Job offer, need advice

I got a job offer to work for a small wealth management firm in Louisiana for $40,000 and health benefits. I'd be doing mostly data entry and analysis, office work, and working on getting my Series 7 and 66. I graduated from Texas A&M with a Finance degree in May. I wanted to get a job in Dallas or Houston, but this is my only offer so far. I'm torn, because it could be good experience (I wouldn't just be cold calling and selling stuff) but I don't want to live in a small town, and the average reported salary for my major is 47k. I'd have to cover my relocation expenses, I'd need to replace my car, rent is kind of high in this town (103 on the cost of living index vs 93 for Dallas).

My gut instinct is to turn it down, but I'm afraid it could lead to a prolonged search for work in Dallas. What advice do all of you have for me?

7 Comments
 

Never accept your first offer, from a company or in your job search. First of all, offers are open to negotiation, ask for 45k. Second, there will be other opportunities, just make sure you have the sack to wait for them. I turned down another offer today because I think I can last till the big hiring increase in the fall.

Still not sure if I want to spend the next 30+ years grinding away in corporate finance and the WSO dream chase or look to have enough passive income to live simply and work minimally.
 
MissingNo.Never accept your first offer, from a company or in your job search. First of all, offers are open to negotiation, ask for 45k. Second, there will be other opportunities, just make sure you have the sack to wait for them. I turned down another offer today because I think I can last till the big hiring increase in the fall.

What big hiring increase ? Do you know something the rest of us don't ?

 
Best Response
SAC
MissingNo.Never accept your first offer, from a company or in your job search. First of all, offers are open to negotiation, ask for 45k. Second, there will be other opportunities, just make sure you have the sack to wait for them. I turned down another offer today because I think I can last till the big hiring increase in the fall.

What big hiring increase ? Do you know something the rest of us don't ?

Many people from my class were waiting for the "big hiring increase around the corner" and most of them are still unemployed. I believe the '09 class is still around 50% unemployed and those guys are fucked after being jobless for a year. Europe may be taking a double dip, in which case, we would probably follow.

Don't listen to Missing No. the job market is terrible and there are kids from the Ivies willing to take that job from you as they will others. If you want more money, ask for it. But don't reject it because you want to keep your options open. There aren't as many options out there as there used to be.

 
Victor252
SAC
MissingNo.Never accept your first offer, from a company or in your job search. First of all, offers are open to negotiation, ask for 45k. Second, there will be other opportunities, just make sure you have the sack to wait for them. I turned down another offer today because I think I can last till the big hiring increase in the fall.

What big hiring increase ? Do you know something the rest of us don't ?

Many people from my class were waiting for the "big hiring increase around the corner" and most of them are still unemployed. I believe the '09 class is still around 50% unemployed and those guys are fucked after being jobless for a year. Europe may be taking a double dip, in which case, we would probably follow.

Don't listen to Missing No. the job market is terrible and there are kids from the Ivies willing to take that job from you as they will others. If you want more money, ask for it. But don't reject it because you want to keep your options open. There aren't as many options out there as there used to be.

Exactly. People need to take what they can get. I think MissingNo lives on a different planet from the rest of us or is simply delusional.

 

They actually initially offered 45,000 and to buy me an individual health insurance policy. But I have a pre-existing condition that I knew wouldn't be covered, so I explained that and they said they'd install a group plan, but since it'd be more expensive I'd have to take a bump down to 40,000. I understood where they were coming from, but it still disappointed me, and caused me to turn them down figuring 40,000 wasnt worth it to move to louisiana.

I still think a bigger company would be better for me health insurance wise-my condition wouldnt be as big a deal in a big company with a bunch of people in the group. But even if this louisiana job was only for a year or two, it'd be good experience. Now Im having second thoughts and wondering if I should call back and apologize and say I'd like to take the position after all. Probably too late, but Im wondering if its worth a shot.

 

That's a tough situation to be in, I'm not sure exactly what you should do but one word of advice is don't second guess yourself or you'll spend your entire life saying "what if." It seems to me that you made up your mind and since you already rejected them you should concentrate on the future and don't look back. You were able to get that offer so if you work a bit harder on the networking and put yourself out there someone will help you and you'll get another offer.

 

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