What kind of job would you prefer between these two options?

May 21, 2020 6 Comments

(a) Relaxed work environment. You aren't constantly pushing to production. Work is somewhat predictable. You work 9-5 and rarely have to stay overtime, and can leave your desk freely and take long lunch breaks. You have job stability; the company isn't seriously shaken up by the pandemic and no offers are withdrawn or mass layoffs. You only get fired if you're seriously incompetent. Work isn't what you would consider to be the cutting edge of technology and innovation. The company still gives good benefits and upward mobility is certainly possible.
Salary: 0.9x the median salary for your YOE where you live.

(b) Fast-paced work environment. Something is always being pushed to production. You hardly get a chance to breathe, but it feels like the team is always making a cool new project. You get to brag to your friends about the cutting edge technologies you're working with. Everyone on the company is so passionate that overtime is pretty common; people are just that committed to their work. Not a lot of job stability; PIPs are very common, and is only a non-issue for the very top performers. Benefits at work are nice, but you get no time to do things like binge-watch the TV show you've been meaning to, or relax and sink time into a video game, etc.. Career advancement requires extreme dedication but is much faster than in option (a) if you're committed.
Salary: 1.2x the median salary for your YOE where you live.

What would you pick?
#culture #officelife #workplace #wlb #pip

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TOP 6 Comments
  • Cisco
    demonic

    Go to company page Cisco

    demonic
    Younger and Option a
    To me, work is only between 9-5 and it doesn't bring me as much happiness as working on my home and doing little things with my gf. The 0.1 median salary I'm missing out is made up with my happiness in doing other things in my everyday life.
    May 21, 2020 0
  • Unity
    chossycrag

    Go to company page Unity

    chossycrag
    Microsoft v Amazon? Regardless, 2nd option would only work for me if there was clear advancement and ability to have large amounts of autonomy, coupled with large financial payoffs. 1.2x doesn’t seem enough to be worth it, you would hit financial independence a bit earlier but you’d be aged 2x by the stress by the time you get there. Only thing that would make the situation as you described worth it is if it’s my only opportunity to touch tech I’m very interested in.

    I’d do #1 and if you’re someone who is fulfilled by pushing yourself, start your own startup on the side.
    May 21, 2020 1
  • Deloitte / Consultant
    Bklo34

    Go to company page Deloitte Consultant

    Bklo34
    Depends how old I am. Older for first option
    May 21, 2020 0
  • Google
    s@dhguru

    Go to company page Google

    s@dhguru
    You forgot to attach the poll
    May 21, 2020 0
  • Amazon
    🐝 r

    Go to company page Amazon

    🐝 r
    #2 if I’m young: volatility matters less when you don’t have dependents and it helps accelerate your career later on
    #1 if I’m older, have a family and need stability and peace of mind. Would definitely help to bring in the experience from #2
    May 21, 2020 0