Deciding Between two jobs 1

[Calif]

I have interviewed with two companies and one wants to hire me today. I am not sure of taking this job because it was not what I thought it would be in terms of design and the commute will be horrible going to and from work. The other is where I want to go yet I am waiting for a response from them since I will have to do a second interview with them. In addition it is located in the same city in which I am going to school to get my graduate degree in addition, I will not have to drive to work since I can take a train to work. I want the job within the same city as my school but I have to make a desicion on how to deal with the other company that wants to hire me. I dont really want the job that is further away but I am unemployed so choice is not a luxury for me really. Should I tell the guy that I do not want to work at his company, wait, maybe or maybe not get the other job and just keep looking or should I just take the job since it is being offered? If you were in my position, what is the proffesional and ethical thing to do?

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not because of an awkward accumulation of material. There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form. Eladio Dieste

 

[Calif]

Ashereng:

I am more concern about the right thing to do by both owners. I dont want to hold the guy for another position that may or may not be there yet push another to make a decision. Also, I am unemployed so I need money to go to school and pay my bills. In addition, I am young engineer and for the past 4 years, has not had the oversight and training which should be there for anyone wanting to be a engineer which to say, I am being picky on where I want to be. I remember when I started the job search and I had my first interview, I told the project manager with complete honesty that although I work with firms, most of what I know comes from reading books. Nobody really showed me anything about putting a building together. He then asked me, do I think I can design a whole building together correctly? I said, I dont know because no one has said, this is right, this is wrong. He said, one of the problems in our industry is that there are alot of companies who do not train young engineer which brings our profession down. He said he has seen it alot with people he has interviewed and appreciates me being honest with him. At that moment, I knew I did not have the job because he wanted someone more skilled. I am just kind of frustrated with looking for work and this career. This career should have a manditory internship like doctors in which graduate must study under a licensed professional engineer and show some verifiable proof that he or she is competent. Sorry for all the venting, just frustrated.

Calif

The resisant virtues of the structure that we seek depend on their form; it is through their form that they are stable, not because of an awkward accumulation of material. There is nothing more noble and elegant from an intellectual viewpoint than this: to resist through form. Eladio Dieste

 

[RossABQ]

In the long run, you are much better off going for what you really want. Don't count the "cost" of commuting a long ways, in terms of time and money, too lightly. Quality of life is a huge factor and not always considered properly when the cupboards are bare.

It never hurts to be honest; tell #1 you are interested but are waiting for a decision from #2. Portray it as a fairness issue not that you favor one or the other. Good luck!

 

[PSE]

Calif,

Until you receive that first offer in writing and review/respond in kind, you still have time readily available to work with the possibility closer to you. Make good use of that time. It shows maturity on your part that you are concerned with beneficial outcomes to both parties.

I agree with greenone that as an employer I would be disappointed with someone leaving for something else after a short time frame. However, in the long run my group would be better off. Having someone as part of a team that doesn't want to be there can be worse than not having a full staff.

Regards,

 

[Ashereng]

Yes, it is a tough situation.

However, only you know what you need, and only you can balance the risks of what need to satisfy.

If you need money now, then you should take the job that is available now.

If you need a "good" job with the training and development, and you can wait for it, then you should wait.

Those are the issues that I can't decide for you.

With respect to the companies, yes, it doesn't look good to accept a job, and then leave within the month. Having said that, I personally, have experienced the opposit. After accepting a job at an agreed to salary, within the month, they decreased it by 20% unilaterally.

When companies need you, they say you should be loyal. When they don't need you, they say good bye and lay you off.

Anyone old enough to remember the 80's when petro companies laid off entire departments will understand that the first priority of companies is to take care of themselves, and the first priority for us is to take care of ourselves.



"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[TXiceman]

Your first priority is to take care of yorself. The whole corporate structure has changed over the years and too many look up on employees as an expendable commidity. They only want you to work and do not want to invest the time to train individuals.

If you can find a company that has a corporate approach that provides some training by letting you work in diferent departments and roles, you need to stay there long enough to get the necessary training. If the company really wants to keep you now that they have invested the time to train you, they will have the benifits and compensation to keep you.

Try to find a senior engnieer to spend some time with and let him lead you and provide some guidance. I know, I will try to help a youger engineer by showing him how to approach a problem and share any knowledge that I have with him or her.

Sadly, the companies today, often won't provide the time to nuture the young engineers.

Where I work now, they have vendors come in for training on specific topics as well as have internally presented topics to help engineers in other dedpartments and disiplines. I enjoy making a 30 minute to 60 minute presentation on my filed of expertise.

But it will not hurt to contact the 2nd company which you would prefer and let them know that you are very interested in working for them and tell them how you will be a benifit to them as well. In other words, you have to sell yourself and your abilities to them. Do some more research on them and ask some specific questions about somthing they do. It will show your interest. You need to show them that you are the best choice and that is now.

My wife used to work in HR and said the job seekers that were confident and had knowledge of what the company did had a much better chance of landing the job than some one that was just looking for a job.

Best of luck,
Ken

Ken
KE5DFR

 

[Sid7]

Plenty of good professional advice above. And to note you havent received any of the companies written offer yet. And to be honest I would be very careful to rely only on the written offer. and till then nothing is sure.

You are in the stream now, go with the flow.

Survival is the game.(as you are unemployed now! Not if you have plenty in your bank a/c) If you survive then only you can think of something more better.

And whatever the company may be, time only will tell you if you are going to get nurtured or not in that organisation. Too many a factors to think of. Is it guaranteed that you will get for sure what you want in #2 company but not in #1?

And in regards to learning I believe if the baby wont cry mother wont feed it. true, isnt it? If I wont show interest or ask persistently to my seniors they wont guide me either.
Good Luck.

Regards,



Siddharth
These are my personal views/opinions and not of my employer's.

 

[electricpete]

The thing that bothers me is that there are not many engineering firms in my state that does buildings and are looking for Entry to Junior level structural engineers. I have applied to almost all of them and I think I am down to the last one's

I think most aspects have been covered pretty well. But if there really are only a small handful of companies that offer the work you seek in the location you seek, there is an extra impetus to not treat company #1 poorly. If you hire on and leave in two weeks, you will guarantee to never get an offer there again.

I'm not saying that this consideration dictates your course of action. It is just one among many considerations, but I don't think this aspect has been mentioned yet.

=====================================
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[plasgears]

You need to learn all you can about propective companies. My worst engineering jobs were with companies with unqualified supervisors and managers. Translation: non-degreed oafs and clowns. Don't be afraid to ask.

 

[FreddyNurk]

Star to Plasgears. Its worth noting, at least as I observed in Australia, that with the economic boom that is occurring here, good people are harder to find, and it becomes more likely that you will have to work with turkeys.

My employer supports further development and training initiatives, though in some areas leaves a bit to be desired, however, viewing of some of the third party consultants that we have had to deal with on a significant project makes me cringe.

The last thing that you want to do is to end up with an employer that ranks about the same level as the prior mentioned turkeys. Ensure that you find out as much as you can about your prospective employer, and always get the conditions in writing.

 

[MikeHalloran]

The best manager I ever had didn't have a degree.

But he knew his limits, and didn't try to do my job. That's what made him good at doing his.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA