Discussion
Hello all,
My wife is coming to the end of a maternity contract and now has two permanent job offers on the table. She is unsure which one to take so I thought I'd ask the PH collective for their opinions.
Job one is in small company (eight or nine people) with a quiet location in the countryside. It is a relaxed office atmosphere (no suits required) and most people have worked there for several years. One woman takes her dog to work, to give a good example of the sort of place it is. There is no pension and no private health care. My wife finds the job content interesting and it will take her abroad (Europe) around six times a year typically for three days at a time although there is potential for longer trips for long haul destinations. The journey there is a bit stop start and will take around an hour and a bit, perhaps up to an hour and a half to get there.
Job two is with a large multinational in a big-ish office block. Stiff formal atmosphere (suits definitely required) and more of a turnover of staff. Pension, private health care, up to 10% bonus. Job content uses similar skills but is not as interesting. Foreign travel one week out of four, but much better journey of around forty-five minutes on dual carriageway and motorway.
Both jobs pay the same.
We have recently moved house so don't want to upsticks to move closer to one or the other, but this would be something we'd look at in a year's time if the job is going well.
On paper, job two wins out but job one is more interesting work which is a consideration, not to mention an easier going set up. It's just that long journey - and associated fuel costs - of getting there which throws a spanner in the works.
What do you think she should do?
We like to think we've thought of all angles but perhaps we've missed something. Any suggestions welcome.
My wife is coming to the end of a maternity contract and now has two permanent job offers on the table. She is unsure which one to take so I thought I'd ask the PH collective for their opinions.
Job one is in small company (eight or nine people) with a quiet location in the countryside. It is a relaxed office atmosphere (no suits required) and most people have worked there for several years. One woman takes her dog to work, to give a good example of the sort of place it is. There is no pension and no private health care. My wife finds the job content interesting and it will take her abroad (Europe) around six times a year typically for three days at a time although there is potential for longer trips for long haul destinations. The journey there is a bit stop start and will take around an hour and a bit, perhaps up to an hour and a half to get there.
Job two is with a large multinational in a big-ish office block. Stiff formal atmosphere (suits definitely required) and more of a turnover of staff. Pension, private health care, up to 10% bonus. Job content uses similar skills but is not as interesting. Foreign travel one week out of four, but much better journey of around forty-five minutes on dual carriageway and motorway.
Both jobs pay the same.
We have recently moved house so don't want to upsticks to move closer to one or the other, but this would be something we'd look at in a year's time if the job is going well.
On paper, job two wins out but job one is more interesting work which is a consideration, not to mention an easier going set up. It's just that long journey - and associated fuel costs - of getting there which throws a spanner in the works.
What do you think she should do?
We like to think we've thought of all angles but perhaps we've missed something. Any suggestions welcome.
Edited by jamesson on Wednesday 15th June 09:39
The advantages being slightly better terms and a shorter commute?
Not sure if you're also counting the extra European travel as an advantage?
Commute will not be an issue after 12 months presuming you move.
Other than that, job 1 sounds better to me. I'd be asking them for an improved salary/package.
Not sure if you're also counting the extra European travel as an advantage?
Commute will not be an issue after 12 months presuming you move.
Other than that, job 1 sounds better to me. I'd be asking them for an improved salary/package.
In a stressier environment, there will more likely be a greater amount of unpaid ot needed/ expected which would negate the shorter commute.
I started out of uni in an environment that sounded like firm 2, am now in a place thats more like firm 1 albeit not that chilled and personally I much prefer being able to get on with things without pandering to office politics and red tape.
I started out of uni in an environment that sounded like firm 2, am now in a place thats more like firm 1 albeit not that chilled and personally I much prefer being able to get on with things without pandering to office politics and red tape.
Has she asked about non-standard working practices, i.e. not always having to go to that office to work? There is a head of steam building around the efficacy of the current practice of hauling all staff, all of the time, in to a building and hoping they are effective. More enlightened organisations are looking at this and many are realising it is not always necessary, especially with the advances in mobile communication links. Whilst the ethos of an organisation depends at times on the body of the kirk coming together, it's not always required all of the time. I would ask about the flexibility to either work from home 1 or 2 days per week or report in to another office if the organisation has partners closer by. Good luck!
Just to wrap this one up, my wife chose the big company in the end. We did a dummy run to the small one during rush hour and even though there were no hold ups it was a long journey. We both felt like it had taken forever to get there. A consequence of its stop start nature, I suppose.
Anyway, so far the new job is going OK and everyone is nice so hopefully that means she's made the right choice.
Thank you again to all who contributed.
Anyway, so far the new job is going OK and everyone is nice so hopefully that means she's made the right choice.
Thank you again to all who contributed.
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