We live in So Cal, where commuting is often the name of the game. My DH has 45-hour and hates it. I have 60-75 minutes, but only once per week. On the rare occasions I have to go into the office 2 days a week I get rage-y. I would not do it for an extra 10K.
I'm also in So Cal and I commuted 17 miles each way at my old job. Most days it took over an hour to get home (longest was almost 2 hours stuck in traffic). And driving the whole way fucking sucked. But I don't think taking a train would feel as horrible.
I took my current job with a 20 mile commute each way thinking it would be the same for the SAME PAY but better environment and hours. Luckily for me, it's actually a way better commute opposite direction on the freeway and I drive only 20 minutes in the morning and up to 45 in the evening. My regular hours haven't changed since then, but in the past few months I have had some extra long work hours.
If I were in this situation, I'd prolly take the 10k raise with added perks and extra commute.
But it doesn't matter what I would do. It sounds like mcc wants the city job more and there's nothing wrong with that.
Thanks everyone--it's definitely a lot to think about and I appreciate the thoughts. One thing to mention, it's not guaranteed $10k more--that's what it would be best case scenario between the two jobs. I'm still deciding and will hopefully get to meet everyone at the company tomorrow which will make the decision easier.
The commuting job is in a city in a small state that has fires on water sometimes in the fall.
The non commuting job is in the part of the city on the smart side of the river that's really not part of the city but close enough.
I left a job in the smart city and did this commute for 2 years (although I drove it) and it wasn't that bad. LovesTrains is right that that small city is super awesome.
The commuter rail is pretty reliable and has wifi, so you could check emails, relax etc. One thing to consider is because it's a reverse commute, travel times are a bit limited.
The train times are limited which is part of the reason I'm not super crazy about it. The job will pay for it, but either Amtrak or commuter rail, not both. So, if there is an earlier train on one that I don't have a pass for, I'm SOL. I'm still exploring the option though, pending negotiations with the smart city company.
Another vote that the small city rocks. And it's small enough that being on the smart side of the river is NBD and it's easy to get to downtown. Also, there's a lot of awesome stuff on the smart side of the city, too! If it had been the W city, I would not consider the job.
No matter how awesome the small city is, living in big city and working in small city wouldn't let you maximize the fun in either city. If you go out after work in small city, your time will be limited by the train schedule (and then you'll have to deal with the hour commute afterwards). And you won't be able to go out in big city until late because of the hour commute.
No matter how awesome the small city is, living in big city and working in small city wouldn't let you maximize the fun in either city. If you go out after work in small city, your time will be limited by the train schedule (and then you'll have to deal with the hour commute afterwards). And you won't be able to go out in big city until late because of the hour commute.
Another vote that the small city rocks. And it's small enough that being on the smart side of the river is NBD and it's easy to get to downtown. Also, there's a lot of awesome stuff on the smart side of the city, too! If it had been the W city, I would not consider the job.
The smart side wasn't referring to the river in the small city. Rather the smart side of the big city that I live in. The small city being the hour commute each way, the smart side being 15 mins and not being considered a commute at all.
No matter how awesome the small city is, living in big city and working in small city wouldn't let you maximize the fun in either city. If you go out after work in small city, your time will be limited by the train schedule (and then you'll have to deal with the hour commute afterwards). And you won't be able to go out in big city until late because of the hour commute.
That is a good point.
Yeah this is pretty much what I'm stuck on. I wouldn't be able to have much of a life in either city, except for the weekends, if I take the small city job.
Yeah this is pretty much what I'm stuck on. I wouldn't be able to have much of a life in either city, except for the weekends, if I take the small city job.
My H doesn't really have this problem, but he takes a train home (amtrak) that leaves big city at 3:20 pm and is home in small city by 4:15 most days.
Yeah this is pretty much what I'm stuck on. I wouldn't be able to have much of a life in either city, except for the weekends, if I take the small city job.
My H doesn't really have this problem, but he takes a train home (amtrak) that leaves big city at 3:20 pm and is home in small city by 4:15 most days.
My hours would definitely not be normal. I could easily not be home until 9pm many nights.
Thanks everyone--it's definitely a lot to think about and I appreciate the thoughts. One thing to mention, it's not guaranteed $10k more--that's what it would be best case scenario between the two jobs. I'm still deciding and will hopefully get to meet everyone at the company tomorrow which will make the decision easier.
If you are still negotiating with the 10k higher place I would also ask where you are at in the salary range. If you are at the top of the range your raises are most likely going to be limited. Over a few years that difference may not be much and you would still be having a long commute.
I've driven the 45 minute commute and did enjoy the time to wind down and the separation of work and home I think it would take about 10k to get me back there and I don't make anything compared to the folks on this board.
Thanks for everyone's responses. Today I accepted an offer with a company in Cambridge (the one offering less money) after deciding that I didn't want to commute out of Boston. I'm really excited to start on Tuesday. I negotiated well for myself and got exactly what I wanted!
Although an extra $10k would be nice to me it wouldn't be worth the commute unless I was really in love with the job and willing to move (which it doesn't sound like you are) I would stick with the lower paid job.