Job A: My current position. In an industry which I did not have any knowledge of prior to my first day (about 3 months ago). I'm learning a lot about the industry and have been successful so far. Very large company with offices all over East Coast/Central USA, great opportunity for advancement. Standard 40 hour work week, Monday through Friday, no weekends. Overtime pay available.

Job B: A job available to me. In an industry which I studied for while in school and a company which I worked for while I was in school. An industry which I enjoy. Smaller company which is growing quickly. Standard 40 hour work week with opportunity to travel 1-2 times per month. Opportunity for advancement is there, but not on as large a scale such as Job A. Occasional weekend work. No overtime pay available.

Assuming salary, benefits, and location are the same, which job would you choose?

5/8/2007 7:38:10 PM

a

5/8/2007 7:45:16 PM

assuming those things are equal as you said, i would take the job that gave me the most mental satisfaction.

and in this case, only you can decide, because only you know what it is like to work for both of these companies.

5/8/2007 7:50:12 PM

indsutry a = ?
industry b = ?

though i think a is easily the best, considering the info posted.

5/8/2007 7:52:18 PM

a=insurance
b=sports

5/8/2007 7:54:51 PM

You know I had this type of split years ago where I went for option A because of the faster track to money or advancement...but now I'm kicking myself b/c it's in an industry that I'm not passionate about and I feel sort of robotic and hollow as the years are ticking by.

I kick myself for not choosing B.

Obviously Im not telling you what is better, but that's just a perspective for you.

5/8/2007 8:02:52 PM

i would take the job that gave me the most mental satisfaction.

5/8/2007 8:05:01 PM

what do you mean by mental satisfaction

5/8/2007 8:05:38 PM

The job that won't bore you to death everyday you walk into the office.

5/8/2007 8:07:55 PM

exactly what Kainen said

if you don't feel "happy" at the end of the day with a job, it is not mentally satisfying.

and a lot of people sacrifice that for money, but then a few years later end up realizing that the extra money is not worth the boredom ("robotic and hollow") that comes with the job.

now maybe you don't feel that way about your job A, and maybe it is a great job and you thoroughly enjoy it. if so, that's great.

but if you have no passion for it, but are just for now enjoying learning the new information, and the extra money, then i suggest you go into the sports job, which is pretty much guaranteed to be exciting your whole life (depends on what exactly it is, of course).

5/8/2007 8:11:33 PM

Who doesn't like a b job?

5/8/2007 8:13:23 PM

^

5/8/2007 8:42:46 PM

You said you worked for company in job B while in college...so which do you like best?

I think I would go for B just cause it was sports based but that is just because I love sports

5/8/2007 10:12:20 PM

as you said, if the money is similar...

GO WITH THE JOB THAT YOU ENJOY. there is no way around that. if the pay is substantially different, then the choice is tougher, but as you describe, i would highly recommend the job you're going to enjoy the most.

5/8/2007 10:12:27 PM

all these "happy" folks should be taken with a grain of salt

Bottom line is this: work becomes work. Sure, you may enjoy sports now (I know I do), but working in it day in & day out will eventually become just as boring as Job A, in a vast majority of cases.

I think I'd pick A, but all I'm sayin' is just remember that "work" isn't apt to just thrill you everyday until you get $10k or something for showing up at the door

[Edited on May 8, 2007 at 10:43 PM. Reason : m]

5/8/2007 10:43:17 PM

B

5/8/2007 10:46:14 PM

SouthPaW12 is right, work does get boring if there is no variety. But not all careers are so monotonous. You didn't really distinguish much between A and B. You said you enjoy B, but you didn't say you don't enjoy A. If you don't enjoy A, I would definitely switch.

5/8/2007 11:44:17 PM

w/out reading I'm going to go with "B".

5/9/2007 12:35:37 AM

i know someone who, when faced with a tough decision, "asks the radio".

basically you're in your car, you ask the question, then you turn on the radio. the current song playing, or very next song if its during a commercial, will tell you what you need to do.

i'ts like bibliomancy, but with a radio.

she swears it works.

5/9/2007 12:35:59 AM

^^ ...and nobody is surprised.

5/9/2007 1:20:07 AM

don't listen to anyone. it sounds like both jobs are great. i would do what you would enjoy most, not do what others think.

5/9/2007 4:55:03 AM

^ isn't that what a lot of people have been saying in the thread?

5/9/2007 5:27:32 AM

i make it a rule not to read threads.

5/9/2007 5:59:46 AM

in that case, you can't legitimately or logically say "don't listen to anyone" bc you don't know what others have been saying.

and btw, saying "don't listen to anyone" also discounts your advice.

5/9/2007 6:05:36 AM

Quote :

"i would take the job that gave me the most mental satisfaction."

with all things equal (money and hours) you will be a much happier person

5/9/2007 10:44:52 AM

take whichever job lands you in raleigh so you can resume your weekly 3 dollar poker game with JNewtHIII, NCState3333, pureathlete, and Huarache



[Edited on May 9, 2007 at 11:52 AM. Reason : 3]

5/9/2007 11:50:37 AM

A

5/9/2007 3:25:37 PM

great

5/9/2007 5:46:10 PM

with info posted only...

A is my choice

5/9/2007 7:52:38 PM

i had to make this decision last week, but both were with the same gov. agency but two different jobs. One offered more $$ so i selected that one although I like the people I work with in the part I am in now(that was the other job) I got a call today from "new job" wanting me to go to Kansas Thursday AM. My supervisor vetoed that, I have to be "released" and they dont want to do that....so, it worked out well, I keep the raise and stay, for now, in the same section I am in.

5/9/2007 8:05:42 PM

I'll be doing B for less money

that's what I'm majoring in

5/9/2007 10:25:39 PM