Should I take this job interview?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have been working for a small technology company for about 4 years now. It’s decent work and pay. I get along well enough with my coworkers, but no so well that I would be heartbroken to leave. The main thing I like about my current job is that I have a 5 minute commute.

A few weeks ago I posted an updated resume on Monster.com. I’m not sure entierly why, since I wasn’t really seriously looking for a new job. I probably just wanted to see what other possibilities were out there.

Last week I was emailed by a company with a job offer. I spoke to them on the phone today. They want to interview me this Friday or Monday. From speaking to the man on the phone, it sounds like I’m a very good match for the skills and experience they need. I think that if I do go in for an interview, my chances of getting the job are very good.

When I asked them what the compensation would be, they named a figure about $15K above what I make now.

So, sounds good, right? I should jump at this offer, right? I’ve got a few reservations about it, however.

For one thing, it’s a much longer commute - an hour to an hour and a half each way, depending on traffic. I can handle that, although I won’t enjoy it. My wife and I have been talking about moving into a better/larger place, and this might be a good excuse to.

It would mean leaving all the work I’ve done here and starting from scratch. I have developed several product lines, and am the only one who understands how some of them work. I’d feel a bit guilty about that, as I’m sure my leaving my current company would set them back as far as getting next year’s models done. But, if they won’t pay me what I can earn elsewhere, what else can I do?

Changing jobs and moving will put more stress on my wife, who has CFS and cannot work or do much around the house. And we’ve got a lot of crap in the condo to throw out or sell before we move. The increased pay would help her alot in the long run, though.

There’s also the fact that I am currently going through a period of clinical depression, and am probably not at my best right now. I just cancelled the RPG I run for this week because I couldn’t deal with the stress and didn’t want to face people in my current state. I can probably handle a job interview, but changing jobs and moving is a lot of stress that I don’t know if I can handle right now. On the other hand, can I afford to pass up this opportunity?

Thoughts, anyone?

2

Well you might not want to make a dramatic change, unless of course the job is a source of depression.

I say take the interview and see what its about.

I wouldn’t worry about your company. Most people really aren’t as irreplacable as they think they are. They got along fine before you, they’ll manage once you leave.

3

Go. It’s an interview. They may be mutant evil people who you couldn’t stand to work with. That’s why there’s an interview.

Worry about whether or not you get an offer.

4

Go to the interview.

Interview practice is always a good thing

You’ll learn a little about another company

If this is the opportunity of a lifetime, you won’t have missed it

If they’re a bunch of idiots, you’ll stay where you are and not have any “what if?” reservations.

Don’t forget that your relationship with your present company is a business arrangement. You perform a certain job in return for which they give you money. It is natural and good to have personal feelings toward your colleagues, satisfaction and pride in your accomplishments, and a sense of commitment to your job, but you need to take the same approach to your employer as its board of directors takes to you - it’s business. If your contributions have been significant, they may have a minor hiccup when you leave, but if it is more than that, shame on them for not having a plan B.

If you have a good interview, you and your wife can disucss the ramifications of the switch so that you’re prepared to give an answer when the job is offered.

Good luck

5

Agree – never turn down a job interview. Until you’re there, you can’t know the specifics.

6

Thanks.

I just made the call. Interview is first thing Monday morning.

7

The commute would be a non-starter for me. When you are driving to and from the interview, think about having to do that every day during rush hour.

Good luck either way. I hope it works out. Changing jobs is one of the most stressful things you can do.

Haj

8

Go to the interview.

If you are offered the job, ask your current employer for a raise. No need to mention you have a job offer, but you could drop a hint that you know the marketplace is paying more for your skills.

You don’t have to go for the whole 15 grand. The increased commute will add to your costs (paid with after tax money) so a raise of much less would give you the same amount in your pocket.

Their response to your raise request will give you a good idea if you are as valuable to them as you think you are. If they are willing to lose you rather than bump you up a few grand, you are probably best to take the new job anyway.

9

You really, really wouldn’t like my daily commute then.

10

I would agree with Esquire Hutz, in that if you have an offer you can use it as grounds for a review of your future and salary level at your current job.

You may not be feeling at your best but the interview may re-energize you and get you thinking about what you want. If you’re anything like me you will try to answer every question about the possible transition, every what if?, about the new job and you don’t need to. Just take it step-by-step and take your time in thinking things over.

Good luck with the interview!

11

Thanks everyone!

My wife and I went over what the implications of the job would be. We can’t afford to move nearer it, even with the increased salary - property values up in that area are insanely high. The higher salary would put me into a higher tax bracket, which along with the cost of gas to commute that far will eat up most of the increased salary. I’d basically end up getting paid a mediocre increase in exchange for driving 2-3 hours a day. (My current commute is 5 minutes)

So I’m now in the position of heading to a job interview for a position that I probably won’t take, unless the offer turns out to be for a lot more than I’m expecting. I think I’ll go to the interview and do my best anyway - maybe they’ll suprise me after all, maybe I’ll fall in love with the place and decide the commute is worth it.

12

An hour to an hour and a half commute each way adds up to 10 to 15 hours a week. $15000/52= you earning $288 a week more than you are making now (closer to $200 after taxes). That works out to $19-29 an hour to drive to and from work, or roughly $13-20 an hour in take home pay to drive too and from work.

I can only assume you are already making a good income. If your current career offered you the chance to work another 10-15 hours a week would you take it?

But yeah, go to the interview, just understand that your work week will technically be 10-15 hours longer. If you like driving then go for it but that 10-15 hours is still 10-15 hours out of the 168 hours a week you get where you won’t get to sleep, be with family, or engage in leisure activities.

13

I see you already thought about the implications of the commute (I should read the whole thread before I reply but why break tradition).

Gas too would factor in. What would you be driving, 50 miles each way or would it be city driving in heavy traffic and closer to 10 miles? If it is closer to 50 miles then that is maybe 5 gallons of gas a day, or $50 a week. If your takehome pay is an extra $200 a week that is an extra $150 a week minus gas. Actually its less when you consider wear and tear on a car. I assume you drive a nice car and make a good income, so maybe an extra $50/week in overall depriciation and wear/tear above and beyond what you would currently have with the extra 500 miles a week (assuming it is 500 miles a week). So $100 a week extra to work 10-15 hours more a week than you currently do is a very realistic view of what you are faced with.

As far as your depression, are you willing to try herbal remedies? I got alot of benefits from SAM-e, St Johns wort and DL-Phenylalanine. I can’t afford SAM-e but I take TriMethylGlycine instead and it works pretty well. Something to think about.

14

This sounds like fun to me. If I read you correctly you are probably not going to take the job. It sounds like the extra money isn’t worth the additional hassles to you. So you need to figure out how much they would have to pay you to make it worth your while to take the job. Because you don’t really need it, you can afford to negotiate.

They may not bite, but you may be surprised to find that the salary they quoted is a starting point. I think most people are far too reticent when it comes to negotiating salary. Good luck!

15

Yeah, that’s about how I decided to view it: it would effectively mean taking a part-time job driving. When I was first looking at taking this job I assumed that we’de be able to mov closer, but that looks out of the question for several years at least.

I tried St John’s wort, didn’t seem to help me. I’m on Wellbutrin which does help, somewhat, although it has its side effects.

16

Don’t forget that the starting salary they told you is an opening offer. You’ll likely be able to negotiate upwards - not necessarily in salary but in benefits - a moving allowance, whatever.

17

If you haven’t had your interview yet, good luck with it.

Always remember, this is just an interview–you don’t have to make any decisions right now. In fact, you’re in the enviable position of not needing this job. So you can make the interview suit your purposes–find out all about the company and make them impress you as much as you impress them.

If you do get the offer, then you’ll have a lot of decisions to make. The commute is a tough one. However, I wouldn’t feel too guilty about leaving your current company. It is a business arrangement as others have mentioned. You’re quitting a job, not breaking up with someone! I used to feel incredibly guilty whenever I quit. Then I had the ego-deflating realization that I just wasnt as indespensible as I thought I was. Sure, they missed me at my previous jobs. But they managed to get over it.

For now though, it’s just an interview.