need help - Which job?

Alright.. here's my situation.. I'm going to give a little scoop on what I'm doing now, my pay, and my current vehicle situation. then give my options and describe the industries a bit, and of course my potential future plans.. and looking for objective feedback.. here goes:

Ok, I currently work for a copier company, started working here doing graphics/advertising.. now i wear many hats w/o pay increase.. i do graphics/advertising/web work/deliver copiers/demo copiers/setup network drivers-installs/and now trouble shoot network to copier issues, along w/ scanning setups etc. I have one working vehicel right now (which means wife and kid are stuck home all day, no escape, no freedom, and my truck has 105k miles and a leaking transmission)

I make $31,600 a year but i was SUPPOSED to make commissions off of any machine/leads that came in based off of what i was doing. BTW, how often do you see copier company ads in the paper... point being the reason it's never done, is because it's not an impulse buy.. and copiers aren't always sold on magic price points.. so no one is really motivated to call from the ads, it's more for brand awareness... needless to say, i'll make no more money here unless i can bring in more revenue for the company, like telemarket in my 'free time' .. what a dick.. anyway.. .. here's the offers..


quick side note: I have no experience in either industry
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Offer 1:

-Sales job at an international IT Staffing company
-base sal: 50k to start, might .. and i stress might make 60-65k first year.
-hours are 8-6 M-F and it's about 30min-1hr drive each way depending on traffic
-Dress code is a SUIT
-Miles Re-imbursed
-Client lunch/expenses re-imbursed as well
-half the day on the phone, other half driving my truck around

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Offer 2:
-Tech Job working for an industrial HVAC company (starting for 3 months in the construction side to learn the controls/mechanics behind the systems and how they interface w/the hardware so i can more easily learn how to program the software backend etc) .. i have no HVAC experience at all
-Base sal: 35k (that's starting in the construction but could get a bump when goto tech service side after 3months)
-Overtime Generally Available @ time and a half
-Hours are 7-3pm M-F (before overtime)
-Company Truck
-Company Cell
-Company Gas card
-Dress attire - golf shirt and jeans/kahke pants
-Schooling will be provided for free


Both have benefits/401k etc. Also the tech job, after a while (b/c some of the troubleshooting/tech stuff is done remotely will allow more freedom and might be able to work from home a little)... plus my uncle works there and has some pull regardless.

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Based off of my current salary, my current car situation, and the fact that i'm not experienced in either.. oh yeah, i have to buy suits and new dress shoes too (expensive)

Also... there is a chance in 5months to a year.. who knows i could end up moving 4 states away from here... i guess either job could allow to transfer .. one is an international company, and the other is more like a trade that would allow me to 'search' for companies in the area that might be looking to hire..

.... now, what would you do.. and why .. look at the hours required to work/drive, look at the pay, look at the requirements/benefits of each, and please give me feedback... i need more money, but i also need to get a car available for the wife/kid... i only have 1 or 2 suits that fit me.. and 10hrs plus 1-2hrs drive each day is a long ass day ..

Just me.. I would not want to work alot of overtime like offer 2.. Sometimes alot of work will make you hate your job, which you don't want. Offer 1 sounds like the better offer, hell you don't get a company truck, but you make 15k more a year.

You also need to look at long time benefits, insurance, etc..

personally I would take the first option. I think you're ceiling would be a lot higher in terms of your max pay and potential versus the second option. Short term sacrifice would be to spend some money on suits but I had to do the same thing and I just bought cheap dark suits, the darker they are the harder is to tell they're cheap and I worked my way up and made more money and bought better and better suits along the way. Look at it as an investment. And yes you'd be struggling a little longer with the vehicle situation but with the extra money a used car or lease isn't all that much to get into

i'm gonna wait till i get a few responses before i add some pro's/con's... remember offer 1 is 50hrs a week, plus 1-2hours drive time each day to and from the office.. ...

as i get comments i might throw in yeah butt's.. remember all the things included.. cash vs vehicle vs gas vs re-imbursement vs hours vs dress code vs time .. i can't 'just' look at the 35k vs 50k (b/c my uncle said i could get a substantial raise in 3 months - base pay that is)...

they both have benefits/insurance/401k/retirement etc... the ONLY thing that makes this interesting..

is i could be moving out of state.. one is more or less a trade i can take with me... the other i would have to hope for an office near me.. BUT either way, a sales position is a sales position...

but i'm still trying to be objective.. and not just tell myself which i'd prefer.. i'm trying to really be practicle based off my current situation and my needs..

oh yeah.. and i was told that after 1 yr, i might make 60-65k, and 6 figures by the end of year 2... the only thing is.. i might be moving too (that part came up just recently.. nothing is for sure)---offer 1

either way you'll be getting experience you can take with you, unless there's some sort of certification the second option gets you... I'd say they're equal on that front.

I like the 2nd option and here are the reasons. I have always been a big fan of learning a trade. I don't know why, maybe it's something my dad instilled in me. But with a trade you can always find work. There are always people needing the things you can provide because everyone can't. Whereas with things like finance, etc...you can be working as a loan officer in one town and a teller in another. Outside of that personal reason, which you may or may not agree with, I think it would be the better option for me. For one thing it is less hours, more time @ home, earlier hours, more time @ home with the kids, doesn't put you out any money right now for a vehicle which you would soon need with the other job (but the extra money could be used for that if you took the other job), it's not as much money as the first, but you have strong connections in the company already. It has been my experience that the better connections you have the quicker you move up. I think, and I personally don't agree with it, but I think the world is going from "what you know" to "who you know." I think you will have a better opportunity to move up quicker w/ your uncle working there provided he is a good employee. You also will not be paying a cell bill, which will probably add another $1000 to the package. Plus you get the schooling which will put you in more demand if you do end up moving. I don't know buddy...but I think I would stay with #2. It's significantly less money and you'd still be way ahead if you had to spend money on all of the things you would need for the job, clothes, etc... But I like the time @ home. I know my wife wouldn't be too excited about me working from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM everyday and then coming home only to go work out for another 1 to 1.5 hours. I would hardly get to see her or my kids. Maybe that's my reasoning for option #2. I just don't see a lot of time left with option #1, but I may be completely wrong. They may EXPECT you to work a lot of overtime...also the overtime option is nice to have especially when you get in a money crunch. That's my .02

so far, i agree with everyone.. and that's where i'm struggling.. i did solve ONE dilemma however... my pops said he'd help me w/ a starter set on the suits and new dress shoes.. apperently joseph A. banks is having a buy one get one on dress shoes.. and i know he'd spend / find a place to get a decent suit for 150 bucks a piece or something.. knowing him he's good like that... THAT expense is no longer an issue...

the only thing that i really like is that instant increase in cash flow... now one benefit of this company is if i do move.. they are international.. so as long as i do well, and can prove it w/ numbers, then i'm sure i could get a job at a local office...

sigh.. having a drink at this point.. gonna talk w/ the wife and throw around some ideas... here's another thing i thought (or was brought to my attention).. about option number 2... if i find another position or need to move.. it'll be easier to leave b/c i have no family ties and won't f' up his reputation for vouching for me.. if i happen to move in 6 months to a year...

this is like a ping pong match... i for some reason have grown to like trades too... stability.. but i do have a high quality of life, and grew up that way... around money.. and i am good at sales... so do i gauge my increase in $$$ by extra hours worked, or put in the time.. and make great money down the road working the same 50 hours...

and the only way i can solve the workout dilemma is either hit the gym at 5.30, workout for a quick hour, then shower/drive.. (pushing being late w/ traffic), or do i do what i've started doing recently.. and that's hit the gym at 10 at night and workout till 11pm? .. damn, that sucks too...

this shit sucks, but i should be happy that at least i have a chance for advancement and more options than 1.. or none for that matter..

so far i appreciate all the responses.. it helps me think things through and just like workouts/diet/cycles etc... it's nice to hear other opinions from different aspects of life and experiences.

please.. keep em coming

I'd take #2. The ONLY exception is if you are a good saleperson. Sales is a great job with great money, IF you are "that kind of person".

I've never done and never will do sales. Its not me. I dont like working on commission. I know people who are perfect for sales. They barely passed HS but can make alot of money cause they got sales skills. If that aint you, DEFINITELY go with the trade.

$15k a year less? who give a shit when you got:
-Overtime Generally Available @ time and a half
-Company Truck
-Company Cell
-Company Gas card
-Schooling will be provided for free

You already will be earning more than you are now. You have overtime if you need it, and reimbursements suck ass. Its like a refund. You might get it back, you might not. If you do though, it will take for freaking ever. I'd rather not spend it in the first place.

Dreww,
You must be a young guy which is why you would opt for choice #2. It is admirable, but as you get older, your wants , needs, and responsibilities change.
The key is to keep progressing forward. No way would I take a lateral or something less to learn a trade that may take a few years to get to the point that I was at before- would not make sense. The key is here is learning a marketable trait like sales. Sales involves negotiation which is a valuable trait to learn in the corporate world. I hated sales too, but I sucked it up and added it to my skill set. It does carry weight. Learn the skill set, put in your time, and move on to something better(position and salary wise). You control your own destiny here. As the cost if living goes up, and if family is something to be considered you want to be able to provide as much as you can for yourself and/or your family. I hate my job right now, but you know I get paid a ton of money, work 50-60 hours a week, and I answer work email on the weekend. Sucks to be me sometimes.
I hit the gym at 4:30am and again at 9 or 10 pm at night. You make time for what you want in life.

MMX2 said:

Dreww,
You must be a young guy which is why you would opt for choice #2. It is admirable, but as you get older, your wants , needs, and responsibilities change.
The key is to keep progressing forward. No way would I take a lateral or something less to learn a trade that may take a few years to get to the point that I was at before- would not make sense. The key is here is learning a marketable trait like sales. Sales involves negotiation which is a valuable trait to learn in the corporate world. I hated sales too, but I sucked it up and added it to my skill set. It does carry weight. .

Click to expand...

Hey, Im only 2
well, his truck is in bad shape (or not the best), and the sales job requires using it half the time. its his ONLY ride, what happens when it goes down? No work half the time AND STILL no ride for the family.

The sales job is better in the long run, probably. But his living situation could turn for the worse before he sees that. Hes' trying to change that living situation NOW. Thats the only point I was making. Obviously, we think differently.

liking it all guys... and i've thought through every thing i'm seeing here... moving forward is the key.. one just has a cash advance more than the other.... where the risk does involve .. having vehicle issues before i make enough to remedy the situation... trust me.. that's huge.. i get scared losing all vehicles right away... (the comfort of having a work vehicle which guarantee's i get work is nice)... but once again... how much money vs time vs pay vs car lol... here we go again.. thanks for the input...

the more the marrier

Stickler* said:

liking it all guys... and i've thought through every thing i'm seeing here... moving forward is the key.. one just has a cash advance more than the other.... where the risk does involve .. having vehicle issues before i make enough to remedy the situation... trust me.. that's huge.. i get scared losing all vehicles right away... (the comfort of having a work vehicle which guarantee's i get work is nice)... but once again... how much money vs time vs pay vs car lol... here we go again.. thanks for the input...

the more the marrier

Click to expand...

fuck it, flip a coin

well seems offer #2 is on hold... looks they are selling the company and put a freeze on all hiring.. so apperently choice #1 is the only potential.. and i still have one more interview to go before i even get the job....

good luck bro. I just joined the looking team myself.