Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

[Scott Danforth]

Long story short

in April I was involuntarily separated from my last job. Neither I, my peers, nor the team that worked for me saw anything coming.

that being said, in addition to looking around the current area, state, etc, I started looking back in the Tampa/Bradenton/Sarasota area

well, in the past 2 business days, I have two job offers.

Offer #1 - Medium sized company with great growth potential. Great Salary, Bonus, and benefits. Located in Hartland Wisconsin.
Pro - great company
Pro - great offer
Pro - Girlfriend can keep her job
Pro - pack and move is part of package
Con - have to move to yet another rental property
Con - Nowhere near either of my daughters
Con - 5 months per year boating season
Neutral - able to go ice fishing

Offer #2 - Small company with stupendous growth potential. OK Salary, incentives tied into company performance. Located in Largo Florida.
Pro - great company
Pro - get to move back into my house eventually
Pro - get to see my oldest daughter almost daily
Pro - 12 month boating season
Pro - you dont shovel sunshine
Con - initial job not that interesting.
Con - wont see my youngest daughter that often
Con - not as much vacation as I would like.
Con - Girlfriend will need to find new job
Neutral - able to go ice fishing only on vacation

if Offer #1 never came around, I would jump at the second offer in a heart beat.

this is one where if I look purely at financial gains, offer #1 wins. If I look at purely career gains in the next 3 years, offer #1 wins. however If everything goes as envisioned, offer #2 has some spectacular rewards.

While this will be a struggle tonight, and I have a large decision. I am always open to hearing anyone's thoughts

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

Only advice I can give is to go with the one that will make you happiest.
Good luck with the decision and let us all know.

 

[RB12]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

Hi Scott,

While I am not very familiar with your geographic location(s), I am familiar with your current dilemma (I own an executive search firm and deal with this on a daily basis). While there is no simple answer to your question - there are a few things I point out to all of the candidates I work with.

- In the long run, quality of life/family happiness is going to out weigh (in the most part) even a modest -10-15% comp increase.

- I am guessing that for job one you may need to make a minor relocation - where as in job 2 you will be making a major relocation. Both have their individual challenges, but when looking at relocation - my belief is you have to take into consideration the stability of the company/position - you don't want to be doing this in another 3 months.

You may be able to leverage (at least the compensation component) of one offer against another - I do not recommend this, but if handled properly can be successful. I would like to elaborate but it would probably be a book. Please send me a message if you have any specific questions.

Best of luck on which ever option you choose!

 

[woody66912]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

just a Wisconsin joke, Come to Wisconsin smell the dairy air. Good luck, and may the force be with you.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

Born and raised a cheese head, originally moved to Florida in '08 for a job. moved back to find a job during the recession.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

Take the job you will like. Working a job you don't like just sucks the life out of you, and that in turn will affect your family, your happiness, and your health. Hope you enjoy living in Wisconsin.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

My father worked as a accountant all his life and hated it. The one piece of advise he gave me that stands out was
"I don't care if you dig ditches for a living, just find something you like".

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

I would not leave Florida for Wisconsin. Long harsh winters would kill it for me. I can't stand the few months of winter we have in SC

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

I left Florida in 2010 because there were no jobs in Florida and had to move back to the rust belt for employment.

so now I have my other projects listed on CL http://greenbay.craigslist.org/cto/3187073053.html http://greenbay.craigslist.org/pts/3186994538.html

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Job Dilemma - when it rains it pours

I left Florida in 2010 because there were no jobs in Florida and had to move back to the rust belt for employment.

so now I have my other projects listed on CL http://greenbay.craigslist.org/cto/3187073053.html http://greenbay.craigslist.org/pts/3186994538.html

Scott,

I was offered a similar chance a few months ago. One of the thoughts that kept me here in Florida is the fact that the wife would have to have a new job. I do not know the wisconsin area, i do not know the area in florida you are considering, but here in Jacksonville, the unemployment rate is high, jobs are scarce and getting scarcer depending on what your girlfriend would want to do. My company is laying off daily, i know that all in the ship repair industry have very little work and what few jobs are available is hard to get noticed because of all the applicants. For that reason alone, i stayed where the Mrs could keep buying my gas money cause fishing is expensive.

Good Luck in your endeavors,

George