Career choices: What would you do?

[AuburnAlumni]

Ok, so here's the scoop.

As some of you know, I used to be a scrap metal broker but recently left the business because I was on the road 2-3 weeks out of the month and it was killing me, both mentally and "socially" (lost 2 g/fs in 2 1/2 years because I was never home.)

I've been self employed for about a month now, going back to personal training as well as flipping some properties while I work towards my real estate license.

Well...on a whim, I decided to put my resume up on Monster as well as put out "feelers" around Bham with some friends on the chance that maybe I could find a good job that I DIDN'T have to leave Birmingham for so I could work on my real estate gig and pursue my current relationship (met a great girl about a month ago, going really well).

Anyway...I ended up interviewing with a great Hardware company as an outside sales rep. I interviewed on Monday, and I was offered a job on Tuesday. I just got back from the job offer an hour ago and they extended a pretty sweet deal... Base pay comparable to my base salary in the Steel business, company truck, gas card, full benefits, plus 25% commission on all sales once my training was over and I was actually in the field selling.

I would also ONLY travel in my city..I would not have to travel outside the state, etc.

Here is the problem...

They said they most likely would be moving me to Atlanta at the end of my training...and that the supposed 6 months of training would most likely only be about 3-4 months considering my past sales experience and my connections with this type of industry.

I just built a brand new home here in Bham, I have a great new girlfriend and I love Birmingham. I also am very excited about moving into real estate and I have some very promising opportunities there in the LONG RUN.

In the SHORT TERM...this job is a dream as far as pay and benefits go, I'd be in Bham at least 3-4 more months and it would be good steady income while I get to my goal of being a real estate broker. Also...my brother and his fiance are in Atlanta, it's only 2 hours from Bham, and I have a ton of friends I went to Auburn with who live in Atlanta.

So...basically...I'm torn.

Do I..

A. Accept the position, go through the training, and decide later if I want to move to Atlanta?

B. Decline the position and take my chances as far as self employment goes or until I find another job in Bham while I get my real estate gig going?

This sucks...if I didn't meet a great new girl and have a brand new home I have been in only 3 months, I'd be jumping at the opportunity. But now...I don't know.

Give me some opinions.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

Do I..

A. Accept the position, go through the training, and decide later if I want to move to Atlanta?

B. Decline the position and take my chances as far as self employment goes or until I find another job in Bham while I get my real estate gig going?

This sucks...if I didn't meet a great new girl and have a brand new home I have been in only 3 months, I'd be jumping at the opportunity. But now...I don't know.

Give me some opinions.

I would decline the position and stay where you are for now. See where things go with this girl you've met. If you take this job, you'll ALWAYS wonder how things might've gone with this girl.

I'd let that play out before deciding anything. If this other company really likes you, I'm willing to bet they'd want to talk to you again in the future, if you ever decide you'd like to give it a shot.

My experience is that these sales job have a high turnover rate. Chances are that if/when you ever decide you'd like to leave the area and try outside sales, this job or one like it will be there waiting for you.

[bkrich83]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

One thing to keep in mind. There are some changes coming in the real estate market. I have been dabbling in it for the last couple of years. It may not be as easy to make a buck in the near future as it is now, and has been for the last decade or so.

[MassNole]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

One thing to keep in mind. There are some changes coming in the real estate market. I have been dabbling in it for the last couple of years. It may not be as easy to make a buck in the near future as it is now, and has been for the last decade or so.

Way OT: But what is going on?

[dieselboy]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

I say take the job.

You said you have four more months with this girl right? So then how long would you guys be at?

**** after four months, you two might not even be together.

[Dispatch]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

Way OT: But what is going on?

The market is going down. Builders are having a hard time selling houses, prices are going down etc.

[MassNole]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

The market is going down. Builders are having a hard time selling houses, prices are going down etc.

I am glad we got my mother's house sold when we did then. I didn't know if BK was talking about some huge reform to the industry.

[cbgatorade0202]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

The market is going down. Builders are having a hard time selling houses, prices are going down etc.

Hmm, well at the way My mom is moving up i'd never noticed this..she's went from about $50,000 a year to easily gonna top $100,000 this year being a real esate agent.


AA that soundz like a real tough decision there, Like one other said if they want you so badly now they will probaly want you again another day.

[MassNole]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

AA, personally I would take the job. If you and your GF are still together in 4 months then you may have a very difficult decision to make, but if for whatever reason you aren't together you may always regret not taking the job and letting a person who you weren't with destroy a great opportunity. Trust me, this has happened to me, I turned down not 1 but 2 opportunities that would've been amazing (one was an internship with Gap, the other was playing pro lacrosse in Australia).

[Cletus]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

Take the job because anything in the real estate business can be very erratic, plus self employment doesn't have the greatest benefits. I don't know how it is in Alabama, but here in SC I have a friend who is a builder and is having a hard time getting a job to do, he's self employed and can't draw unemployment. He's kind of stuck right now. I'm also unemployed and while it's nice to plan for the future, no one is promised tomorrow so take what you can while you can get it. Right now, I wouldn't pass up a great job because of the future.

I know it's not easy, but I believe if things are meant to happen they will happen, and if you and the girlfriend are meant to be then you'll be no matter what. Also, if the new job doesn't work out and the real estate market booms, you have something nice to fall back on.

[USF11]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

I have a real estate license, only took one class to and a test to get it. Its not all thats its cracked up to be. Everyone I have talked to says working full time in real estate takes 2-3 to make money. And your topping out at 60k in a hot housing market.

I myself have gone back to school to get a degree in finance.

[bergie56]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

Well...on a whim, I decided to put my resume up on Monster as well as put out "feelers" around Bham with some friends on the chance that maybe I could find a good job that I DIDN'T have to leave Birmingham for so I could work on my real estate gig and pursue my current relationship (met a great girl about a month ago, going really well).

I would also ONLY travel in my city..I would not have to travel outside the state, etc.

I just built a brand new home here in Bham, I have a great new girlfriend and I love Birmingham. I also am very excited about moving into real estate and I have some very promising opportunities there in the LONG RUN.

In the SHORT TERM...this job is a dream as far as pay and benefits go, I'd be in Bham at least 3-4 more months and it would be good steady income while I get to my goal of being a real estate broker.

This sucks...if I didn't meet a great new girl and have a brand new home I have been in only 3 months, I'd be jumping at the opportunity. But now...I don't know.

To me these parts make me think you already know what you want to do. You also say that your job offer is a dream for the SHORT TERM. To me, it sounds like you should stay bro.

[fishepa]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

AA, keep in mind the cost of living between Atlanta and Birmingham. HUGE difference.

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

AA, keep in mind the cost of living between Atlanta and Birmingham. HUGE difference.

Trust me...I know. My bro just moved there.

[bkrich83]

Re: Career choices: What would you do?

I am glad we got my mother's house sold when we did then. I didn't know if BK was talking about some huge reform to the industry.

No reform, just a shift in the market. Used to be if you wanted to make some money, you just had to plan a little bit, have some capital and bingo, you're making money hand over fist.

It's going to be a little bit more difficult in the near future.

That being said, there are a lot of homes that people bought that were out of their price range with variable rate or interest only types of loans, that are now getting in to the adjustment phase. From what I am reading, there may actually be quite a few foreclosures out there in the very near future. There maybe some money to be made working foreclosures. I haven't dealt with them too much. My last two real estate deals involved building spec houses and selling them at a profit. (Although this last one, not at much of a profit.)