Advice Needed on Deciding Between Two Jobs

fdtora

Member
Mar 29, 2020
13
2
I've been a lurker for a couple years, and believe there are some members that can provide advice to me given a couple job options in this current uncertain economic situation.

Background:
My wife applied to two Ph.D. programs at the beginning of the year, and both are in college towns with very few job opportunities. The closest cities that continually have opportunities for me (IT and/or Financial Auditing) are 1.5 - 2 hours away. We were confident she would get in to both, so I applied to a position with a hospital in the city of the preferred program (School1, Job1). After I interviewed, but before being offered the position, I applied to a position that is close to the other program (School2, Job2) because she had been accepted to that program, and we were still waiting on the preferred program. Because I was offered Job1, I accepted it, but with a start date that was a couple months away figuring this would give time to back out in case she wasn't accepted to School1. While waiting for the acceptance to School1, I interviewed with Job2. During the interview process with Job2, she received acceptance to School1. I completed the interview process with Job2 because there was a chance we would select School2, but she decided on School1. I was offered Job2, and rather than telling declining the offer, I explained the school situation and said I could only accept the job if they would let me do it remotely, and they agreed.

Background Summary: I've already accepted one job in a city where my family will be moving to, and have been offered a second job that I can do remotely.

Job Choice:
Job1 is with a hospital, and the start date has been moved back one month (to mid-May) because I cannot start until I am allowed to work in the office since I have to be in contact with people to be oriented to the job. With all back office employees working from home, I don't know how long the start date will continue to be delayed due to the county having a stay-at-home order that has no end date. Because it is a hospital system that has declining revenue due to elective procedures being stopped, and clinic visits in decline, there is a concern that the position may get furloughed (a very low possibility).

Job2 is with a public company that is a manufacturer of off-road suspension. They have frozen hiring for all other positions, but are committed to this position and will still hire for it. My concern is that since it requires disposable income for people to purchase their products, the decline in the economy will cause their revenue to drop, and I can be replaced with a contractor at a much cheaper cost. I will have to travel to their headquarters 50% of the time for a couple months once the stay-at-in place stuff ends, and then will travel about one week per month for the duration of my employment.

Job Choice Summary: Job1 is with a hospital that has an unknown start date, and has a very low possibility of being furloughed. Job2 is with an automotive-type suspension manufacturer that is committed to hiring the position, but future revenue due to coronavirus recession could have a major impact.

So my questions for discussion are:
1) Which industry do you think has a better long-term outlook for me not losing the job?
2) Since I can start Job2 within 3 weeks, and Job1 is waiting until it's clear, which one do you think would better to do? I am currently employed, and can wait until June before I would have to start Job1 (hospital).
3) If Job2 is the better choice, what is your recommendation on how I back out of the job I have already accepted.

Because I have already accepted Job1, I feel a commitment to it, and don't want to back out if, even though Job2 pays 22% more. I am only considering Job2 due to the delay in starting Job1, and not knowing how long of a delay I am in for.

Discuss.
 

MJMGator

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I’d go with job2. I’m a bit more optimistic about the future economy and it pays considerably more. Besides, elective surgeries take a helluva lot more disposable income than car parts.
 

deuce

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Overthinking....... Take the job that you want to do....
 

Gator By Marriage

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Overthinking....... Take the job that you want to do....
This would be my first thought too.

Question: After your wife finishes her PhD. where do you see yourselves living? Do either of these jobs set you up better for employment there/then?
 

fdtora

Member
Mar 29, 2020
13
2
This would be my first thought too.

Question: After your wife finishes her PhD. where do you see yourselves living? Do either of these jobs set you up better for employment there/then?

We have no idea what we'll do after she graduates. Our thoughts is for her to teach at a non-R1 so she can do research at her own pace instead of being forced to have her name on a certain number of publications, or for her to do her own thing developing nature education programs in whatever city we live in. She can do her thing now, but people she'll be taken a lot more seriously/viewed as an expert once she gets the three letters.

With that said, there is a greater possibility we'd stay put where Job1 is then move to where Job2 is because they'd want me to move there after my wife is done. After doing the remote thing for 5 years, they may be OK with me still doing that rather than having to replace me with someone. I think either one will have me in the same position 5 years from now.

I accepted Job1 at then end of February, so what would be a good way to tell them I am no longer going to take the job after I have had them hold off an extra month to meet my original start date, and the boss go to bat for me with HR to get me a higher salary? I'm having a hard time ethically being able to justify it. The delay/unknown in the start date is what has me reconsidering. I know this is paralysis by analysis; I just don't ave anyone personally I can talk about it with. My wife sees the same pros and cons I do:
Job1
Pros: Home every night for our daughter (she'll be in 1st grade whenever the next school year starts), promotion possibilities, hospital experience which would allow me to work in healthcare companies in other cities, low-stress environment.
Cons: Lower salary, office job requiring me to not get home until 5pm.
Job2
Pros: Higher salary, working for a company that I think is cool/would use their products, being home 3 weeks every month so my daughter doesn't need after school care every day.
Cons: Being gone for one week every month for the duration of my daughter being in elementary school.
 

gingerlover

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Which ever one will make you happiest. However if you are moving for this job I would lean toward the city you will like the best and won’t mind being stuck in. I took a promotion two years ago. Love the job and what it provides but everything else sucked about where we moved. There are also many other items to think about you might not such as cost of living. Is the rent/mortgage fine but are utilities higher every business more expensive etc. I would also consider how far you are from any support network. Going from having family 5 minutes away to 3 hours to your most trusted person is a big change if not already used to it. Near an airport and is travel tough? If all that extra money disappears to hidden cost you don’t factor in is it really much better?

There is a lot of things to consider about your overall happiness. Best of luck and I’m sure you will make the best decision for you.
 

Gator By Marriage

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I accepted Job1 at then end of February, so what would be a good way to tell them I am no longer going to take the job after I have had them hold off an extra month to meet my original start date, and the boss go to bat for me with HR to get me a higher salary? I'm having a hard time ethically being able to justify it. The delay/unknown in the start date is what has me reconsidering. I know this is paralysis by analysis; I just don't ave anyone personally I can talk about it with. My wife sees the same pros and cons I do:
Job1
Pros: Home every night for our daughter (she'll be in 1st grade whenever the next school year starts), promotion possibilities, hospital experience which would allow me to work in healthcare companies in other cities, low-stress environment.
Cons: Lower salary, office job requiring me to not get home until 5pm.
Job2
Pros: Higher salary, working for a company that I think is cool/would use their products, being home 3 weeks every month so my daughter doesn't need after school care every day.
Cons: Being gone for one week every month for the duration of my daughter being in elementary school.
None of us can tell you what to do (as you are no doubt well aware). As for what to tell the company you decline, my only advice would be to be completely honest and candid. I will share one anecdote that may help (or not). The last transfer I took moved my family when my kids were to start 7th grade. As a result any chance for a promotion (and transfer) would have occurred when they were in HS. With one exception, I never tried to move up and as a result, my kids went to one HS. The one exception was a position in Brussels and while Mrs G was ready to start packing, I let the kids have a say so. They both voted no. We stayed put and it all worked out. My point is this: if you always put your family first, you’ll never regret it. I hope this helped.
 

fdtora

Member
Mar 29, 2020
13
2
None of us can tell you what to do (as you are no doubt well aware). As for what to tell the company you decline, my only advice would be to be completely honest and candid. I will share one anecdote that may help (or not). The last transfer I took moved my family when my kids were to start 7th grade. As a result any chance for a promotion (and transfer) would have occurred when they were in HS. With one exception, I never tried to move up and as a result, my kids went to one HS. The one exception was a position in Brussels and while Mrs G was ready to start packing, I let the kids have a say so. They both voted no. We stayed put and it all worked out. My point is this: if you always put your family first, you’ll never regret it. I hope this helped.

Any bit of info helps which is why I reached out. Thank you to you and the others that have given input. The more the merrier.
 

fdtora

Member
Mar 29, 2020
13
2
Which ever one will make you happiest. However if you are moving for this job I would lean toward the city you will like the best and won’t mind being stuck in. I took a promotion two years ago. Love the job and what it provides but everything else sucked about where we moved. There are also many other items to think about you might not such as cost of living. Is the rent/mortgage fine but are utilities higher every business more expensive etc. I would also consider how far you are from any support network. Going from having family 5 minutes away to 3 hours to your most trusted person is a big change if not already used to it. Near an airport and is travel tough? If all that extra money disappears to hidden cost you don’t factor in is it really much better?

There is a lot of things to consider about your overall happiness. Best of luck and I’m sure you will make the best decision for you.

The city comparison is pretty equal. Both being college towns means they are liberal/idealistic, but surrounded by country folks. We don't want to really be in either city, but we do like the surrounding areas of both, so living in the outskirts of either one long-term would be acceptable.

We're moving to the city where Job1 is. Job2 will let me work remotely from there, but I have to travel one week per month. Before a bunch of cities told people to stay home, I felt like either choice was the right one, but now I'm feeling like either choice is the wrong one. Sorry to babble, but it's cathartic to write it out.

I'll spill the details on the companies and cities after I make a choice. Just wanted to keep them anonymous to focus on the dilemma.
 

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