I've been unemployed (by choice) for the past two months, but now I have two employment prospects on the horizon that may cause me some conflict.

A roommate has gotten me an interview with the company he works for, and I should hear back by the end of this week from them. I think it's pretty likely that they will make an offer and that it will be for about $32,000. It would be an office job with a pretty regular work schedule (9-6).

So here's where my dilemma starts... My uncle has also been helping me to get an interview with his company for a position that would likely pay much higher. (I think at least $45,000, but that's only an estimate.) The problem is that I wouldn't even be starting the assessment testing for a couple of weeks. If that goes well, then I would interview. I am definitely more interested in this job for both the salary and the more interesting work I'd be doing.

How would all of you handle the situation if the first company offers, but you still wanted to go through with your interest in the second company?

Take the first job. The second one may never pan out. If the second one does come through with a solid and compelling offer, you can reconsider then.

Agree 100% with CJ.

Ask the first company what their policy on probationary periods are. If they don't have one in your contract, you can try to negotiate one for however long you think it would take to get and consider the second offer. This way, there is no legal binding or any hard feelings if you get and take the second offer.

Yeah, that's what you gotta do. One caveat: If roommate vouched for you, it's going to be tough to start the job at his place, then leave soon after if the uncle's place works out better. But that stuff happens. I don't personally feel like employees should feel too bad about playing hard ball with employers because they do it all the time to their employees.

I know I'm stating the obvious, but in a fairly expensive place like Ventura, it's a lot easier to live on $45k than $31k. Great place to live though! My girlfriend lives there and buses to UCSB for work when she's not staying with me.

Mid 60's and clear the rest of the week. The nicest summer I ever spent was winter on the South Coast.

Ryan

Thanks for the replies. I think the only problem that I see with taking the job is that some of the interviews/assessment testing for the job that my uncle is recommending me for will likely be during the week when I would have to work if I took the job my roommate helped me with.

Also, I need to change my location. I quit my job in Ventura to move back to the Phoenix area. I hated living there. Too damn expensive! (Though the weather is quite lovely.)

Yeah, but I bet running that A/C makes your electricity bill higher than it was in Ventura. It's seriously expensive here, for sure. I was thinking of applying for a job in Pasadena, but I seriously think I'd end up with a higher standard of living because here I can capitalize on all my favorite activities being out my backdoor. In the LA area, I'd probably compensate by driving more places and spending more money on other things.

I do like AZ though if you have a good spot. Is Mesa treating you better?

Ryan

You could start by asking yourself this question. When you think of the first job,

Is this a good opportunity or a great opportunity?

When you come back to the second job ask,

Is this a good opportunity or a great opportunity?

If you want to be good, then take the good job; if you want to be great, take the great job.
Greatness comes from becoming great.

I know that being unemployed isn't fun, and you get to a point where you desperately want to have a job. The security and peace of mind that come from knowing you'll have a steady paycheck are big motivators. But I think you'd be burning bridges if you took the first job and then left quickly for the second one, and not just with your roommate. You don't know that much about the second job; what if you start there and end up realizing it's not what you want? Then you will have left two jobs in one short period: not good for your resume.

Do you have any options for income so you can wait for the second, better, job: can you temp or freelance? If so, I'd say to do that until you find the right job.

Hope this helps!

if the cost of living is higher, of course you'll want a higher paying job. Your 45k in Phoenix. . .will that go farther than 32k in ventura? (Remember office jobs have a lot of ways of earning. . . extra income. computers are great assets when you're stuck on them for 8 hrs/day!)