Help me pick a job!

[PintOfCoffeePlease]

Hi all, hoping for some guidance from wiser minds than mine please as I'm stuck!

I'm very lucky that I've been offered two full time jobs this week (financial/insurance sector). My old workplace is closing down, so I feel very grateful to have any offers in the current climate. However I'm really struggling to pick one and have to let them both know by the end of tomorrow, so I'd really appreciate thoughts!

Job #1 is in my town, a ten minute drive away. It's not in my preferred specialist area, but it's an area that I'm interested in and have worked in before. I'll be promoted (a fairly big jump) within two years if I meet a set of reasonable milestones. They allow flexible working, e.g. longer but fewer days, and also working from home. However, the team has a reputation for high stress and a bad atmosphere.

Job #2 is in my preferred specialist area and it's a really interesting job. It seems like a lovely team, both from my experience at several interviews and by reputation. They are willing to commit significant funds towards CPD; they have promised to pay for a qualification which I don't need, but would quite like, and it would benefit me in future. However, there is no flexible working, no working from home, and a 90+ minute commute.

Other important information:

• The pay: Job #2 would be equivalent in salary to my current job. Job #1 would be a substantial increase even before the possible promotion.
  
• I'm equally competent in and qualified for both areas of work, just prefer one area over the other. I would probably enjoy both.
  
• Moving isn't an option.
  

And just to make it easier to keep track...
Yes = take Job #1
No = take Job #2

Bright ideas about where to get a teleportation device very welcome.

[Silenceisnotgolden]

Job 1 - no competition. The 90 minute commute alone would absolutely finish me off. As pp said; surely at a more senior level you have the ability to influence culture and implement some positive changes in your new workplace?

Good luck op, it’s very difficult when a job tugs on your heartstrings but isn’t necessarily the most practical option.

[MyDucksArentInARow]

Job 1. As someone who commutes 3x a week for 1.5 hours each way, do not take the commute. I do it a) for the money and b) because it's 3 not 5 days a week. I say that as someone who loves my job

[freeingNora]

Job 1 as job 2 would equal a pay decrease and a quality of life decrease with the commute ten mins down the road suits every time

[wingardium8]

Def job 1. The commute alone would swing it, but the flexibility and more money too...
I would question just how good an atmosphere it is possible to have in job 2 given it sounds out of step with your industry norms on flexible working? Ime, that sort of thing can breed resentment and/or high stress levels pretty quickly in itself. Shows management may not listen to needs of workers?

[ShinyMe]

I would be inclined to talk to job 2 and tell them that you're trying to make a decision between two offers, and the commute and lack of flexibility is making their offer less tempting... and see if they suggest (or then ask) if they could consider some flexibility eg working one day a week from home.

[MadeForThis]

Job 1.

You're aware of the potential issues so you can deal with them head on.

[FlibbertigibbetArmadillo]

Job 1

[PintOfCoffeePlease]

@glasshalfsomething - thanks, those are good questions I'll ask tomorrow! It's a relatively senior role, probably one which will allow latent rather than overt influence as I'll be heading up a component of a wider team (will be able to directly influence my people, hopefully, but not others).

I'm wondering if it would be useful to directly bring up the team's reputation (they're all aware of it) and ask what they're doing to address it. It would be helpful to know whether they're flexible and open to change, or defensive and passive aggressive when someone tries to address the issue.

[MerlinsButler]

I can't vote as on app but I'd say Job 1. Better work / life balance which I know from experience can be hard to find in financial service s/ insurance world. If you do get the promotion they may also be able to offer you the same qualification.

And if after a year it sucks then you still have the extra experience plus you'll be on a higher salary for when you talk to recruiters.

[PintOfCoffeePlease]

@Whitepriv - unfortunately there's definitely no flexibility and no chance of it in future. It's an in-office role with set hours and no home working for anyone in the team. This was a big surprise to me as I've always worked in highly flexible teams and everyone seemed happier for it - didn't actually realise there were offices in my trade who didn't do it! - but it's definitely set in stone.

[MerlinsButler]

I can't vote as on app but I'd say Job 1. Better work / life balance which I know from experience can be hard to find in financial service s/ insurance world. If you do get the promotion they may also be able to offer you the same qualification.

And if after a year it sucks then you still have the extra experience plus you'll be on a higher salary for when you talk to recruiters.

[glasshalfsomething]

Would you be able to have impact on the toxicity and atmosphere? Will you be managing people and be able to impact the culture at a senior level?
Have you asked questions about culture, HR initiatives and such to see if there’s any propensity for change?

[PintOfCoffeePlease]

For those asking about the bad atmosphere: apparently some people have felt very ignored and unsupported, and the stress level is definitely high there. However, I do far better when left to get on with it under pressure than when I'm micromanaged, so it's possibly not a problem...you never really know until you're working there though do you.

[Whitepriv]

Is there negotiation on WFH with job 2 for 2 days a week given the lengthy commute? Most reasonable managers would be flexible around this to an extent given that otherwise you’d love the job.

[Grapefruity]

I don't really know how the voting works but I say Job 1. The commute would rule out the other job for me since they are level on everything else

[LittlePeepoToy]

Absolutely job 1.

[PintOfCoffeePlease]

@Minniee, I have often cursed myself for choosing long commutes on icy February mornings, so I hear you

It was genuinely worth it as I'm in a good position now because I did all that slog, but I think at some point I need to actually stop and not just keep pushing for the next step up. I have wonderful, patient and loving friends and family who have stuck with me while I got myself here, but I hardly see them (pre-lockdown) and I want a drastic change in my priorities. These responses are helping me figure this out, thanks.

[Intastellaburst]

I’ve done a job with a 90 minute commute before for a few years and found it ok. Not driving though - public transport, so could read and relax a bit. And before I had children

[Minniee]

I wouldn't even consider a 90 minute commute. Fuck that on a cold icy February morning.

[PurBal]

I don't think I could work somewhere with a bad atmosphere. I've turned down a 40% salary increase and a 25 minute (walk) commute because the company had a reputation for a toxic atmosphere. I think I'd punt at job 2. After you've been there you have a right as an employee to request flexible working. They may say no but I wouldn't rule it out.

[PhilTheGroundhog]

This is an absolute no-brainer to me.

[december212]

Job 1. No idea how you manage the commute that you have at the moment, never ming the thought of a longer one - especially in the winter when the roads are bad and it's dark early.

If you do have kids, getting to them in 10 minutes if they took ill, etc., will be invaluable. So bear that in mind if you think this will be a long term job move.

[hammeringinmyhead]

I say job 1. Give it 6 months and move on if the team is horrible to the point of toxic.

I've just had to choose between an "easier" job with lower pay 10 minutes away and a busy job that would be better for my career but is an hour away (not great with a toddler). I chose 1 for the commute!

[Merryoldgoat]

What does ‘bad atmosphere’ mean? Having worked in pretty toxic environments this would concern me.

[nanbread]

Your quality of life will be massively impacted by your commute.