Is it worth switching jobs if the new potential job is 70 miles away but a 20k bump in pay?
Long story short, I hate my current job. It pays well for my age (22)...at least I think so. I'm on a 60k salary with a 5 k signing bonus for a leading IT consulting firm. I have realized I hate the environment and maybe that consulting in general isn't for me, at least IT consulting. I have the possibility of joining a huge healthcare company on a 75k salary with 10k bonus.
Drawbacks: I would be driving 70 miles a day to work AND back but no crappy team members or slaving like an IT consultant. I have friends working with this latter company and they love it so far.
Do you guys think it's worth for essentially a 20k bump in pay, if you include bonuses, for a 140 mile total commute on the daily? Thank you for everyone's help in advance.
Is moving not an option for some reason? You make the world sound as if it is either A or B that is within the realm of possibility, when there are virtually an infinite combination of working and living combinations possible.
I mean, what if it was a $2MM bump in pay but was 2,000 miles away? Would you ask if a 4,000 mile per day commute was worth a $2MM bump in pay?
That's obviously a different kind of scenario. The question now would be would be whether it's worth to:
Find a room to rent there in the beginning then go home for the weekend. It's worth the switch.
I think the point that (big) Dick was trying to make was that you're presenting your situation as a false dichotomy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_dilemma
How bad is the traffic? 70 miles could mean 1 hour each way, or it could mean 1.5 to 2. If it's closer to 2, I wouldn't do it without a move. If it's closer to 1, I'd consider it even if for I couldn't move immediately (like if if you just signed a new 1 year lease). To put it in perspective, people commute 45 mins to an hour in large cities WITHOUT being 70 miles away.
But I agree with everyone above, just move closer. You don't have to move all the way there, but it can't be that hard to find a place ~30 minutes closer, so you can drive to where you live now (assuming you have friends or family there that you want to see)
If you have friends working at the new company, is there any way you could stay with them?
I moved farther for less of a bump in pay and better hours. I can actually get back to where I lived before to visit sometimes earlier than I would have gotten home from my first job, so really a non issue.
The correct answer is c, crash pad.
Why don't you give us an idea what kind of city you're in and what kind of city the job is in?
Or don't. The reality is quite simple: if the new job is in a small town, cop a crash pad. Your choice if you want to keep a spot in your current city. If the new job is in a city as bigger or bigger than your current, stop thinking small and just move there.
A 2 hour commute is not only 2 hours+ of fuel costs. It's 4 hours per day out of your life. We're talking 20 hours per week. You could easily do the CFA and get a finance job and stop complaining about IT bullshit in general with that kind of time. Your time is your greatest asset, and that's how you should measure your options.
Agreed with all of the above, but for another perspective: unless you really have something anchoring you to the place you currently live, and I mean really anchoring you like your wife has a great paying job and your kids are in school there, move. You will never fully commit to your new job if you're commuting a long distance and living somewhere else unless there's a really solid reason to do so. And if you don't fully commit, you most likely won't do too well there and you'll possibly blow a good career opportunity.
And take it from someone who has commuted long distances at different points in my career (and had the above mentioned reasons to do so): long commutes suck. Like @M-Weintraub said, that 4 hours daily (or three or whatever) is a lot of time taken out of your day that you could be doing something productive or you could just be doing something more fun than driving.
Thank you for everyone's helpful answers. To give better context, I intend on staying home for a year or so with my parents due to personal circumstance so moving is not really an option. If all works out, I think I will take this new job and just suck it up for a bit. I just know it's a much better situation for myself. I guess maybe I can work something out with my future boss where I can leave early/come in early or something.
I don't know what's 'making' you stay at home vs. get a place on your own closer to work, but I would rethink that again, if at all possible.
Wouldn't be half-assing it when I'm there actually working but it was just a thought. Also, like I said I have some personal circumstances that are making me need stay at home at the moment. I'd love to move out right now if I could, believe me. Thanks for your input.
I'd sleep in the office during the week, and go home on the weekends.
How long is the actually commute? Assuming you're in NY/NJ so you will be hitting a boatload of traffic and that commute may take a couple hours
The actual commute is 72 miles to and from. I have driven up there before and it is 1 hr 15 min from home.
That is not horrible, but also depends on the hours you'll be working
A) 70 miles a day isn't necessarily all that bad. I did 80 for 6 1/2 years and got pretty used to it. You'll need to find a way that minimizes traffic though. That can make all the difference. A 35 mile drive when you're cruising and have tunes or a podcast going isn't the worst way to start the day. Doing that everyday in stop and go traffic will drive you out of your mind though.
B) I'd be careful when thinking that you won't have "crappy" members at the new gig. The easiest thing to do when considering new jobs is to view the grass on the other side as greener. When you're frustrated at your current gig, everything else seems better. I've certainly been guilty of it.
C) All that being said, that's a significant pay increase. If the actual job is something interesting and you think that the commute with be an a hour or less without enraging traffic, go for it. You've gotta take a chance sometimes.
I initially misunderstood. I thought the commute was 70 miles in total, rather than 70 each way. That's obviously far tougher. Given that you hate your current job, I'd probably still go for it though.
Yup, 70 each way. I think I'll be going for it too. I shouldn't be stressing about how much I hate my job on a Saturday night..to give you a better idea of how I am feeling at my current situation.
I listen to podcasts on my current commute to work, which is 1 hour via train into Philadelphia. For what it's worth, I'm used to driving long distances as long as I got my tunes and podcasts. I think I'll try to find some easier routes than the highways maybe.
Oh, so you already commute a good distance. I thought you were going from around the corner to 70 miles. That should make the transition easier for you.
find someone to carpool with
No.
I say go for it. 20K gross increase is too much to pass up when you already say you hate your current job. I don't think you will be spending so much more money on gas that it would offset the raise. Although it depends on the hours, I don't think it would be very sustainable if you had to work 90hrs a week AND commute back and forth.
Nope regular 9-5. With my civic, I'm probably spending 35 bucks of gas a week. Right now I pay about 25 bucks a week to take the train so it's not a crazy increase for me.
Nope regular 9-5. With my civic, I'm probably spending 35 bucks of gas a week. Right now I pay about 25 bucks a week to take the train so it's not a crazy increase for me.
Mollitia et labore quae tempora deleniti qui. In laborum voluptas eum rerum reprehenderit aspernatur.
Exercitationem dignissimos natus et et. Maxime sunt nulla quia. Ut et velit doloremque accusamus. Quia sapiente quos quia et excepturi laboriosam tenetur quia.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Dolorem dolorum enim iusto qui. Consequatur hic distinctio sint et. Maiores dolorem in aut sint nobis.
Minima sequi ut fugit error facere eligendi. Sint sequi facilis quidem ut cupiditate dolores est. Dolores magni voluptatem veniam. Ut soluta dolorem nesciunt ut dolor.