advice on job offers please

Ellechim

Hi there,

Now, first of all, I am not moaning. Secondly, this has come as a complete shock to me - I have been applying for about 3 jobs a week since before Xmas and until beginning of april had only had 2 interviews.

I have two job offers on the table and have a second interview for something tomorrow for which I know I stand a very very good chance (only one other up against me). I don't know which to go for: I have been contracting for the past few years so used to a really really good rate which isn't available on the market any more.

The first offer is a six month contract in a multinational. It might go an extra month but definately not more than that (it might even be shorter). Its about a 10 minute drive from my home. This is about 30% less than I was earning on my last contract. This type of role is very much what I do.

The second offer is with an irish semi state and is a 3 year term fixed term contract which may well lead to a permanent role but is offering 20% (yes that much) less in package terms than the first. Its a 40 minute commute to it via public transport. This would be a change in career direction for me, one I'm capable of.

The third potential role is offering package wise in between these two jobs, would be a one hour drive each way but is a permanent role in a small but growing company. This is not what I do at the moment but what I did about five or six years ago - I'm good at it but I did take myself out of this type of work and did a masters a few years ago to enable me to do the type of work in a).

So, what should I do?

Should I go for a) and keep looking bearing in mind the market is dire
should I accept b), swallow my pride on the money (and my concerns that the role is not senior enough for me which given the offer is probably the case) for job security or c) wait it out for this one to see if I get an offer? Bearing in mind that option c is not what I want to do careerwise, but it would be the most secure offer, option b is reasonably near what I want to do careerwise but the money is awful. (basically what I was earning in 1999)

Any thoughts?

mickman

i would go for a. if you can get these job offers in this climate then you can certainly get them again. its very possible that in 6 months the multinational will be a lot busier and keep you on.

for me i just hate commuting, i cant stand it. i got a job 7-8 mins from home about 2 yrs ago and i am just never tired anymore. i wouldnt go back to an hour commute unless i really really had to

Idjit

Dont worry about the job security thing too much.This isnt a dress rehearsal,this is your life and you shouldnt waste it in a job you dont like on money below what you want just so you still have it in a years time.
Remember that no matter how dire the situation is or gets there is always something to do to help yourself.

dh0661

You have three potential job offers - lucky you, and I mean that in a nice way - with the sate of jobs situation presently.

First - have you commitments ie. mortgage, partner, kids and loans ?
You'll need some security.

Second - IMHO go for the job that you think will help progress your career path. Whats the point going into what you think is a dead end job, where you'll probably be unhappy and feel like your going backwards.

Your choice, and good luck

yop

defo dont go backward, job 3 is going backwards.

I would go for job , reason been is that who knows what things are gonna be like in 6 months, again trying to get a job around or after Xmas is a nightmare so you could be out of work for 3+ month again. Ireland will still not be in recovery (if u listen to the media) until probably mid to end of next year.
You have the 3 year option, peace of mind, security etc.

My 2 cents

Ellechim

Thanks for your perspectives everyone.

I guess to fill in the background a bit, I have been job hunting since before Xmas, I had been contracting and had a baby last summer. We have been without an income for me (bar statutory maternity pay which finished in Jan) since last July. My DH contracts and has seen his rate reduced by about a third in the last year with quite a lot of uncertainty about his future....

I have been very carefully monitoring job sites etc and for the past three weeks there have been no jobs posted for which I'd be suitable. These three roles have been brewing for a while......there had been the odd trickle over the past few months but the pipeline seems to have dried up entirely.

So, I am concerned about the way the economy is going (aren't we all) and discounting option a for that reason - it may not even last the six months.

Mickman, this multinational are highly unlikely to keep me on, the piece of work they have asked me to do is migrate some of their work in Ireland to India - once it'd be done that'd be that.

Jade, I have two children, a mortgage, debts, in my early forties etc - so the job security thing is important. Yes you're right, life isn't a dress rehearsal....

DH0661 - you are right in terms of going for the best long term career path I need to figure that out - option c are growing but in a riskyish market (what isn't) and option b is a semi-state so while it won't be so fast moving it will be more stable. Yes, I know I am extremely lucky, however I have worked at the job hunt very consistently, I do have to add that finding jobs is a bit like waiting for buses or boyfriends - there are none and then a handful when you least expect it..........if you persevere and constantly look at how you're approaching it, it'll come good in the end

So now I come between option b and c.........I need to weigh up both companies but thanks guys for your thoughts, much appreciated......

Thanks everyone.........

dh0661

Best of luck with whatever decision you make