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Pick my job, any job.

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
In the middle of December, I thought that I was unemployed henceforth, with no work on the horizon. I was suprised to receive a call a couple of days after Christmas that a company I had previously been working for needed me back as a temporary contractor. I've been working full-time as such, since Jan 3 (IIRC).

To make a rather long story shorter, I received two job offers today. Both are full-time.

Job A
Requires 50% or more travelling - all east of the Mississippi. It's basically a support and installation manager / technician type position. Pay is X. Nice benefits, so-so retirement. My office would be around 70 miles from my current residence... that is, the less than 50% of time that I would be working from my office, rather than from a remote location.

Pro: Travelling, away from home a lot, office is in a nice part of Columbus
Con: Travelling, away from home a lot, pay is only so-so.

Job B
Requires no travelling - save for maybe the occasional conference or something. It's an "Information Systems Specialist" position. Whereas X is Job A's pay, Job B's pay is X + 1.5k, +5k after 6 months, plus 10% annually for 2 years. After two years, Job B's pay would be *much* nicer than Job A's pay would amount to for many years. Benefits are so-so, retirement is *awesome*. My office would be 40 miles from my current residence, though I'd probably move back to Columbus, and be much closer to the office (and civilization).

Pro: Pays more than what I was expecting, with continuing increases. Great retirement. No travelling. Relaxed environment, though stress is very high on occasion.
Con: Heavy on politics. No vacation for 1 year. No travelling.

Comments about my choices? Any other factors that I should take into consideration that I haven't herein? (I know of a couple that I'm not including, for personal reasons.)

I'm leaning very strongly toward Job B. Does anyone think I'm insane for doing so? If so, why? I would usually never using a public forum for *this* serious of a decision, but since it's a rather large decision, and I need to decide overnight... I figured that gathering opinions wouldn't hurt.

***** UPDATE *****

I chose job B. My "first day of work" is this coming Monday.
 

SagaLore

Elite Member
Dec 18, 2001
24,036
21
81
Job A.

or maybe B...

Why don't make a more detailed list of the pros and cons, and bold the sections off for easier reading.

And add a poll.
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
0
I guess it would depend on whether you are wanting to handle the additional stress and politics of job B. B sounds more lucrative and more challenging, so possibly might hold your interest for longer. Just depends on whether you feel up to dealing with the additional politics and stress I suppose.

Good luck with it, whatever you choose. I am sure you will do well. :)
 

Megadeth

Senior member
Jun 14, 2004
499
0
0
Is job B a government Job?

I have a Government "Information Systems Specialist" job. Sounds kinda similar... No vacation for the first year, 10% increase for the first 2 years (3% every year after that). Decent bennefits, good retirement ect.... Been here for almost 6 years, very happy with it.
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: Megadeth
Is job B a government Job?

I have a Government "Information Systems Specialist" job. Sounds kinda similar... No vacation for the first year, 10% increase for the first 2 years (3% every year after that). Decent bennefits, good retirement ect.... Been here for almost 6 years, very happy with it.

Yep, sure is.
 

Megadeth

Senior member
Jun 14, 2004
499
0
0
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Megadeth
Is job B a government Job?

I have a Government "Information Systems Specialist" job. Sounds kinda similar... No vacation for the first year, 10% increase for the first 2 years (3% every year after that). Decent bennefits, good retirement ect.... Been here for almost 6 years, very happy with it.

Yep, sure is.

I like my job, although I'm starting to get ready to look somewhere to move up in pay... I don't make bad money but I have a lot of new things coming into my life now.

It's kind of fun, I've learned things I never thought I would be working on.... Public access Cable channel...Police, Court and Fire Systems ect... Lots of software that is specific to certain departments that you probably never heard off too...

EDIT:
The politics are not that bad really... I just choose not to know things that go on around here sometimes. Might have to put up with fixing council/mayor computers which is interesting when working with elected people....
 

Kev

Lifer
Dec 17, 2001
16,367
4
81
given the choices, B, but i would never take a job where you get no vacation. i would literally kill myself if i didnt' have vacation time.
 

Megadeth

Senior member
Jun 14, 2004
499
0
0
The way I got around the no vacation for 1 years was with CTO (or PTO). Also, I still got 4 personal days per year, 1 birthday and holidays.... Oh yeah, and you can start using sick time after 6 months I think.... Not all is lost.
 

LiquidImpulse

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2005
2,062
1
76
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Megadeth
Is job B a government Job?

I have a Government "Information Systems Specialist" job. Sounds kinda similar... No vacation for the first year, 10% increase for the first 2 years (3% every year after that). Decent bennefits, good retirement ect.... Been here for almost 6 years, very happy with it.

Yep, sure is.


well, the beginning may suck, but if you're in it for the long run, you got quite a lot of benefits going on there
 

GeekDrew

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
9,099
19
81
Originally posted by: LiquidImpulse
Originally posted by: GeekDrew
Originally posted by: Megadeth
Is job B a government Job?

I have a Government "Information Systems Specialist" job. Sounds kinda similar... No vacation for the first year, 10% increase for the first 2 years (3% every year after that). Decent bennefits, good retirement ect.... Been here for almost 6 years, very happy with it.

Yep, sure is.


well, the beginning may suck, but if you're in it for the long run, you got quite a lot of benefits going on there

Right. The 12 months with no vacation is going to be a bit of a pain... but I'll manage, somehow. Hopefully comp time and personal/sick time will address anything I must take time off for.