OK, I got myself into a little bit of a pickle here (a really good, tasty fresh pickle), and I need to consider every possible angle. As some of you may remember from a few weeks back, my previous company started recruiting me, and they made an offer that is significantly better than my current salary. Just when I thought it was an easy choice, my current boss decided to match the offer.

Now I have no clue what to do, and I need a decision by tomorrow.

Benefits of switching jobs:
more money
more utilization
better lunch options
shorter drive

Benefits of staying
more money
more variety, probably

I should also add that the difference in money is entirely in bonuses, which might be a considerable amount (to the tune of several thousand dollars).

Somebody give me all the angles I should consider.

Is the commute significantly shorter?

Also, keep in mind that bonuses are heavily taxed.

you seem to have left out the possibility for future growth, or at least how each would look on your resume.

sunny and ceebs hit on the two biggest questions i had. apart from the basic 'which one do you think you'd be happiest with', i think that covers a lot of the big points.

I think it evens out when you fill out the 1040. It all goes into the same "income" bucket.



Really depends on what job I'll be applying for in the future. I thought one of the benefits of my current job when I started was resume-building, but it hasn't exactly worked out that way so far. I think this one is really a moot point.

Moot point as well... Both have their ups and downs as far as happiness is concerned... I think the new job would be more fun, but I'm not sure if the difference is enough to outweigh the money.



Forgot to address this one... My current job is a consulting gig, so the commute varies widely by project. Sometimes the commute might be shorter, but at some point I could get stuck driving all the way across town.

the boss situation at each? coworkers?

I'm not sure lunch options should be a heavily weighted deciding factor.

Coworkers are probably currently better at the new place (although one of my chums quit a week or so ago), although I do like most of my current coworkers. Advantage with my current job is the coworkers are completely different for each project, whereas at the new place I'd be permanently stuck with them as long as I'm there.



Sure, it's not the most heavily weighted, but don't think it's not important.

One thing that's actually discouraging me from quitting right now is the fact that I'd have to fill out an application (even though they already made the offer...go figure), and get a drug test. Also, I'd have to buy a new computer, since all I have right now is my company laptop.

the devil you know...

sounds like you should stay with your current job if you are not miserable there, at least based on the information you have provided.

one for the + column is the longer you stay at each job the better it looks on a resume so all things being equal definitely better staying than jumping from place to place.

the unknown can be exciting but why risk it when it doesn't seem like it will offer you much upside?

Yeah, after sitting on this for a few hours, I think I'm leaning towards staying. I'm not worried too much about the jumping around though, I think that's pretty much seen as standard for IT (particularly consulting). Though I think it'd be wiser to stick around longer at the new place, since it's not a consulting gig. My dad's been doing software for as long as I've been around though, so I'll probably want to see if he can talk me out of it.

All the advice my mom game me is that this is a good problem to have.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76025

Who's going to police the police?

Dude, I referenced that thread in my OP. This is about choosing which job I want to do, not about how I think my old company is trying to recruit me.

Thread could have easily been adjusted to fit what is being discussed now, it is not like they aren't closely related. We have to save the internet, not waste it.

Pedantic much?

Well, I guess it is not so bad since it is not another spin-off thread.

Edit: why isn't there a thread called "Not Another Spinoff Thread"?

this might be more a gut feeling but stay, if your boss made that effort and the job seems good than stay, there are far less plausible bad suprise unknowns