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

[quezz.livejournal.com]

I think if you are more excited about the hospital job, you should take it. It sounds like it's what you want, and that it's better for you in the end. It's possible your old boss could screw you, and you might want to tell the new job about the situation if there is any problem with her recommendation.