I have a dillema.... I have been offered two jobs.... which do I choose?

Question

I was offered two jobs on the same day and am totally at odds with what I should do. I need some genuine help here.

One job is $500 a week to start (with a pay raise once I get my store) managing a pizza place.

The other is a salesperson for manufactured housing with a small salary (about $1000) plus commission and the potential to make about 80K a year.

I have a mortgage and bills that total about 1400 a month.
I am married but my husband earns very little. He contributes about 600 a month to the household.
Please help me. Does anyone know what the forecast is for manufactured housing? I hear that within the next year it is supposed to explode.

Serious replies please. Thank you.

I have been in the manufactured housing before and did well. I made 80Kmy first year. To the person who thinks that just "poor" people buy, I have to let you know that this is NOT the case. Seriously, I have had millionaires come in and buy homes. These homes are not the old trailers of yesteryear. Lots of folks like them because they can place them on their property of their choice and move in faster than having a home built. The quality of the material in these homes is exactly what you will find in a new subdivision. The reason they are less expensive is because the manufacturer buys the material in bulk. A builder pays a higher price for lumber, brick, plumbing etc. Buy a train load of material as opposed to a truck load and you can see the savings.
I was told about an increase in mfg home sales by 2 independant people who study this market. 1 a Director of Operations in the pizza co I interviewed with. The other the owner of mfg housing lot.
PS It's inside sales.

I took the job at the pizzeria. It is a very easy job. As one commentator stated, " A no brainer." I passed up the possibility of a very high income. It is an awesome job. The thing is: I am studying for my BA in organizational management and the manufactured housing industry doesn't necessarily need a degree. I figured my degree with the management of a pizzaria, would be more beneficial to me in the long run. Thank you all for your input, it was read and digested. I went to the pizzaria today and talked with the manger. He was a previous McDonalds owner in Geogia; so there must be something to this job. It pays ok and the bonuses are decent. Thanks again.

Answer 1

If it's money I think I can tell you the answer.
Take the pizza place. The job will give you steady wage that you can count on and opportunity to show off your leadership ability. Plus after a few years you can build astonishing resume with more confidence and experience, you can basically leap to any place that needs management skills and experience - this position always (I mean ALWAYS) pays good or better than average.
Even if the forecast is good for custom built housing, the house prices always go up and down. This means you can't rely on your commission, although it could get higher than $ 1000. Being a sales person will put you in the middle: you have to serve customers yet also deal with company red tape with less authority than a manager has. That's what I think. It's your choice

Answer 2

First of all you should live within your budget and scale down on some unnecessary items. After bills, what's left for play? I would never accept a job where it depends on how much you sale. What if someone pisses you off and you quit? What if you don't make any sales no matter how hard you've tried? It can be very frustrating not knowing if rents gonna be paid because you didn't make a sale to someone who probably doesn't want your product anyway. I took three years of carpentry in college. The people building the manufactured houses (assembled by carpenters in the warehouses) are the ones who's getting the 80k. Rethink your career industry choice. Sometimes we have to take two steps backward to get one step ahead. By the way, who's buying houses nowadays anyway?

Answer 3

Why would it be exploding next year? Did you hear this from a reliable source or a salesman? How well they do depends on your area (almost none where I am) and if it is growing or not. A reason for quick growth in a low income area (sorry, not sure why else people would buy these) would make that the better long term choice. I do question an exploding market for these while normal housing is so easy to buy though.

You can depend on pizza. No matter what, Americans love their pizza! So, unless a there is a huge population in the near future THIS is your better option. Very steady, regular pay in a market that is stable.

Answer 4

To me, this sounds like a nobrainer. The sky's the limit when you're in sales. If you're willing to put the work in, you can make boat loads of money. It's a lot of work, and some months are better than others, but the potential is there. You didn't mention either if it's inside or outside sales. If it's outside sales, you also have a lot of freedom. That's my opinion.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would choose the job that has security as opposed to the one that will offer me more money but in a limited durability. You are not sure how the market will play out coz a lot of factors contribute in it although projections can be made. You need to sit down and analyse which job you are more comforable doing, and you know you will be happy in.

Answer 6

If you are good at sales, I'd take the second one. More $$ and less responsibility than the pizza job. Pizza places are busiest in the evenings where as sale is in the daytime. Wouldn't you rather a 9-5??

Answer 7

If you have been in sales before you know it is never a steady paycheck. But taking risks can pay off. I am in real estate and even with the slower market conditions... I still am doing well. Pre-fabricated houses have their ups and downs but some that I have seen recently are pretty impressive.

Answer 8

I dont know what part of the country you live in, but in Michigan realestate is not moving. I think with the financial obligations you have, and your husbands contributions considered, you may want to go where the money is guaranteed. The decision you make will have a lot to do with your personality. Obviously Im the play it safe type.
Good luck to you with everything.

Answer 9

I live in a manufactured home and they are having new parks open and little subdivisions with manufactured homes all the time. The are no longer dumpy little parks for the dirt poor.
I live in Michigan and don't know where you are. I wish you well on your decision

Answer 10

I would choose the Sales position because it offers more per week plus a commission. Your earning potential is very good too.

However, I would also say to go with your heart.

It seems you have already weighed your options.

All you need to do now is make a decision......

Best of luck with your new job.

God Bless......