Last week I wrote about two job offers that I received. Last Friday I accepted one of them and resigned from my job. Even though my resignation seemed to catch my management somewhat off guard, it went fairly well. I will have an exit interview with them later this week or early next week, and I will be sure to write about it.
As I mentioned in my previous article about comparing job offers, the two jobs were fairly comparable on several levels. The professional opportunity, health benefits, 401(k), commute, and travel requirements were all in line with what I was looking for.
The main differences boiled down to this:
Company A: 40% pay raise, $5,250 tuition reimbursement, formal company structure, formal business attire, rigid 8-5 schedule
Company B: 32% pay raise, $10,000 tuition reimbursement, informal company structure, business casual attire, flexible schedule, pension plan
My wife and I discussed the job offers at length, and while I think the positions both have a lot of potential, I accepted Company B’s offer. Even though the salary offer from Company A was larger than Company B, I chose the second job offer because quality of life is more important than money to my wife and I.
My current (soon to be former) job requires me to wear a suit and tie every day, and while I don’t mind wearing business attire, business casual is more comfortable and cheaper to maintain. I also like the idea of having more freedom with my work schedule. I think this will be extremely important if my wife and I have children in the near future.
Accepting the job offer
I contacted my interviewers and hiring manager last week by telephone and let them know I was accepting the job offer. I also signed and faxed the acceptance letter to the HR department. At this point, everything seems to be official. The only thing I wish I could change is my start date. My new employer is in the middle of a project and they need me to start right away.
I would have loved to use some of my vacation days with my old employer and take some time off. I also wouldn’t mind taking a week or two off between jobs, just to take a breather and catch up with some chores around the house. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
I won’t complain though! I am excited about this opportunity, and I look forward to working with a new group of people and in a new environment. 
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats Patrick. I have been quietly reading this set of your and it has been really great. I would also choose #2. Actually it sounds alot like my current one. I could go elsewhere for some more money, but choose o stay because of flexibility. Family first for us.
Congratulations. I think I would have probably opted to make the same decision as you did.
Congrats. B sounded like what I would choose. Hope everything goes smoothly. Hey, here’s a post for ya…What are you doing with your 401(k)?
So what are you doing withthe vacation time that you have at your current soon to be former employer? Do they pay you for it or are you going to loose those vacation days completely?
Way to go, Patrick. Great choice. I’m excited for you. That’s an awesome salary increase.
Wow, a 32% raise + a pension plan and a 401K. You will be able to retire earlier that forecasted, I believe
Congrats Patrick, it’s always a nice feeling to get a job you were after. Good luck!
Thanks for the kind words everyone. I’m excited about this opportunity.
Dividend Investor, I have no idea when I will retire; it’s still toofar out to make a reasonable estimate. As for the pension plan, it is pretty small. Still, it’s more than I had before, so there will be no complaints on my end.
FFB, regarding the 401(k), I plan on writing about that in a couple weeks. I need to see more details about my new employers plans and whether or not the expenses are lower than my current plan. I can either leave it in place, roll it into an IRA, or roll it into my new plan. I’ll be sure to share.
Jarhead,
I will get paid for my vacation time - just like a normal paycheck. I would rather have time off though… I can earn more money, but I can’t grow time.
Congrats on the new job! At face value, I’d have taken Option 2 also. Good luck!!
Awesome!
I like the idea of more tuition reimbursement and less formality. The best jobs are ones that prepare you to get ahead and challenge you. My dad’s old employer paid for his Master’s degree. He gave them a bit over 20 years of service, too, so everyone seemed happy with the deal. And then when his department got laid off, he had a recent Master’s to contrast his being over 50 and working in software.
Excellent. You seem to have a very short notice period over there. In salaried jobs in the UK, one month is standard, and one of my friends has three months. Plenty of time to use all that annual leave. May be the lesson is to use it up as you go along? After all, you aren’t indispensable.
Congratulations on taking the new job, it sounds like it’s a great fit for you!
Congrats! I’d take the fact that they want you to start ASAP and use it as leverage.
Congratulations, Patrick! Best wishes on the new job. I’m confident you made the right decision, and it is a great lesson in being methodical with such important life lessons.
Heartiest congratulations.
Looks like most of your readers choose Company B.
We are happy for you and look forward to stories about the new environment.
Best regards
Congratulations. I think you made the right choice.
Congratulations! I would have made the same choice too
A flexible schedule is soooo important when you become a parent! And I’m sure your new employer is thrilled to have you onboard.
Will you be telling your soon-to-be former employer the real reason you are leaving? Not to burn bridges as you mentioned previously, but to provide constructive criticism so they can maybe not make the same mistake with someone else in the future?
Patrick, this is great. Sorry I didn’t have a chance to congratulate you sooner.