Job Choices

[explorer2001]

It sounds like B is better in the long run. Good luck!

[phunluvin82]

That is crazy that you would lose your retirement. The way it works with our pension here (I'm assuming that you are referring to state pension plan) is that if you leave before being vested, you can withdraw whatever you contributed. You lose employer contributions and I think have to pay a fee, but you can still get back what *you* put in.

I thought pensions were like that everywhere...maybe not, but that seems like highway robbery.

[cjeanette]

Oct 31, 2012 9:45:14 GMT -5 @ruralrabbit1 said:

Oct 31, 2012 9:41:28 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

Well Job B sounds like it is working for the best University ever. So I vote them!

How different are these areas? Do you prefer one location over the other?

Same University for both Just different departments if that makes sense. I spent Monday evening down in Aggieville and thought of you. If this all works out you'll have to come hang out with me there. I'd forgotten just how much I love there.

Yes!

EMAW!

[cjeanette]

Oct 31, 2012 9:51:37 GMT -5 @ruralrabbit1 said:

Oct 31, 2012 9:44:33 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Hmm. I would think job B simply because it sounds like more room for growth. I also think that working with a lot of different people is fun and especially if they are around your age. Since you'll be new to the area and starting over with social stuff, I think that would be a better fit for meeting people.

The wearing purple thing every day is weird, though. How much purple? Purple is my favorite color and I own several purple things, but I wouldn't want to be stuck wearing the same color every single day, and some things clash with purple and I wouldn't want to totally eliminate them from my wardrobe. This is kind of minor I guess, though, unless it means purchasing a whole new wardrobe I guess. Could you just wear some purple accessories or something simple that won't cost much to accumulate?

Also, I know nothing about state retirement plans, but I thought it was pretty much true anywhere that whatever YOU put in, you get to take with you when you leave. It is just the employer match that they can take back. Is that not the case for state jobs? How much do you have in your retirement - enough that you'll lose a significant chunk of money or are we talking a small amount to begin with?

From my observations yesterday, a purple scarf or necklace would work.

My state requires 5 years for you to be vested, or else you lose what you have put in. My employer/state doesn't put anything in.

Also, this does not make sense to me. H works for KU and they do match and have a mandatory participation. It never occured to me that this was not state wide.

I learn something new everyday.

[lgb78]

Job B. Sounds like a nice environment and has the advancement potential.

[Deleted]

Oct 31, 2012 13:57:58 GMT -5 cjeanette said:

Oct 31, 2012 9:51:37 GMT -5 @ruralrabbit1 said:

From my observations yesterday, a purple scarf or necklace would work.

My state requires 5 years for you to be vested, or else you lose what you have put in. My employer/state doesn't put anything in.

Also, this does not make sense to me. H works for KU and they do match and have a mandatory participation. It never occured to me that this was not state wide.

I learn something new everyday.

This is beyond crazy to me and I don't understand why anyone would even contribute to it. A plan where you lose 100% of your money if you lose your job or change jobs is a very risky investment. WTF do they do with the employee's money that they keep?

[dexteroni]

If you only stand to lose $2500, I still say Job B. I didn't know if we were talking a few thousand or like $50k.

As for tuition assistance, Job B's slight slightly higher salary will make up for the $1900 or so per year more you'll have to pay.

Good luck! I hope you get Job B, but if not, then come on Job A!

[Deleted]

Oct 31, 2012 14:06:10 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

If you only stand to lose $2500, I still say Job B.

I agree with this.

[Deleted]

Is job B's retirement plan more like a 401k? Or is it another BS plan where you'd have to stay for 5 years to get anything at all if you leave? Is it required? I'd avoid that kind of plan myself if I could. That sounds terrible. I am glad it is only $2500 though that you'd lose. You can make that back fairly quickly. I would feel differently if it was like 30k.

[Deleted]

Oct 31, 2012 14:10:45 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Is job B's retirement plan more like a 401k? Or is it another BS plan where you'd have to stay for 5 years to get anything at all if you leave? Is it required? I'd avoid that kind of plan myself if I could. That sounds terrible. I am glad it is only $2500 though that you'd lose. You can make that back fairly quickly. I would feel differently if it was like 30k.

Job B has a mandatory 403 b. I have to contribute 5.5% and they contribute 8.5%.

[rubytue]

Lots of others have weighed in on the options from a MM perspective, but the purple thing would sway me. Because I love purple!! I can't remember if you wear glasses, but I have a couple of purple pairs from Zenni. Great MM way to get purple, and bc they are glasses, it doesn't totally matter if they clash (although match my glasses to my outfit, cycling through purple, red, blue, brown, and a dark brown/black)

[Deleted]

Job B seems great!

Get a purple cardigan and keep it on your desk chair.

[Deleted]

I would take job B, especially if you can negotiate salary up to $33k or so it sounds like that would cover anything lost.

I can't imagine wearing purple would be a big deal. Can you wear school t-shirts? That would be nice and comfy:)

Good luck!

[Deleted]

Oct 31, 2012 16:19:42 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

But if they're with the same university, why are the benefits so different?

One is a university job, the other is not paid through the university, it's more of a foundation that is part of the university.

[cricketwife]

I HATE purple (even though it was the color of my university) and I would still go with job B for sure. The pros definitely outweigh the cons. Go you! It sounds like a really good opportunity!

[pugz]

I remember when I worked at U of A in college the admissions dept had to wear red every day. I was in the registrar's office so we were allowed to wear red tshirt + jeans on game days

I vote job B.

so exciting! My sister is right by Aggieville and they love it.

[krystee]

I am a crazy paranoid person, but I would delete this thread. A google alert for the university's initials would direct them to this thread and could jeopardize an offer. I know that's a long shot, but better safe than sorry!

If you see yourself at B long term, I would choose B. if your ultimate goal is the MPA, I'd do A, as that would save you thousands on tuition. For me, I'd pick B.

[Deleted]

Oct 31, 2012 14:13:24 GMT -5 @ruralrabbit1 said:

Oct 31, 2012 14:10:45 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Is job B's retirement plan more like a 401k? Or is it another BS plan where you'd have to stay for 5 years to get anything at all if you leave? Is it required? I'd avoid that kind of plan myself if I could. That sounds terrible. I am glad it is only $2500 though that you'd lose. You can make that back fairly quickly. I would feel differently if it was like 30k.

Job B has a mandatory 403 b. I have to contribute 5.5% and they contribute 8.5%.

Well, that's good. That's a good amount and I know for a fact that a 403b lets you keep what you put in - I have one myself.

Good luck! I hope you get an offer soon!

[apples21]

Sorry to be a creepy lurker and jump in but you will not lose your retirement from your current job. You can roll it over your new 401K, or you can even cash it out. I worked for the same state and just did this earlier this year. All you need to do is contact the plan.

[pitterwoo]

as someone in a deadend job like option A (including the stupid retirement/vesting period) I would absolutely pick B! G/L!!!

[UnderProtest]

Definitely B and I hate purple. Good luck!