Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- Which Path to Take?
Hey gang,
Super sorry if this is the wrong subreddit! I was torn between this and one of the general advice subreddits. If I'm in the wrong place please redirect me!
I have to make a pretty tough decision. Hopefully y’all can help me make a better informed one. I’m using a throw-away, because I’m going to list my salary numbers, and people at work know my username.
Here’s the long background, tl;dr at the end!
I’m 27, and live in Austin Texas. I got a lot of the way through college, but didn’t graduate (I was offered a job, so I opted to take that instead). I have about 4-years experience in my current field, and about 7 years doing IT in general. I work as a DevOps Engineer, mainly doing development and architecture for a smallish-company, making $110k. My current job isn’t bad. I like the work I do, and my team has some real gems on it, but I’m not thrilled with the way the company treats it’s employees.
On a whim, I interviewed with “The Professional Social Network” for an SRE spot, and apparently knocked the interview out of the park. They created a Senior position on a team for me, and offered me 160k base + 10% bonus + $275k in equity. The catch is I have to move out to Sunnyvale California. So that base Salary seems to be a wash, but I think the equity more than makes up for it. I also don’t super want to live in California. It’s expensive, and my girlfriend is having enough reservations that I think its very possible she wouldn’t come with me. I initially told them no, but then they started trying to offer solutions to my problems with moving, such as allowing me to work remotely from Austin every couple of weeks. I’m not sure that that’s a super viable solution, but I think it says a lot about the company that they’re willing to work with me, and fight for me to come out. The place seemed fine when I interviewed, I’m not sure why I have a sour taste about it, but I honestly felt disappointed when they gave me a good offer. I suppose its just the stress of moving.
I also have a potential opportunity for an SRE spot at a popular “Open Source Networking” site. I haven’t made it to the end there, but I feel pretty good about my ability to make it through. I think they would offer a similar base salary, but I would be remote, which could potentially mitigate the loss of the equity. Plus, not having to move means I wouldn’t have to risk my relationship. My fear here is that SRE can either be a dev+architecture spot, which I’m good at, or largely a support role which I just really don’t enjoy. The first gig specifically wants me because I’m a strong developer. The real catch is that this is not a sure thing. I’m super excited about this one though. It seems like a killer place to work, and would remove the possibility of losing my girlfriend.
The advantage to the first gig is that I think the company is big and complicated enough that it would significantly downplay not having a degree. I kind of think with that company on my resume, a lot of doors could open up for me. I’m not sure that that isn’t true for the second company though. I guess the question is, do I hold out for the second company, and risk not moving ahead in life, or do I take the short thing that I’m less than thrilled about?
So, in my shoes, what would you do? Move from cheap Austin to expensive California for the sure thing, and major career boost? Or, take a gamble on the company you’re excited about, that provides a similar (albeit slightly smaller) career boost but provides greater stability in my personal life?
TL;DR: “The Professional Social Network” made me a pretty good offer and are really fighting for me to take it — but I’d have to move from my cheap home in Austin Texas to California, and very likely lose my girlfriend in the process. I also am in the process of interviewing for an “Open Source Social Network” that I’m more excited about, but I don’t have this job yet, and the position is a bit more unknown — it would likely have a similar base salary, allow me to work remote, and wouldn’t jeopardize my relationship. Any advice?
Posted Oct 5, 2015, 6:30 PM UTC
First, let's be real. You aren't "stuck between a rock and a hard place". You are 27 years old. You make $110,000/yr. You are in the top one percentile of earners for you age bracket - without adjusting for geographical location. The decision that you are currently facing is a decision that most twenty-somethings would be thrilled to have.
At any rate, you've already determined that the base salaries for these jobs are almost exactly the same, after adjusting for cost of living. CNN's cost of living calculator agrees with you.
So, basically, you are quibbling with yourself over the details. Do I roll the dice? Do I sacrifice a sure thing and take the more lucrative, but riskier, choice? Is risking my personal romantic relationship worth the money?
Nobody can answer that one but you. Which, I think, you probably knew before you posted this thread. I have a feeling that you just needed to get your thoughts "on paper", as they say. I suggest taking a deep breath, stepping away from the situation and waiting until a firm offer is on the table from the second opportunity. At that point, weigh the pros and cons, then make a decision.
You know, I actually think this is exactly what I needed to hear. This is really solid advice. Thank you.
I think I needed to be slapped around and brought back to reality a little.