Dueling Job Offers

[judecorp]

I have a major dilemma and also feel like a supreme a-hole.

Late last week, I accepted a job at another EI agency. We hadn't finalized salary but I had accepted the range of salary and figured we would iron it out. The director called me late Friday evening (6pm) to talk salary, but I missed the call. She told me I could call her on the weekend, and I called on Saturday. I never got a call back. I e-mailed yesterday, but didn't get an e-mail back. So I figured we would just talk today when I went to fill in my new hire paperwork.

This morning I was driving along to the new place with everything I needed for my new hire paperwork (SS card, SW license, stuff like that) and I got a phone call. It was from the local Children's Hospital about the job I had been REALLY jazzed about but left the interview thinking I didn't have a chance in heck. I interviewed there several weeks ago and never heard anything, which is why I went forward with the other place. So today the recruiter called me and offered me that job! WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO FILL OUT MY NEW HIRE PAPERWORK.

I told the recruiter that I would need a few hours to get back to him. Then I went to my new hire appointment and told her the situation and that I would need a day or two to decide. She was obviously upset and clearly has clients all ready for me to take and I can't even imagine her situation. She bumped up her offer but couldn't match the hospital salary.

Now I need to decide what to do. The hospital job is also contingent on a background check and a check of my previous employers, including my most recent boss who could choose to ruin me. I am nervous.

Job #1:
+very flexible and casual
+in EI, so I am already very comfortable
+really nice people, very positive work environment
+I already know some of the staff
+good benefits
+I already accepted with them
+raised the salary to try to keep me
-Long commute (45 minutes)
-Involves driving from house to house
-Need to finish certification even though current boss won't give me my work samples

Job #2:
+good career move
+clinical work with child victims of abuse and other traumas
+closer commute (25 or so minutes)
+office-based, not community-based
+good benefits plus gym for staff
+$3k/more per year for 36 hours/week rather than 40
+no need to finish EI certification
-would involve some evening hours
-would need to shift gears totally and get a lot of training
-would make me feel like an a-hole to job #1

Sigh. Decisions.

Comments

[violane.livejournal.com]

Ugh, what a decision! Honestly, they both sound good so it doesn't seem like you could really go wrong. I hope one of them emerges as a clear favorite soon so it's not so excruciating for you!

[violane.livejournal.com]

I see others are saying what I wanted to but wasn't sure if you would want advice. I think the fact that you wrote you would be REALLY jazzed about job #2 sort of answers the question. Probably the woman at #1 would make the same decision for herself if it were hers to make.