Help me evaluate job offers?

Question

I have been unemployed now for a few weeks and am married with kids. I have to make a decision by tomorrow on which job I will take and I am driving myself crazy going back and forth. Maybe an outside opinion can help. Can you help me evaluate these two job offers? Which one would you take?

Job #1 - Pros:

13 paid days off a year.

Employer puts a straight 3% of salary into

401k even if you contribute nothing.

Commute is 15 minutes.

After three years, employer pays 100% of employee

and dependents medical insurance.

40 hour work week.

Cons:

10k less in salary than last job

Very little chance for career advancement.

Must be willing to change work schedule at a moments

notice.

Step back in my career.

Job #2 Pros:

Commissions and bonuses

Opportunity for career advancement.

Long-standing company

50% match up to 6% on 401k

Company profit sharing

10 paid days a year

Cons:

5k less in salary than last job

2 hour commute every day.

50-60 hour workweek.

Company has reputation for downsizing anytime

their quarterlies are not solid.

Answer 1

You're right, neither one has a clear-cut advantage over the other, does it?

Here's what stands out to me:

1. You'll get more in base pay with the chance for even more in commissions and bonuses from Job 2. You may want to consider how much extra you can expect in commissions and bonuses. Will it bring your total earnings up enough to exceed what you got at your last job? Or is it just a bit?

2. And how important is the difference in pay? Is it important enough to offset the fact that you will be devoting most of your waking hours to

work if you take job 2? Is the 3 hour commute one way or round trip? Add those hours in to the 50-60 you'll be working. Every week. For years to come.

I'm thinking you'll be sacrificing family time, personal life for Job 2. You're not a single parent, so money shouldn't be critical, although I understand about the career growth advantage there.

The downsizing wouldn't affect you if you were bringing in enough money for them - and you'd know that from your commissions.

If it were me, I'd take Job 1 and keep looking.

One last consideration: If all other things were equal (pay, hours, commute), which work would you rather be doing day-to-day?

Answer 2

I am currently in the same boat and have to decide between 3.

First, congratulations, in this economy, to have to actually make a decision when so many people don't even get one job offer! LOL!

I would pick #1.  It is less of a commute and less hours per week.  Yes, its less money, but with children, a husband and a household, I think it will be less stress.  It may be a step back, which I am taking, but you may see a difference in your stress level by taking it easy for awhile.  Also, having your health benefits covered after a period of time will end up saving you big $$$ in the long run... and that Job 2 downsizing thing is very scary these days.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

Theres no way you want to travel 2 hours a day...You'll get tired of it very quickly, you won't have as much time for your family because you're have to get up and leave early to get to work on time and take forever to get home. Plus commission salaries are very iffy. If you don't do what you're suppose to do or the market is just slow you simply dont get the added money you need. Imagine if you had to stay home because one of your kids were sick. You're going to really miss out on the extra money that pay check. I for now would go for the first job. When you have a family insurance and good coverage is very important especially if your family can manage without the extra money you had from your last job. The short commute will help with expenses and save you some money. Try staying there for about a year to bulk up your resume then maybe look something else once the economy gets a little better.