Job decision is driving me crazy. Please help me decide?

Question

I've been given an offer of $46,000 for an entry level financial analyst position in NYC. I will receive the contract tomorrow and have a week afterwards to decide. On the other hand, I have a friend that works for a company I really want to work for, plus the starting salary is $60,000 (which will be a lot better for the living standards, considering its NYC).

So, I sent my resume to the recruiter she referred me to last friday, and will probably hear from him (either way) within the week. If say I get an interview etc...with this company. Is it worth to risk it?? Since it'll probably take them another two weeks or so to give interview, make an offer etc..(definitely going to be after the first company's dedline). If do not do well, then I may not have a job at all....PLEASE give me some advice!!

Answer 1

If your market value really is 60k then by all means hold off until you get a 60k job. Don't take a 46k job. Or take the 46k job and quit once you get a 60k job. Do I think you will get the other job? 46k seems pretty good for entry level though.

Answer 2

The $60,000 job sounds really good and I dont blame you for wanting to hold out for it.
Phone the $46,000 job when you receive the contract and ask for a 2 week deadline. Most human resources would give you that. If the job needs to be filled right away, they will tell you sorry we have to know within the week.
During that time, if the 60,000 job looks promising, you can negotiate for a better pay in the other company saying , "I have another job lined up etc"

On the other hand, if the second week comes up, and no offer is in sight for the 60 thou job, this is my advice.Remember the saying "A bird in hand is better than a bird in the bush? " Take the 46,000 job now. work it for several months or a year or two.
There will always be another job that will come up in the company you really like, so change your game plan to include a probable future lateral move towards that other company.

Answer 3

Jobs are hard to come by. I would say take the one that has been offered to you, and work your way up. If, on the other hand, you should miss and do not get that job, then you are right, you have nothing. Have you ever heard the old saying "A bird in the hand, is worth two in the bush". Do you really want to throw the dice on a maybe. The higher the salary, the pickier they get. From the way you have presented yourself, not offense, but you may not be ready for the higher salary and will not get it and you are back on the street. Take the one that you have in the bag. Good luck. P.S. They might be looking for more experience, and NYC I bet is hard to find a good job. My grandson works there, a graduate of Fordham Univ., and did not get a job right away, took awhile. Take the one you have as a definite. If it is not a definite, then go for the other one, but don't pass on one that is a definite offer.

Answer 4

I would take the week to decide. Maybe in that week you will hear from the other place and it will make your decision easier.

Can you take the first job and leave it if the other offer comes through? I have done that in the past. Matter of fact I did that with the job I have now. I was waiting for another company to get back to me and this one offerred me a job so I took it. Turns out I liked this one so much I stayed even when the other place offerred me more money to come work for them. It wasn't as big a difference as you're looking at but it was still a better paying job. I am glad I kept this one and actually this job has far better benefits and will build a better resume for me.

There are many factors besides money to consider.

You have a difficult decision to make here. You have to be the one to decide, no one else can do this for you.

Good luck, I know how hard this is.

Answer 5

I would take the job that is a sure thing for now. If and when a job opens up at the place your friend works, figure out then if you wish to interview etc. This job, while not as much money will afford you some experience and you can still be open to other offers. If it comes to pass that you eventually have another job offer, it can be a bargaining tool or you may wish to then give notice. In today's job market, people move around to different jobs like never before. Also in today's job market, a job is sometimes tough to come by. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Take the $46,000 a year entry level financial analyst position.
If given an interview with the company your friend works for explain that you are currently working and are willing to give them a two week notice should they decide to hire you.

This really doesn't sound like a tough situation. Wish I were in your shoes.

Want to swap situations?

Good Luck!

Answer 7

That is pretty scary. I'd go with the second choice- the one that pays more and that you want to work for. Hopefully they'll see how enthused you are and hire you. In the meantime can you get a part time job on the side (at Starbucks or something similar)? it might be helpful to have a little bit of money set aside, in case it takes a few weeks to get started.

Answer 8

I agree that is tough. BUT, you should also think of who you will work for, so do your homework and try to meet with the people you could possible be working with. I mean, hey, you would hate to be stuck in a job sitting in an office full of people you cant stand wondering if the other job had a lot better staff, etc...

Answer 9

Go with the job where you are assured of immediate bucks. While you are working there, you could always check out the other job and switch over to that one, later on.

Answer 10

Ask the company for an extention on the deadline, if that doesn't work then make you contract short work there for a year or so and then move.....you also might want to loook at things besides money.