To ask for your help in deciding between two job offers?

[nightcarro]

Not really an AIBU, but I'm in desperate need of advice. I'm lucky enough to have been offered two graduate positions and cannot choose between them.

They are both in the same industry, doing similar work.

Job 1 - company is more prestigious than job 2 and I would be working on higher profile projects. Company 1 is probably the leader in the industry. Company has a general friendly feel to it and was my first choice for a long time. Got a very good impression of the company and its employees at the interviews. The teams are big and I'd be one of ~60 graduates starting, so probably less involved in the projects and potentially less exposure to senior members. The job is based in London.

Job 2 - slightly less prestigious but still a well-known company. Most important distinction is that the job is in Asia! The projects would likely be less well known, but I'd be one of 3 graduates in a team of ~30 overall, working directly with very senior members. I didn't get as great an impression from the interviewers (though they were perfectly nice) but since I got the offer, a whole load of different team members have been emailing/calling me to say congrats and introduce themselves/offer advice etc. Pay is significantly higher (around £16k higher per year, plus lower tax rates) and accommodation would be provided for the first 6 months.

As a bit of background, I don't currently live in either city, though of course London is a lot closer! I have no real responsibilities (no partner, kids etc) that stop me moving abroad but I have no clue if it's the right thing for me, or how easy it would be to internally transfer back to the UK again if I needed to. I feel like if I don't move abroad now, I probably never will but I worry that with such a small team, the whole experience will be awful if (for whatever reason) I don't get along with the rest of the team.

Any input whatsoever is hugely appreciated as I am currently clueless!

What are the longer term prospects in each and how much mixed experience will you get? As company 1 looks like it has a big graduate intake program it may be better in terms of a managed career path, if that is what you want?

Research shows working abroad leads to better outcomes and opportunities in the future. I’d go for it!

Go to Asia, what a fabulous opportunity, you've got nothing to tie you to the UK at this point, and will be getting experience that only three get each in take not 60. It will make you stand out more of you do choose to come back to the UK at some point, and just from a life experience perspective, how could you say no! It's really nice that the company have been so welcoming and that you'll work directly with senior team members rather than just being processed as a number in a huge corporate machine

Job 1. Go for the big name and the respected experience. You will build a better career that way and can travel in a few years.

I’d go for the abroad opportunity while I was young and I responsibilities. But that’s just me.

Definitely Job 1, more prestigious so looks good as a first job on your CV. Gives you more security in the UK job market. Plus you got a better vibe
If you have just graduated the long term strategy maybe more important than the pay for the first few years.

Go for the job in Asia, you'll be one of three graduates, you'll get far more one to one experience, exposure to teams, and the three of you will be far more supported. You will get valuable life experiences.

London job, you'll be one of many, doing the grunt work on major projects.

Congratulations on both offers, and good luck for your decision.

I'd go job 2. The life skills from living abroad will help you in the future, and it will stand out on your CV. If company 1 is that well known, then future employers will know you were one of several on the graduate job treadmill. Job 2 will make you stand out more. Plus with a smaller team, you're likely to be getting involved more.

I would just check out housing costs after the first six months, and living costs generally ... there's probably a good reason the pay is higher!

Definitely Asia. - what a fabulous opportunity!

Where in Asia?
And is it a graduate job, with a training path?

Asia woukd be very tempting for the right location. (And a complete no for some locations!)

Job 1. Don’t underestimate the power of a leading company on your CV.

@Boopear The longer term prospects are fairly similar, I think. They are two very well known international companies with structured grad programmes and career progression. Though admittedly you are probably correct in thinking that company 1 will have more structure for its new grads, and the advantage of having lots of people in the same position as me or who have recently been in that position, who would (generally) be willing to help out.

@policeandthieves definitely agree that long term strategy is more important than initial pay! Unfortunately I can't decide on a long term strategy though

Tough one! Job 2 with the higher pay and free accommodation would allow you to build a bit of a nest egg for when you return that could set you up well.

What are your long term goals?
In most cases I would say go for option 2....unless the plan is for 1 day to work for a company like option 1. Would it look bad if you had turned them down previously?

Thanks all for the advice! Interesting to hear the variety of opinions. Lots of processing and thinking to be done...

Tried to be a little vague in the OP to retain some anonymity, though I think my situation is somewhat unique regardless. For a bit more information, the Asia role is in Singapore, though the projects I'd be working on cover the whole of SE Asia and I think there would be a fair amount of travel around the region.

I don't want to give out company names, but it'd be fair to say that there are around 15 big players in the industry and company 1 is top 3, company 2 is top 5. Both companies have strong brand names, but company 1 is in a league slightly above company 2.

Hope that makes sense.

Go to Asia. I’m 25 years into my career. Without fail, everyone I have ever worked with with overseas experience has progressed faster and further than those without.

Go to Singapore! It's an amazing opportunity. Go.

I'd go for Job 1 unless you have a particular yen to go to the Asian country or some have connection and experience of it.

Your first graduate job you're putting down roots socially as well as professionally and making new friends in your new home. If you go to Asia, when you come back you'll have to start again from scratch. You'll also have fewer people to chose from to build friendship and relationships with.

Working aboard when you don't know anyone in the country can be very lonely, even though it sounds fab.

So I would find your feet in London first, establish yourself with a great start to your CV and build a life there. And then if you'd like to work abroad, do so a bit later in your 20s.

Life has taught me that you regret the things you don't do a lot more than the things you do. If you do something and it doesn't turn out well, you understand what's gone wrong, your regrets are bounded.
If you don't do something your regrets are only bounded by your imagination.
Pack your bags and go to Singapore.

I wanted to say what @BikeRunSki has said but couldn’t word it properly (mental block)! It’s true, in fact there’s been some research on it. Overseas experience benefits you in SO many ways career wise.

A top 5 company in Singapore, direct access to projects and senior leadership, and a really warm and friendly welcome from the team? There’s no competition in my eyes.

Definitely go to Asia. You can always come back to London later on

Job 2. Overseas experience says a lot for your flexibility and resilience and is harder to make fit with family later in life. So you get a CV worthy experience and amazing travel opportunities too. Especially as the job 2 company is still a big industry name.

And for those who say, ‘go to London and you can always go to Asia in the future,’ again, evidence suggests that you probably won’t.

Singapore!

Out of interest, how many of the people urging OP to go to Singapore actually have experience of working abroad?