Need career advice!

juliamarie32 · August 2015

Hi all,

Sorry, not sure if this is the right place for this! I didn't see a board for career though. I have an interview tomorrow and I’m just trying to figure out what my decision would be should they offer me the job. I wasn’t actively searching for another job, however, a position opened up at my husband’s aunt’s work and she thought of me since my husband and I both currently commute an hour each way from our small town and this would be much closer to home. There are many things to consider and I was hoping I could get some advice on it!

Pros of Current Job

GREAT Insurance – truly awesome. My husband and I work for the same company so we get double discounts on our health insurance.
Good pay – I currently make $13/hr plus a percentage of sales (usually about $250 extra each month).
Good work environment – lots of perks within the company.
1. Free company provided lunch once per month.
2. Fun things – contests, etc.
Awesome coworkers – I truly LOVE my coworkers. We’re all a fairly young department and we get along great.
Casual dress code (jeans, nice top, etc)

Cons of Current Job

Hours – I work every single weekend so it is hard to get weekends off for seeing family, events, etc.
1. I also worked mixed hours. Some days 8-5 and some 9-6. So on those days I don’t get home till 7-7:30. Which isn’t terrible by any means but I do the cooking so it would be nice to get home earlier and more consistently to get supper ready, etc. Right now I feel like I rush home, cook supper, clean that up, and by the time that’s done it’s already 8:30-9:00 and I barely have time to relax before bed on those days. This could also be an issue when we have children because no daycares in our area are open past 6:00pm.
Holidays – mandatory holidays. The only ones I get off are Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Easter Day. This makes it difficult as both my husband and I have divorced parents so we have multiple holiday gatherings. Plus I can never go camping for 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc and my family are big campers.
Commute – 1 hour commute each way (work is about 53 miles from my home).
1. Plus even though my husband and I work at the same company we have to drive 2 separate cars the whole way because our hours are so different.
Bosses – My managers are very nice, however, there’s been a recent shift. I helped to start the department and at first we were all fairly equal. Now I feel like everyone is moving up around me (including my coworker who came after me ). If I didn’t work my a** off that would be understandable, but I handle more than anyone else in our department and have the most variety as far as tasks, what I can do, etc so I feel that it is unfair sometimes.

Pros of New Job

Poor to mediocre Insurance – I haven’t seen the packet/plans yet, but from what I’ve heard their benefits kind of suck. So we would probably keep the benefits under my husband at the old company.
Hours – Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm. Usually no weekends but might occasionally have to work the last Saturday of each month for a few hours.
Commute – hardly any commute! 15 minutes (about 13 miles) each way! So I would be home every single day by 4:45ish. This would also work better when we have children for daycare, etc.
Major holidays off!
Casual dress code (jeans, nice top, etc)
Better hours would allow me to be able to get a part time job a few nights a week (something I’ve been really wanting to do but haven’t been able to due to my current work hours).

Cons of New Job

Not as “young” of a department, no fun office perks, etc.
Completely different direction job wise (am web sales currently – would be doing production planning for a factory at new job). I have no degree so am fairly flexible on which direction I go – so this isn’t necessarily a con. Just that I would be inexperienced at it.
Probably at least $2/hr pay cut. I would probably be making $12-$13 an hour at the new job but would not get a commissions bonus like I do now. Then again, I wouldn’t spend as much in gas either.
Have heard rumors that they aren’t the greatest company to work for. Though that has been for the factory workers and not the office people.

I’m thinking that the pros of the new job would outweigh the cons, however, it’s a big decision for me. Decent paying jobs (especially for women) don’t come around much in our rural area this close to home. So I feel like if I do get an offer I would be foolish not to take it since it might be years, if ever, before another opportunity arose.

Any thoughts/advice?

Thanks!

als1982 · August 2015

Weighing those pros and cons, I personally wouldn't move to this company, but instead I'd start more actively seeking something closer to your home that offers the same or better pay and benefits that you already have.

juliamarie32 · August 2015

I appreciate the thought, however, that's not an option. Don't get me wrong, I would love that

! But that's just not practical (or possible) around here. I live in a small rural area and there really isn't anything for jobs there outside of a couple factories and then fast food, dollar stores, schools, and bars. This would be the closest I would get to my pay closer to home. Where I commute to is the closest "city" (170,000 people) so that's about the only place around here you would find solid careers outside of specific trades - such as teaching, real estate, things of that nature. Any of the surrounding towns closer to me are well under 15,000 (most are under 8,000) so there just isn't a lot here. Another thing to consider is - I do not have a degree (nor plan to go back to finish it), so one specific field isn't really an option/concern for me.

als1982 · August 2015

juliamarie32 said:

I appreciate the thought, however, that's not an option. Don't get me wrong, I would love that ! But that's just not practical (or possible) around here. I live in a small rural area and there really isn't anything for jobs there outside of a couple factories and then fast food, dollar stores, schools, and bars. This would be the closest I would get to my pay closer to home. Where I commute to is the closest "city" (170,000 people) so that's about the only place around here you would find solid careers outside of specific trades - such as teaching, real estate, things of that nature. Any of the surrounding towns closer to me are well under 15,000 (most are under 8,000) so there just isn't a lot here. Another thing to consider is - I do not have a degree (nor plan to go back to finish it), so one specific field isn't really an option/concern for me.

In what part of the country do you live? I'm from a small town of less than 7,000 and while there is much less variety in the types of jobs, and yes, job availability, they aren't non-existent. And frankly, in rural communities, unless you're a teacher or in the medical profession, sometimes having a college degree can often be a hindrance. Stores always need clerks, schools, doctors offices, the city/county office will always need administrative help. I'd just keep on keeping on with your current job and start asking around and telling your friends and neighbors you're looking for something closer to home. Or reconsider going back to school and getting some technical training at a nearby Community College.

Sisugal · August 2015

Quality of life is important to me - so I would take the job if offered. You would no longer have the longer commute and it would also add weekend time as well as be more family friendly when children arrive on the scene.

jessica490 · August 2015

I think everything about your potential new job sounds great! The pay is less but you'll get raises right? You can stay on your husbands insurance, the commute will be great, weekends/holidays off!

I myself took a $5K paycut to get into the job I have now, but the best part about it is that my commute went from a 25-35 minute stressful packed/busy highway to 10-12 minutes on back roads. I got gas once every 2 weeks, less wear and tear on my car etc...it really makes a difference to be home quick and feel like you have a while night ahead of you, trust me. With the house we close on next week will give me an 8 minute commute now that is heaven! We don't have kids but we have a dog so I love running home to him

Xstatic3333 · August 2015

I would also vote new job. I am a former long commuter (72 miles each way!) and although you can get used to it when it's your reality, it is AMAZING to switch to a "normal" commute. That plus the more reliable hours would be huge for me. I think you'll close to make up the pay cut between savings on gas and car maintenance. If kids are on the horizon, that makes the decision even more clear cut.

bparkhur · August 2015

I would probably take the new job. Are there opportunities for promotion (assuming you would be interested in promotion)? That might also factor into my decision. Can I ask why you both commute an hour instead of just moving to be closer to your jobs?

AprilZ81 · August 2015

Ditto @bparkur , is there any way to move at least a little closer to work?

Have you talked to your current boss about your interest in a promotion? Sometime you have to ask for what you want. Are the people getting promoted ahead of you more qualified (degree, more experience, etc)?

As for what you should do that is a hard question. If it wasn't for the pay cut I would take the new job, hands down. Company perks are great in theory, but a free lunch once a month doesn't make up for working all weekend and on holidays.

Can you afford the pay cut? You will be saving some money on gas, but probably not enough to fully make up for the pay cut.

JoanE2012 · August 2015

I vote the new job. Not working weekends, better and more consistent hours and holidays off are worth the pay decrease (well, to me). Insurance would be covered with your DH. Commute is shorter. Honestly, I wouldn't really care about a free lunch once a month or contests. I also don't care about the age of my coworkers - I'm there to do my job and go home (though I find I socialize with people from fresh out of college to nearing retirement.

orangehills · August 2015

@juliamarie32 did you hear back after the interview? I would take it, It gives you a way better quality of life, and by not paying for the gas and the time you save, that would make up the pay to me. Plus you can stay on your husband's insurance which would be nice. But I'm big on quality of life vs a few more bucks, as long as you can afford it.

kelshaws1311 · August 2015

I would take the new job if it is offered. A bigger perk if you are able to stay on your husbands insurance. No mandatory weekends or holidays and a set standard schedule with a closer commute to home, would be worth every bit of a small pay cut to me.

I previously switched from a job where I was driving 45 minutes each way to working 8 miles from home. Even if it would have been a pay cut I would have still switched. Mainly because I have two small kids (one in preschool) if something happened to them, or they got sick I didn't want to be 45 minutes away from them.

juliamarie32 · August 2015

I just realized I forgot to check this again! Just a little update – I took the new job ! Apparently I rocked the interview because they offered me the job on the spot. My husband’s aunt definitely helped though so that’s probably a large part of the reason I got.

Overall, the 10 paid holidays off (I only get 3 off now and they’re unpaid) and having free weekends (well I do have to work 1 Saturday each month for a couple hours but that’s no biggy) won me over. Plus I was offered $13.50 and hour so am barely taking a pay cut at all – most of the pay cut I am taking will even out because I won’t spend as much on gas.

My current job, though upset to see me go, completely understood and were actually very supportive of me. They also let me know that I am always welcome back if it doesn’t work out so that took a lot of the pressure off too and helps with the nerves of moving on to something new.

Thanks again everyone for your advice/input!

short+sassy · August 2015

Great to hear! This sounds like a much better situation for you. Congratulations on the new job.

Need career advice!

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