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.

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?

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.

@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.

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 - 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.

Job 1

Job 1.

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

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.

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?

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

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

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.