Job quandry

[ice1000]

Is a bird in the hand worth two in the bush?

I had to quit my last job to finish graduate school. I finished and I just got a job offer! Salary's lower than what I was making, but it's in a firm I am very familiar with and in one of my specialties, finance. I'll also get the chance to get Six Sigma certified here.

BUT my buddy is going to get me an interview with his firm. The pay will (99% probability) be much higher and it's in the IT field (programmer, another specialty). However, nothing's certain yet.

I can't drag the acceptance of the position much longer, so I just have to decide.

So what to choose? Lower current income for more education and higher future income or potentially higher current income?

[Violet]

Why can't you take the current job offer and also interview for your buddy's office? I don't see a problem unless the employer requires you to sign a contract to work for x period of time. Surely all businesses know that people (employees) must act in their best interests. Also, if you are an at-will employee at a company, they can let you go for almost any reason (excluding prohibited discrimination).

[ice1000]

Yes you are right, I will be an at-will employee, but starting a job, then quitting two weeks later, I think, is really unprofessional. And I think I'll be burning my bridges should I choose to return to that firm later on.

[breaknrun]

Originally posted by ice1000
Yes you are right, I will be an at-will employee, but starting a job, then quitting two weeks later, I think, is really unprofessional.

I agree with this statement. This isn't the kind of question others can really help you with though. It's a very personal decision and only you know which is more important to you.
I would choose based first on need. If both jobs satisfy my needs, then I'd look at which job suonds more fulfilling. If both jobs seem equally satisfying, you need to think deeply on what the future holds in each field and go for the one you think will provide the best future for you.