Job Advice

[DirtyElf]

Well hello there 7f!

I am faced with a pretty substantial career decision in the next couple days and always value any opinion I can obtain. I'll be honest nobody here can probably sway me one way or the other, but I may be able to look at something that I am missing in making this decision.

Short explanation. Skip to cliff notes below if you don't want to read my wall of text.

I graduated in 2010 while working as an intern at my current position. After graduation I signed on full time. I've been at this current position since. The company is a small custom manufacturing firm. When I was originally hired everyone was on 10% pay cuts, since then a few things have changed. The company is still not quite profitable but we have moved to 5% cuts and every other Friday off, a 10% cut in time. Due to the financial situation that the current employer has been in since I began and the fact that it is a small company the benefits are lacking. No 401k match, high deductible insurance, no tuition, no bonuses, etc... I also haven't had a raise in my 3 year stint. All of that being said, my department, engineering, is not the issue. I enjoy the industry that I am in, I enjoy the challenges I am faced with, I enjoy the work I do, I enjoy my boss and I learn a great deal from him. The upper management and other departments, operations and sales mostly are what I feel the problem is and nothing, or not the right things in my mind, are done about it.

A new position has been offered to me at a different, much larger, company in a different industry. It is a 20% base salary increase from my current rate and will match 401k, has lower deductible insurance plans, an annual bonus structure, and a defined route for advancement.

After considering everything the only thing I could come up with as a con for the new position is that the it is three times farther away, about 80 miles round trip as opposed to the 25 miles I currently do round trip. I do enjoy the industry that I am in, and all things considered I'd rather not get out of it simply because it is interesting to me and I have developed a passion for it over the past three years. I also understand that I am relatively young and believe this is the time to go and diversify and find out what else is out there.

At my first performance review about a year ago my boss told me that he wasn't able to give out a raise at this time, but if I had another offer then he would have some ammunition to go and get a raise for me. So because of that I'm pretty sure that when I sit down with my boss in an hour they are going to counter offer with a higher base salary, but that doesn't account for all of the stability and other benefits that come from the new opportunity. I really can't see any reason to stay or accept a counter offer.

Sorry for the long post! I just want to make sure I am thinking this through thoroughly, and it helps to talk (or type) it out.

Cliff notes:
Current job - bad benefits, no raises, pay cuts
New job offer - great benefits, 20% increase, farther away
What do I do?

 

[indianacarnie]

well, go with what you feel deep down. Job satisfaction makes it easier to get up and go to work! The money and benefits have to come into play too. In the end , as you said, its what you feel "right" about. Good Luck!

 

[whs]

In the long run, an 80 mile commute is too much. And in Florida there is no public transportation that can get you there fast. I would only consider it if I were to move. After all, a 20% raise may be eaten up fast by the extra cost.

 

[Dwarf]

It all depends on what you want. Do you wish to stay in a job that currently has no prospects, or go for one that has?

 

[DirtyElf]

In the long run, an 80 mile commute is too much. And in Florida there is no public transportation that can get you there fast. I would only consider it if I were to move. After all, a 20% raise may be eaten up fast by the extra cost.

The current route I take to work has tolls, about $7 a day total. The route to the new job is all highway and has no tolls. Plus when my lease is up in July, I would move closer.

 

[strollin]

I would go for the new job. Personally, I don't think 40 miles each way is too far to commute (unless you have to deal with horrendous traffic). I did that type of commute for years and it didn't bother me. I know people that commute farther distances.

 

[DirtyElf]

I am still thinking I'm going to take the new offer, however my current job is making a counter offer. It could be up to a 30%-35% bump in base salary. Benefits wouldn't change, but that is more money...

 

[whs]

In the long run, an 80 mile commute is too much. And in Florida there is no public transportation that can get you there fast. I would only consider it if I were to move. After all, a 20% raise may be eaten up fast by the extra cost.

The current route I take to work has tolls, about $7 a day total. The route to the new job is all highway and has no tolls. Plus when my lease is up in July, I would move closer.

That makes sense. Then go for it unless they come thru with the 35% on your current job. But don't let them drag you along and you lose the new job opportunity.

Do you happen to live north of Tampa ??

 

[DirtyElf]

I live in Orlando.

and even if my current job comes through with the 35% increase, i still dont have a stable company with good benefits... and all of the problems that led to me searching for another job in the first place still exist... i do get the benefit of staying in the industry that i enjoy... but the new industry is a perfectly fine (maybe even stronger) one.

 

[whs]

I see. I thought you use the suncoast parkway to Tampa - the toll sounded like it. That's where I live - at least during the winter.

 

[DirtyElf]

408 - east-west expressway to get to the current job

id be using I-4 to get to the new place

 

[Dwarf]

It sounds like they are offering you the golden handcuffs. If other employees there get wind of you receiving a substantial pay offer, then there could be trouble as they try to lay a claim for similar treatment (especially if many of them become disgruntled more than they already are).

I would still take up the offer of the new job. True, that would be more commuting for you but that would only be temporary until you move in July. In the meantime, you might be able to locate a place to live that is closer to the new job (and therefore incurring less travel) than you are currently having to contend with between where you currently live and your present job.

 

[DirtyElf]

In theory none of my peers would need to know about my pay raise at the current position. Only my boss, HR, and accounting/payroll.

Regardless of the new offer I was getting a raise (or so my boss told me). So that is kind of a moo (like a cow) point.

 

[whs]

408 - east-west expressway to get to the current job

id be using I-4 to get to the new place

But the I-4 can be a real mess during rush hours. I would try one day at the hours you would be commuting. I bet it will take you 2 hours.

 

[stevieray]

A few questions I would ask myself it were me:

Will my current company still be in business in 5 years? How about 10?
Is my current company in a healthy, growing industry or a dying one?

Then I'd ask the same questions about the new place.

 

[DirtyElf]

408 - east-west expressway to get to the current job

id be using I-4 to get to the new place

But the I-4 can be a real mess during rush hours. I would try one day at the hours you would be commuting. I bet it will take you 2 hours.

its a reverse commute. i live downtown, where everyone is heading in the mornings and leaving in the afternoon.

A few questions I would ask myself it were me:

Will my current company still be in business in 5 years? How about 10?
Is my current company in a healthy, growing industry or a dying one?

Then I'd ask the same questions about the new place.

current job: yes, yes, growing
new job: definitely, definitely, stable.. to growing