Update: Would you take a 20% paycut for job security and short commute?

[gotsmack]

Just do it. If I were in my 40s I'd do it, but now in my mid 20's, no way.

 

[Shortcut]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: Shortcut
Although the offer isn't for a teaching position, would you still qualify for summer vacations? If so, that's a big plus...because you could always take a 2nd job during the summertime to partially offset the 20% drop in salary.

Even if you had to go to work during the summer, wouldn't the workload drop off considerably during that time?

No it is a new state mandate that each school have a tech support specialist assigned to each school. It is what is called a 250 day position which means I get standard full time employee benefits, 3 weeks vacation to start etc. 7.5 hour workday +.5 for lunch. With my current job I leave the house at 6:15 AM and arrive home somewhere between 5:15-5:45 PM.

Hm...those sound like pretty good conditions! Starting off w/3 weeks vacation/year is fantastic - the norm in companies is 3 weeks/year max. And although you'd have to report to work during the summer, there prolly shouldn't be too much work to do, given that the students will be away on vacation. =)

Hey, even Jimmy Apollo picked your job offer as his "Lock of the Week"!

 

[ScoobMaster]

Howdy!

I can speak from experience (been in your shoes). I held a position at a helpdesk (IBM corporate no less) and had just accepted a job offer to a different contract within IBM when the opportunity to work for a New York State organization as computer/network support technician for a K-12 school district here opened up (the school district I graduated from, ironically!). Yes, the pay was a bit lower, but I absolutley think it was worth it. I never work weekends, seldom over 40Hrs per week (and when I do I get hourly overtime even though I am a salaried employee), am in a great state retirement system, and enjoy what I do (find it very rewarding and low-stress)!

The best part is never wondering if I may be "downsized" or laid-off. The job security is worth it for me (my wife and I grew up in this locality and want to stay here and raise our son in the area). A year after I left IBM, the contract was changed and all my old colleagues either had to move downstate or lose their job (some did not even get a choice) - so i think I made the right choice!

 

[SaigonK]

take it....you will save that 20% by not having to drive and put the gas and what not into your car!
Hell, if i had an offer like that I would jump at it in one second!

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: Linflas
I will do this cliff notes style

Current job:
Hour to hour and 15 minute commute each way
2 weeks vacation
Decent salary
Federal contract good for at least 1 more year

Job offer with county school system:
Commute 30 minutes at most
After 6 months job security until I quit or retire
Good advancement potential
Required to get CNA within 6 months of training end date.
3 weeks vacation to start
Roughly 20% paycut at outset.
State retirement benefits.

Before being laid off last April I would never have considered this but with the IT industry in flux a job with security suddenly seems just as important as pay. I am in my late 40's and really don't relish another job search but contract ends are part and parcel of government contracting. I am leaning towards accepting the offer and have to inform them of my decision tomorrow.

Is that CNA a Certified Novell Administrator or Certified Nursing Assistant?

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
take it....you will save that 20% by not having to drive and put the gas and what not into your car!
Hell, if i had an offer like that I would jump at it in one second!

Oddly enough my commuting costs are really low because I "slug" into work. It is a system we have here where folks that want to use the HOV lanes pick up riders. That system is what made my current position tolerable. Using mass transit made my commute 1:45 each way. I only spend money on gas to drive from my house to a commuter lot about 15 miles away.

ScoobMaster - The woman that interviewed me was ex IBM that started with the county after a similar situation. Glad to hear it worked out for you.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: cheapbidder01

Originally posted by: Linflas
I will do this cliff notes style

Current job:
Hour to hour and 15 minute commute each way
2 weeks vacation
Decent salary
Federal contract good for at least 1 more year

Job offer with county school system:
Commute 30 minutes at most
After 6 months job security until I quit or retire
Good advancement potential
Required to get CNA within 6 months of training end date.
3 weeks vacation to start
Roughly 20% paycut at outset.
State retirement benefits.

Before being laid off last April I would never have considered this but with the IT industry in flux a job with security suddenly seems just as important as pay. I am in my late 40's and really don't relish another job search but contract ends are part and parcel of government contracting. I am leaning towards accepting the offer and have to inform them of my decision tomorrow.

Is that CNA a Certified Novell Administrator or Certified Nursing Assistant?

Netware. For some reason most of the school systems in this area use Netware rather than MS on the server side.

 

[eakers]

is there potential for overtime?

you could always spend the time you would have spent driving working o/t

 

[Aztech]

I don't think you've said, nor has anyone asked, which job you like better. That should be a HUGE factor, right?

 

[Liviathan]

Money isn't everything.

Is the new job going to make you happy? Is the shorter commute going to make you happier? can be home earlier?

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Aztech
I don't think you've said, nor has anyone asked, which job you like better. That should be a HUGE factor, right?

I am pretty sure that I would like the school system job better. I have not worked with Novell since the 3.1x days so that would be interesting for me all by itself.

 

[Dacalo]

Seems like the newer job is more appealing based on the facts you posted

 

[Linflas]

Update in the original post. :beer:

 

[Ketteringo]

Congrats!

 

[Need4Speed]

there is no job security, so go for the money

 

[Scarpozzi]

I work for a University so I have pretty good job security. My current commute is 8 blocks. I'm about to buy a house that's a 3-4 minute commute to work...but greater distance.

 

[Ogg]

good luck :beer:

 

[rh71]

I think you did the right thing for your situation. Doesn't sound like you depend on the missing 20% pay anyway and the 1-year left on the contract kinda puts clouds above your future at the current place. I think doing this new job will be the right move for the future... but never stop looking...

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: rh71
I think you did the right thing for your situation. Doesn't sound like you depend on the missing 20% pay anyway and the 1-year left on the contract kinda puts clouds above your future at the current place. I think doing this new job will be the right move for the future... but never stop looking...

We basically came to the conclusion that we should view the 20% as a kind of investment. We are in the final stages of obtaining a home equity loan so we can do a lot of improvements and job security kind of moved to front and center stage. Of course having more hours to spend at home will be a nice side benefit as well.