OK, now what do I do? (Job related)

[Suburban Rhythm]

Job dilemma...these seem to be posted here from time to time.

I interviewed for a position (Asst Controller) for a construction company. I originally went about 4 weeks ago, meeting with HR recuiter and Controller. Then 2 weeks ago, with the Head of Finance. I thought things went well, but a little time went by without hearing anything.

Last Tuesday, I interviewed internally (the company I am at is a large regional bank, for anyone in Pittsburgh/Pittsburgh area, it's the hockey building one, not the baseball stadium one). The position sounds like something I'd really be interested in, but I was the first to interview, and they are continuing through this week.

While I am at that interview, I get an email. A friend/acquaintance (I know him through other people, he is actually the person I replaced when I started my first job at the company) has been promoted to supervisor, and is looking to fill out his team with 1-2 people. He knew I'd been looking, etc. I forward him my resume, he took to his manager.

The group I am in now, both the team of 6 I am on, as well as the unit as a whole, SUCKS. I do trust tax in a Private Wealth division. Morale is at an all time low. Upper mgmt cares only about looking good (normal I guess), middle mgmt only cares about shifting the work to us, and we are all bitter motherfuckers. I dread coming in here every morning.

So...Friday, I get home, message from the HR recruiter from the construction place asking me to give her a call. I can only assume that, after meeting with them twice, they are going to make an offer.

Here are the problems--

1) I have 7 years in the current place. Not alot, but at 30 years old, that is a nice start. I would be giving up, among other things, 2+ weeks of vacation (2 weeks, plus alot of free days, personal days, makeup days, bank holidays, etc).
2) The position I like the sounds of the best is the internal one already interviewed for...however, that is far from a sure thing.
3) Rumor from a source (girl I used to work with in this department) besides the friend who would be interviewing me, they are excited about me interviewing.
4) To top things off, my wife is due with our 2nd child anytime soon. She's due Sept 2nd, but was 3 weeks early with our first, so I figure it could be any time now. I would not have medical coverage for 30+ days (30 day period, plus must begin on the 1st of a month). So, I could move to COBRA coverage, which is expensive as HELL, but even that worries me with the number of hospital bills we'll have after the delivery.
5) The external job would pay the most up front. However, as noted above, the benefits/vacation are a severe drop from what I have now. Also, I currently take a bus into town, $60 a month pass. The external job I'd be driving, about 14 miles one way, so, gas alone, alot more than $60 month.

My initial reaction is be up front with the HR recruiter from the external job, let her know I am waiting to hear from these others. If anything, I can use them to negotiate more vacation. But, I do not expect them to wait long for a response from me.

So, do I take the sure thing? Hold out for the one I really like? Or, the unknown, un-interviewed-for job?

WHAT THE HELL DO I DO?

[Grammaticus]

If it sucks where you are, don't stay. Work immediate coverage for the medical plan into the external deal. If they want you, they will do it.

[Swaggs]

The only point I would make is to be cautious as far as health insurance goes, since you have a pregnant wife and a child on the way.

[Izulde]

I'd be upfront with the external person about your situation. In my opinion, if they really want you, they'd be willing to work with you on it.

[MacroGuru]

You have a couple of routes to go when negotiating...

Having them pay for COBRA is one, negotiate immediate effective coverage however depending on their plan and what has been written into it, it has a chance of being out of their hands in regards to this. Another route is to have them pay for a policy out of company until you are covered...

I have had the first two situations work for me, if they want you bad enough, they will work it out.

[Suburban Rhythm]

I'd be upfront with the external person about your situation. In my opinion, if they really want you, they'd be willing to work with you on it.

I've let all 3 positions know, in advance, the situation with my wife being pregnant, and ready to pop any moment. I've got a "floating" block of 2 weeks scheduled for when the baby arrives. All have said that is not an issue taking the time off.

I guess where I am having the toughest time is losing the "perks". In my current position, I work nine 9 hour days every 2 weeks. This would at least be an option with the two internal positions. The external position made it pretty clear in the interviews that wasn't an option. So, for example, just the remainder of this year I'd be giving back about 18 days off.

The external would pay the best, but the disparity is not THAT big.

So my main dilemma is take the sure thing (external, although I've called and left messages with no return call yet. I did indicate in the first message I was also interviewing internally) or bypass that and hope one of the other 2 come through?

[Draft Dodger]

2 weeks of vacation is a plus?

[Suburban Rhythm]

2 weeks of vacation is a plus?

Maybe I worded poorly, not sure which part you are replying to...

The new, external position, I'd be at 2 weeks vacation a year for the first 5 years with the company.

In the current position, I have 4 weeks, plus the ability to work a compressed schedule from May - December (after tax season), which works out to an additional 16 days off a year. With a 2 year old and another one on the way, those days off come in really handy.

[Riggins44]

Maybe I worded poorly, not sure which part you are replying to...

The new, external position, I'd be at 2 weeks vacation a year for the first 5 years with the company.

In the current position, I have 4 weeks, plus the ability to work a compressed schedule from May - December (after tax season), which works out to an additional 16 days off a year. With a 2 year old and another one on the way, those days off come in really handy.

You've made up my mind. Stay where you are at. Having that much time off is pretty rare. Plus with the whole baby on the way thing... no need to gamble if you don't have to.

Perhaps the position at your current employer will work out. If not, you can always leave later if you wish.

[Draft Dodger]

ah, I think I understand. yeah, losing vaction does stink (I went from 7 weeks to 2 when I came here), but it's not as important as finding a job you enjoy. IMO.

[flere-imsaho]

When I was offered my current job, I wasn't able to start for a good two months after I accepted the offer (for reasons far to complicated to explain). If an employer wants you, I think they'll generally show some flexibility.

If you look at it from their side, it's not often likely (especially in white collar jobs) that someone needs you to start absolutely immediately. Sure, it might be nice for them, but it's hardly often necessary, so asking for flexibility is, I think, a good thing.

[dawgfan]

It doesn't sound like you're really that interested in the external position, other than as an opportunity to get out of your current situation.

I'd hold off on them until you find out more about the internal position you want. If this external place really wants you, they'll wait. If you don't get the internal position and the external option goes in another direction, there's nothing stopping you from looking at other options.

While you say the current position sucks, it sure doesn't sound like the external option is that much better in your mind when you start considering the perks and commute factors. I'd wait to see what comes of the internal position.

[Grammaticus]

Well, if your current job and organization sucks and the morale is horrible, why would you stay just for some vacation? You are at work for en immense amount of time whether you get 2 or 4 weeks of vacation. As far as the flex time, its a wash as you will get home an hour earlier every day (time with family). Honestly If you do take that option, do yourself and your teammates a favor, stop bitching (I'm not sure if you complain at work or not, but it sounded like you do) about your job, you chose it amongst various options. Therefore it must not be that bad.

If you really are okay with staying on at the current company, then tell the new employer you need immediate healthcare coverage and will split the vacation, meaning they add a week, so you have three weeks. Just tell them the pay difference is not enough to make the difference. If they balk, you take the job at the current company. Just be prepared that they may balk and you have to stay where you are. It sounds like you don't "need" the new job, so you can be a bit more definite regarding negotiations. From the employers perspective, one week of vacation and immediate medical coverage is nothing in the pot, when you have an employee you want and need.

[Butter]

Also, I currently take a bus into town, $60 a month pass. The external job I'd be driving, about 14 miles one way, so, gas alone, alot more than $60 month.

Alright, it's math time.

28 miles per day x 5 days per week = 140 miles per week
140 miles per week / 20 mpg on an average car (guessing here) = 7 gallons per week
7 gallons per week x $3/gal = $21/week

You're only actually looking at a transportation increase of $21 on gas alone, unless you're driving an SUV or a Hummer or something. Plus maintenance costs on the car, which frankly, wouldn't be that bad. 140 miles per week is not that hard on a car.... it's only 7,200 or so miles per year.

What I'm saying is, if transportation is a major factor in your decision, don't let it be.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Well, if your current job and organization sucks and the morale is horrible, why would you stay just for some vacation? You are at work for en immense amount of time whether you get 2 or 4 weeks of vacation. As far as the flex time, its a wash as you will get home an hour earlier every day (time with family). Honestly If you do take that option, do yourself and your teammates a favor, stop bitching (I'm not sure if you complain at work or not, but it sounded like you do) about your job, you chose it amongst various options. Therefore it must not be that bad.

The company as a whole is not terrible, the division I am in is terrible. I really like my first position with the company, but it was my first position directly out of school, and after 3 1/2 years it was time to move on. This group I am in now, the morale was pretty poor when I got here, and has gone done since (not that I am taking ALL the credit for that!). All the things promised, to many people coming in, not just me, have never materialized.

If you really are okay with staying on at the current company, then tell the new employer you need immediate healthcare coverage and will split the vacation, meaning they add a week, so you have three weeks. Just tell them the pay difference is not enough to make the difference. If they balk, you take the job at the current company. Just be prepared that they may balk and you have to stay where you are. It sounds like you don't "need" the new job, so you can be a bit more definite regarding negotiations. From the employers perspective, one week of vacation and immediate medical coverage is nothing in the pot, when you have an employee you want and need.

You nailed it, I don't "need" the new job. The internal jobs I keep all my perks, but neither is offered yet (one hasn't even been interviewed for yet). The external is, assuming I ever get in touch with them to find out, a concrete offer, but the least appealing of the 3.

The old 'one bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' dilemma, or something like that.

[Grammaticus]

Well, good luck I hope you land with a healthy work situation and enough of a work/life balance to make you feel good about the situation.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Thanks...it is good to see other, non-biased points of view.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Pulling this one back...

Got an offer on the external job...and told them where I stood with the 2 internal positions. They agreed to wait a week.

On the 11th...I get a call offering me the position in the group that I have the friend. I had only interviewed 3 days earlier, but they are moving quickly. Since it is internal, they'll need approval from my current manager, but I jump on the opportunity.

So, today is my last day at my current spot, and start in the new group tomorrow. They are already bending over backwards to meet any needs--once for my current manager, who kept me through today for one project, and for me, allowing me to take the 2 weeks once the baby is born, regardless of when it happens.

So...things worked out!

[MikeVic]

Good to hear!

[JonInMiddleGA]

So...things worked out!

Congrats.

[WSUCougar]

Excellent!

[Izulde]

Awesome! :) Congrats!

[Riggins44]

Pulling this one back...

Got an offer on the external job...and told them where I stood with the 2 internal positions. They agreed to wait a week.

On the 11th...I get a call offering me the position in the group that I have the friend. I had only interviewed 3 days earlier, but they are moving quickly. Since it is internal, they'll need approval from my current manager, but I jump on the opportunity.

So, today is my last day at my current spot, and start in the new group tomorrow. They are already bending over backwards to meet any needs--once for my current manager, who kept me through today for one project, and for me, allowing me to take the 2 weeks once the baby is born, regardless of when it happens.

So...things worked out!


Glad you took my advice. ;)

[Swaggs]

Good news. Congrats.