got offer from Flowserve in Baltimore, MD $70k with full benefits and it is full time.
Mechanical engineer for pump manufacturing.

Other offer from GE power in Houston, TX. $38 / hour which converts to $80k with limited beneifts.. It is 1 year contract job and they could hire me as full time depending on my work.
Mechanical engineer for gas turbine manufacturing

which one should I go for? My sis lives in Baltimore so it works out pretty well for housing.
They both are firm on the salary and not negotiable.

6/19/2008 9:05:17 PM

i don't think thats what they meant by Feedback Forum. try the lounge.

6/19/2008 9:07:30 PM

6/19/2008 9:34:54 PM

it will probably be cheaper to live in houston

6/19/2008 10:15:24 PM

yeah but who willingly goes to texas?


Stay east coast. reasonable distance to the beach, and full benifits > +10k/yr

but come up with something better sounding than "pump manufacturing"

6/19/2008 10:48:21 PM

$70k sounds like salary. Work 40 hours and make this much. Shit goes wrong one day and you work 6 hours overtime uncompensated.

$38/hr and shit goes wrong, 6 hours will pay $342

However, you couldn't pay me $125k to live in either place.

6/19/2008 10:56:36 PM

do either offer a relo package as well? i would imagine the contract work doesn't but the other one would

6/19/2008 11:13:32 PM

1) what are the details on the benefits at both jobs...how much would you have to pay in each scenario
2) which has the cheaper living expenses, including a break on housing in MD if you would get one
3) overtime? do both/either pay it? if not then comp time instead? or could u end up working 50 and only getting paid for 40 (with no comp)
4) which has better advancement potential
5) any other benefits like a stock plan at either?
6) seems like you're in a good spot if you're coming straight out of college. whats average for a fresh ME grad?

6/19/2008 11:19:00 PM

definately go after the salary position.

6/20/2008 1:47:54 AM

Just throwing it there...

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/06/0613_best_cities_job/index_01.htm

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/jun2008/bw20080612_882775.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories


[Edited on June 20, 2008 at 9:13 AM. Reason : moar links]

6/20/2008 9:12:50 AM

coming straight out of college at 70k in baltimore is pretty good. you'll be able to afford the cost of living no problem. its definately more expensive then NC, but compared to all the surrounding areas, and really any big city in the Mid-Atlantic/NE, its cheap.

ive never been to houston though, so i cant compare.



[Edited on June 20, 2008 at 9:41 AM. Reason : f]

6/20/2008 9:38:43 AM

baltimore is a better city in my opinion

better weather, east coast, proximity to dc, ny, nc, etc

plus its salary

6/20/2008 9:56:15 AM

Baltimore. not only because it is salary and full benefits, but because it's permanent. With the contract job, not only will you have to pay to move to Texas, but there is a good chance you will have to relocate in another year.

6/20/2008 10:08:06 AM

this shouldn't be a hard decision. job security accounts for a lot.

6/20/2008 10:22:58 AM

GE....

work your ass off and get a secure job with them.

6/20/2008 10:33:40 AM

Its not just about the money or the location......

Is this the right job for you? Ask yourself that question. What are the work environments like? Who are you working with? What kind of experience will you gain? Travel involved?

You dont want to get stuck in a high paying salary job working 60 hours a week, when you could be working hourly, making the same money, working 40 hours a week.

Also, dont forget about taxes....each of these jobs could be in different tax brackets and different states have different rates.

6/20/2008 11:03:35 AM

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/105190/Best-Cities-to-Live,-Work-and-Play

houston is awesome. downtown is great & cost of living is super cheap. yeah it gets hot as fuck but we're not the air conditioning capital for nothing people are very nice and there is a lot to do in the surrounding area. i catch direct flights back to raleigh for $200 on continental, not to mention direct flights anywhere else i want to go.

6/20/2008 11:17:37 AM

just to throw this out there: if i were going by location alone, baltimore is the shit.

6/20/2008 11:22:56 AM

yeah I know someone who used to live in Houston and she always talks about how fun it was.

6/20/2008 11:50:14 AM

GE, no question.

Work hard and raise my stock price.

6/20/2008 12:00:17 PM

Definitely do NOT live in Texas.

Just can't compare to the coast man.

6/20/2008 12:34:23 PM

maybe the OP should visit both and decide for himself

i dont understand all the hate on texas

its awesome

6/20/2008 12:47:18 PM

plus less taxes

6/20/2008 12:58:14 PM

I agree with Wolfy. The east coast isn't the end-all be-all. I'd go with the JOB you like better. Either city has it's perks.

Also depends on how firm the offer is on converting the contract to full time with GE.

6/20/2008 1:00:36 PM

besides, central time beats eastern standard time!

industry in texas & louisiana is booming. i'd def opt for that over the shit show the northeastern part of the country is experiencing

6/20/2008 2:07:34 PM

i advise against living in texas because of the shitty weather and the wind

6/20/2008 2:12:45 PM

but cost of living is crazy cheap!

so we get thunderstorms, big whoop!

never snows in houston

6/20/2008 2:20:29 PM

i love me some snow

6/20/2008 2:21:27 PM

fuck the heat, go to baltimore

6/20/2008 2:28:24 PM

houston sucks and blows.

6/20/2008 5:42:39 PM

having worked in both texas and maryland, i can tell you that they both blow compared to NC.

i'd choose crackmore

[Edited on June 20, 2008 at 7:06 PM. Reason : ,]

6/20/2008 6:58:42 PM

I'm a big Houston fan myself. Pretty city, lots of stuff to do.

Oh, and

Quote :

"Definitely do NOT live in Texas. Just can't compare to the coast man. "

Houston is practically on the beach

6/20/2008 7:15:39 PM

i will never tire of men in cowboy hats driving trucks down the road as a part of everyday life

6/20/2008 7:41:50 PM

Houston has unbearable heat.

Baltimore has corner boys and the need to own a kevlar vest.

I'd go for the full time gig.

and get a vest.

6/20/2008 7:47:42 PM

Quote :

"got offer from Flowserve in Baltimore, MD $70k with full benefits and it is full time. Mechanical engineer for pump manufacturing. "

i'd go with B-More. good football, the Nationals are coming along and just make sure you live in the suburbs and you'll be fine. there's more culture in Baltimore than NC . . . so you'll be fine.

6/20/2008 7:50:25 PM

After the year long contract, could you get a job with an even higher starting salary? How hard is it to find another job? How long do you care to stay in one area?

I prefer the city of Baltimore to Houston, but if you can get a job easily, don't mind relocating and aren't tied down, I'd say get the contract job then move laterally to the next job.

6/20/2008 7:51:25 PM

choose the baltimore one. it sounds like you'd have better job security there and that the company would value you more because of the full benefits package. and i'd always suggest staying closer to your family.

6/20/2008 9:11:09 PM

chose the baltimore one b/c family thing.
My sister is in Baltimore too. housing will work nicely too.

I had 2 years of experience and 3 semesters of co-op experience..
Job markets r tight nowadays. I hope everybody gets a good job and represent the wolfpack

6/21/2008 3:48:56 PM

Quote :

"Just can't compare to the coast man."

You do realize that Houston is practically on the Gulf right?

Good choice for good reasons. Personally I had nothing to suggest either way.

6/21/2008 4:14:50 PM

Houston is a terrible place. It's hot and trashy. Baltimore is just trashy!

6/21/2008 4:26:21 PM