Is 1 year at a prestigious place good enough? 2

[EngineerDave]

I took a job last year at a prestigous place. To do so I turned down a job offer in my hometown that came after I had already accepted the prestigous one.

Recently I received another offer from my hometown. They had called me to see if I had some interest, so i went back and talked to them. I got an offer for a second time from them.

OK here are the factors

1) Job in my hometown pays 20% more and the cost of living is 30% less. Plus they have a very generous cost of living relocation plus some other bonuses that make it from a financial side a no brainer

2) The job in my hometown is more typical of 80% jobs in my field. In some ways although my current job is at a more prestigous place, the job in my town is more relevant and would train me correctly to do the job if i ever want to go to another location.

But the negatives
1) Lack of excitement about going back to what is known. The town I'm in has a more exciting single life for a guy like me, as opposed to going back to what I already have lived in an know

2) The prestige of my current company is higher.


The thing is, it'd be perfect if I could go back in a year from now instead, but there is no guarantee there'd be a job and now after being offerred it twice, i wonder if they'd be afraid to offer it again.

So questions for you

1) Is 1 year at a prestigious place sufficient for a resume boost if I can explain away why I left there sufficiently

2) If a company offers you a job twice and you turn it down twice, do you think your chances of getting a 3rd offer ever are very low?

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[JAE]

There are two aspects to your decision. First, you relate all sorts of job and non-job related realities that you should prioritize and weigh the difference. Sometimes you can get methodical and assign "weights of importance" to each aspect. Then grade each aspect on a scale of good to bad (1-10) and multiply by the weighted factors and divide by the total of the weights to come to a score for each separate possible choice.

Second, you seem to have a concern over how this will look on your resume, which is just one other aspect that can be considered, weighted, scored, etc. But its also perhaps a bigger item because its a permanent characteristic which will remain on your resume forever (high weight).

If this is your first job, then yes, the idea of a 1 year stint at such a good job will raise questions, but you can always, and certainly should, explain it to prospective employers. If your second job goes 5 years or more, then the first 1 year stint won't be that big of a deal.

I manage a department and hire personnel. I usually don't get too worked up about a single short job duration on a resume; especially if I can get some assurance that you didn't leave due to poor qualities related to you personally. Usually, a continued record after that short job is all I need to see to know that you can stick to a job given the right circumstances.

 

[EngineerDave]

I guess the big problem for me is that the offer in my hometown would be really perfect if I had another year up here in the other town at the prestigious place. It just feels like I'm leaving way too soon and it would be great to stay longer.

Unfortunately opportunities don't always come at the perfect time. But as I mentioned since this is the second time the job has been offerred to me, Im real hesitant to say no again.

 

[JAE]

I once got a call for a job and explained to them that I was tied up on a very big project - it was a matter of WHEN and not IF I would leave my current employer - asked him to call back in 1 year - they did, I accepted the job - and then moved on.

Important career decisions are most always difficult.

 

[IRstuff]

A single instance of a short term position is generally OK. What is usually a redflag is when the applicant has a history of job-hopping. In those cases, even if they have good explanations, there suspicion will always be there. We had one applicant who had been stable initially, but then had 5 jobs in less than 5 yrs. We brought him in, since we were desperate, but his record was too much to swallow, particularly coupled with his lack of a degree.

The degree would not have been a major issue, alone, but it was clear that his math and engineering background was actually nonexistent.

TTFN

 

[BelspringKen]

A 1 year term is not too bad. If you explain to future employers that the pay was better, and you were able to relocate closer to family, I don't think anyone will question it. Cost of living and quality of life mean a lot.

I spent 3 years (and learned a LOT) at a small, low prestige company. The pay was not that great, but it gave me a chance to learn some engineering skills beyond doing red-lines.

Its hard to say how much the small firm wants/needs you, or if they will be inclined to hire you in the future or not.
A lot of those variables are dependent on the person in the hiring/selection position. If the person who likes your credentials should leave the firm, for example, its possible that the next person will look at your resume differently.

Perhaps they can wait 3 to 6 months??? Again, I don't know the entire situation.

When weighing these things, I take a sheet of paper, make a column of PRO and a column of CON, and write down everything that pops into my head. Everything, no matter how trivial. Then I look at all the pros and cons and see which ones really matter for the long term.

 

[mshimko]

One year with one company, if it is your first job after graduating, is fine. Actually, even less is fine - IF your subsequent experience shows more reasonable durations (not every hire is a good fit for the position/company).

YOU need to decide what matters most to you; but if you're merely asking if one year at one company will be perceived as a black mark - my answer is - NOT BY ITSELF.

 

[MintJulep]

Effective 50% raise vs. boring town. Solution: Take exciting vacations. Spend generously - chicks dig that.

Relevance of skills and training vs. prestigious company name on resume. I'd take skill and experience over a name.

 

[JAE]

Spend generously - chicks dig that

I just never thought I'd see that sort of quote on Eng-Tips. C'mon guys, we engineers are supposed to be stuffy and stiff.

 

[JAE]

 

[pennpoint]

EngineerDave
My Vote is "go for it". It looks like the dream job for now and so what if it does change later on. You sound young and have more potential to opertunities ahead of you, should the need arise.
Everyones situation can change more than once on a yearly basis, you have discovered an oportunity that matches your needs/wants right now.
Do not burn the brige behind you, leave in a genuine "thankful for what you've learned" manner. Seek new challages and grow.
People will enve you, and you must refrain from comment other than "thank you for your kind thoughts".
My points


Best regards
pennpoint

 

[MikeHalloran]

The problem with a short- term job on your resume is not that you can't come up with a defensible explanation, but that you may not get the chance to do so.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[ziggi]

How about two stints of about a year each straight after univ?
Business became bad after a few months in each and being the new guy I got laid off from both....hmm maybe it was bad b/c of me

 

[EngineerDave]

Thanks for all the thoughts.

I guess in this case I just worry because it is such a brand name place that people might ask why I'd leave after a year.

The answer family (older parents) and the other place has recruited me heavily. Offering me a job for the second time in slightly less than one calendar year.

Financially the difference ends up being staggering when you factor in cost of living.

I am 32 and single. I don't need much money, but it sure wouldn't hurt to pocket the difference. The town I'm living in now is awesome a world class city but by no means one that I'll settle down in. The town I'd move to is my home city, smaller maybe not as exciting but potentially a place to live full tme, and if not I'll bankroll my next adventure with the rather large difference.

Oh, yeah this place also has some flex time. Like flex to the tune of working 4 days a week which could allow me to study on the day off for some important certifications

Or to take those 3 day weekends and spend generously on chicks who dig it, to quote MintJulep!


But job wise, while it's prestigious they have engineers in my position working at a level that is one job classification lower than we typically would. I don't complain about the work, but experience wise it might actually leave me underprepared, glowing resume or not...

All things being said money isnt really the big issue. Life satisfaction is. That's what makes this a tough choice. There are alot of young single women in the town I'm in. A ridiculous number. Kind of hard to leave that...

But I might have to. Isn't like there aren't single women every where. One just has to be a better fishermen in some cities.

 

[IRstuff]

Well, I've had mediocre luck with finding women on my own, like a fly attracted to a flame. Married now to someone my mother introduced me to. That's one advantage to being close to home ;-)

TTFN

 

[whyun]

As for women issues, take Leykis 101. I wish I took it when I was young enough.

As for career decisions, what I do is look 5 years from now and see where I want to be. Choose the one that'll more likely get you there.

Good luck.

 

[EngineerDave]

Leykis is funny, my brother told me about him. I've had more trouble keeping a quality stable relationship. For some reason the party girls find their way to me, but the serious ones after a while flake or are long distance, and alas change their minds about moving to be with me.

But to the career decision. I decided to go back. I'd like to keep the door open here. I need to talk to the boss and let him know my plans. I actually had scheduled to speak with him about this before but he was unexpectedly out of the office (he works at an office offsite from where I am)

Given the combination of family and the time value of money, it certainly makes more sense to go back to my hometown. They pay is 20% better, the cost of living is 30% lower, and the job is more typical for my field, which means in the end, minus the more prestigious name it probably will get me more prepared to excel in this new discipline. The only thing I hate is that I rather enjoy the new town I'm in and it truly is a prestigious place. That and I hate jumping jobs.

The pros and cons list came out about even, but then I added another factor and it served as a tie breaker that made the decision for me to return home a bit easier.

 

[quark]

I generally don't consider any prestige levels of the companies and I personally feel that companies get their prestige by their employees.

You may have an added value during your initial years but then you should always speak about what you did.

 

[bvanhiel]

Does "prestigious" include opportunities for advancement? Does your new position?

If you want to stay at your prestige job for another year, then tell them you need a promotion/raise or you'll take another offer. This can hurt your long-term prospects there, but you don't seem to care too much for those.

Overall, I agree with what most here have said. A one year stint on your resume is not a bad thing if you have a story to go with it (effective 50% raise is a great story). A long string of short stints with a bunch of stories, however...

-b

 

[EngineerDave]

Well I've left the prestigious place and the main reason is for family. I guess that's as valid of a reason as there is.

I still wonder about career implications...