To not know which job to take

[Feather12]

I feel very lucky to be in this position after trying to get a new job for so long. I have been offered 2 jobs in the same sector in pretty similar roles, but I just don’t know which to take.
Role 1: working across 2 departments, which will ultimately give me more experience in both. It is an established company but I will be expanding the department in new ways which is exciting. The commute is 40 minutes each way.
Role 2: The company is better known and I will be going into an already established department, but there is possibility of expansion quite soon. It is less than 10 minutes commute.
I have met both teams and they are all really nice, salaries are almost identical. I have been stagnating in my current job for a very long time and although nervous to take on the challenge I am also really excited. Which job should I take? (Yes-job 1/No-job 2)

Job 2

Role 1 because it stretches you from the start. Role 2 is only the promise of expanding later - could stagnate if they don't come good.

Role 2 - my experience of split roles is that both departments assume they have 100% of your time. Plus I’d always go for the shorter commute. Assuming you’re FT, you’re saving 5 hours per week on commuting with role 2.

Job 2

Considering the salaries are basically the same, personally I would take job 2 because I'd be saving an hour on commuting each day, which is important to me. If the commute doesn't bother you and you are after a challenge, then job 1 might be better. I think it really depends on your priorities.

It sounds like job 1 will definitely stretch you, whereas role 2 may or may not? It also sounds a bit that you are persuading yourself role 2 may expand because it has the advantage of a shorter commute?!

It sounds like you really want to push your career on, if that is correct I would go for whatever will do that - a commute won’t kill you for a couple years.

Job 2.

Working across two departments always creates friction.

10 min commute is the stuff of dreams. It transformed my life when I did it a few years ago.

Thank you for the feedback. One thing I did not mention is that this is overseas and I think I would like to return to the U.K. at some point. I think job 1 may give me more transferable skills. I think job 2 is more clear cut in terms of expectations and what the role entails, which is both a pro and a con. Job 2 will also involve overseeing the department for some time due to maternity leave which is also a positive.

Job 2. Less than 10 mins commute would do it for me. That's a whole extra hour every day - 5 hours a week to do what you want instead of the expense and exhaustion of commuting.

Job 2. Shorter commute, better known company, opportunities down the line.

Job 2

Job 2.
Working across 2 departments is a nightmare.

How well known is Company 1? If 2 is an name known in the UK, and 1 is an unknown, it will count for less when comming back.

However, your second message seems to suggest that you want job1. So go for that if you dont like all the answers saying 2

Job 2.
Working across 2 departments is not good.
The promise of "expanding the department in new ways" may turn out to be nothing but wishful thinking.

Job 2, less of a commute