don't spend a lot of time sightseeing, etc, along the way - that will eat up your reserves, about $4,000 if I remember correctly.

Talk to your current internship manager and let them know what's up, that way you have a good reference. It's scary, but you'll be happier in the long run if you're somewhere where you can make connections and relate to the people around you.

I've made both choices during different times of my life, and the choice to take a chance is one I'll never regret. I ended up in an amazing area of the country (Seattle area) and with a good job. Sure I had to work some crappy entry-level jobs at first, but they lead to something better and I'm exactly where I want to be.

You're going for an entry-level position, so you're in a good position to move around. Once you take that first "professional" job, it's harder to pull up roots and move to a new town. It's possible, but I've seen too many people put down roots because of a comfortable job in a mediocre town.

You already know the deal - you've given yourself your own best reason to move one, so listen to yourself.

Good luck!

 

[OdiN]

Also - I know some places on public lands in CO you can stay for free.

Although you'll freeze your ass off in the coming winter trying to do so haha.