So I have a bit of a job dilemma Updated

"03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST" (03mach1) 02/24/2016 at 13:00 • Filed to: None

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Do I take a lower position job for more pay or stick where I’m at for less?

To keep a long story short, I’ve kind of been getting sick of my current grocery store retail job. I started out a little over a year ago as a bagger and moved up to a stocking position in grocery in only a few months. However I ended up doing nearly every kind of job in the store because we are ridiculously short staffed. I’m in a important position and needed all the time. But these past few months have just been frustrating and at barley above minimum wage I am tired of it. Others in my position (At other stores) usually get 10-11 an hour while I’m working harder for much less.

The past two weeks I started looking at job openings and applied. One was at a big hardware store I frequent with a similar job of what I do know. Except the position turned out to be a lot job. Getting carts, helping load cars among other tasks. A lot of what I did as a bagger. But I was offered the job for ten an hour, which is a significant more amount of money than what I’m making now. I also get similar hours. I have a much bigger interest in hardware over groceries. The manager’s said if I do well enough I’ll be moved up quickly. I already met some of the associates and they all seem really nice and enjoy the job.

Extra money would be great right now. I’ve been wanting to buy a few nice things for myself but always hold back because of how much I make. I got my first speeding ticket (Total accident for the record). But still, I’m not sure if I want to go back down to pushing carts again. I only need this job through college so I’m tempted to just suck it up and quit.

Or maybe I should just hand in my two weeks to my manager and see how bad he really wants to keep me. Training another to do everything I’ve done has taken a long time and we can’t hire enough people as it is. It seems greedy to ask for more money but after seeing how much I could be making elsewhere, it’s just not worth it anymore. I’m just kind of conflicted and could really use some advice. Any input would be great appreciated. Here’s where most of the money I earn goes in to. Which is so worth it.

UPDATE: So I’ve decided, I’m going to hand in my two weeks to my current employer and if they don’t at least match the new offer I’m leaving. I’m feeling excited now, I got a chance to think about things different and I really just should take the new job. I can probably learn a lot more and have more opportunities. Thanks for all the help!

yamahog > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:03

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Use the higher paying position to negotiate for better pay at your current one.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > yamahog 02/24/2016 at 13:06

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Which is what I’m thinking of. But my store manager and the company as a whole is very cheap. I’m not really sure they’ll even attempt to give me a decent raise.

BigBlock440 > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:06

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They’re not corporate jobs and on the low end of the pay grade, take the higher pay. Especially if you’re still in college, you’ll be moving up soon enough anyway.

Sweet Trav > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:08

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Take the money. Always take the money.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:09

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If you’ve been offered more, it’s not greedy to ask them for more if they really want to keep you.

Textured Soy Protein > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:10

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In the scheme of your overall career progression, the exact type of pay-the-bills low level retail job you did in college really isn’t going to make much difference. You’re going to college to get a degree in something other than retail, right? If one job is a bunch more money than the other, go for the more money. You could always go back to your boss, say you got this other offer and see what happens, but if you do that you should be prepared to take the other job.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/24/2016 at 13:11

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That’s true. Especially since the new job is a lower position.

JR1 > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:13

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Go where you are offered more. Also working outside is always a plus

Tripper > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:13

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Yea do that and then take the other job anyway. It’s rarely a good idea to take a counter offer.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:17

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I agree with the negotiate a higher pay rate but I will give you a bit of advice for that situation.

For 1 you damn sure better be ready to take the other job if you put it to your boss. If he says no I can’t pay you that you HAVE TO WALK and take the other job. This is incredibly important.

Second, I really recommend only putting it to your boss 1 time like this. If you come in once a year or once every 6 months with hey i got a job offer can you match it, it’ll get old quick for the boss man

smobgirl > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:17

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Profit margin for groceries is much lower than hardware. You’ll be able to get more pay at the hardware store. Plus it’s more interesting, the associates are probably better, less responsibility (sometimes better than being important...seriously) and probably a useful discount. Go for it.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Textured Soy Protein 02/24/2016 at 13:19

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That’s a good point. I haven’t really thought about it that way, thanks.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > JR1 02/24/2016 at 13:20

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There’s also the plus of getting to see my car ALL the time!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:21

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I’m sorry, but this seems like a total no-brainer. Take the higher paying job. You say the fact that it is low is a bad thing, but it’s not. The fact that it pays more while being low means there’s much more room to end up making more money. I see literally no downside to switching.

Just my 2¢

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Tripper 02/24/2016 at 13:25

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I guess I should also take into consideration raises. I will only get 10 cents every six months where at the new place it would be as little as 75 cents to 2 dollars extra after a certain amount of time. That’s a huge difference.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:27

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Worth a shot, and getting some practice at salary negotiation can only help you down the line. I agree that going where the better money is is the right choice for you.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 02/24/2016 at 13:27

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Ya, I’m kind of just leaning on the side of taking the money and running now. If he says no then I’m gone.

Quadradeuce > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:27

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Just don’t bluff about leaving. Only play that card if you have an offer from the other place. Having job > no job.

yamahog > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:29

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If they don’t, then walk. Obviously want to have the other one lined up first though :)

EL_ULY > yamahog 02/24/2016 at 13:31

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beat me to it

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 02/24/2016 at 13:32

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Well, from my perspective I’m a really important part of where I work now. And I like having that kind of responsibility. If I leave and they can’t get anyone to cover they’re in trouble. I could honestly care less if they struggle once I leave, but it puts me in a good negotiating spot. I definitely like doing what I do a lot more than carts but doing less for more does seem like a no brainer.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:32

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smart play, sounds like you’re good at this work and can move on up at the new place too.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/24/2016 at 13:32

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Which is what I’m most likely going to do now. Thanks!

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Quadradeuce 02/24/2016 at 13:34

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I got the job, the whole process is being gone through now. So I’m probably going to just leave.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > yamahog 02/24/2016 at 13:36

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I got the job, it’s just all up to me now. I’ve decided I’m going to give my current store my two weeks. If they don’t at least match the offer I’m walking. Thanks!

gawdzillla > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:38

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You need to do what’s best for yourself. Your current employer will just hire and train a new guy, maybe 2 new guys. That way they will learn they should have paid u More

Quadradeuce > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:38

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Yeah, take the higher paying job, especially if this is just a college job to pay the bills. In the future, however, if you have the chance to take a lower pay job that will get you the experience you need, take it. My wife did that and it has paid off in spades. But in college all bets are off.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > smobgirl 02/24/2016 at 13:39

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That’s true, it’s a lot more interesting and I can learn a lot more. No discount but they offer a bonus instead. Which to be honest might be a bit more useful considering they’re usually pretty good ones. I can do a lot more with actual money instead of a discount.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > gawdzillla 02/24/2016 at 13:43

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Their problem is they haven’t been able to hire anyone, and there isn’t anyone they can grab from the front end since more aren’t old enough. But that doesn’t matter to me, if they don’t match the new offer I’m leaving.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:43

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Nobody will ever fault you for leaving a job for more money. When you go to an interview, it’ll bother an interviewer more if you leave for just a different job...but if you left for more money, that’s always a valid reason. Sticking around for less is only helping the owner of your company, it does you no favors.

Take the money.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:45

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Good luck. Sounds like the additional pay is worth liking the job a little less than your current gig, but in future job decisions, I’d definitely weigh the fulfillment you’d get from the job and how you’d get along with your co-workers pretty highly. Taking a higher paying job doing work you don’t like around people you don’t get along with isn’t going to last very long.

JustAnotherG6 > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:46

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take the money and run!

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 02/24/2016 at 13:50

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I’ve already had the chance to talk with some of my new associates and everyone seems to be at the very least moderately happy. I often feel miserable where I am now so it can’t get any worse now. Which is a shame, I really enjoyed it until we became so short staffed and now everyone gets needlessly stressed. I would do it for more money but now that I’m thinking about it I see far more potential at the new place.

JR1 > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:51

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Best looking New Edge Mustang in my open. I have actually been on craigslist being tempted by the GTs all day now actually

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:56

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Doesn’t the other job have more room for growth though? Higher paying job with room for growth and more pay is much better than a lower paying job with less room for growth. All day every day. Tell your current boss that unless he wants you to leave and for his business to be screwed, you want him to pay you more. Explain your situation and you’ll have tons of leverage.

Edit: just saw your update, good call. Congrats and good luck!

DrScientist > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 13:57

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i agree with the general assessment here: go to the hardware store, unless the grocery can match or better the salary.

don’t take this as an insult, but as others have mentioned, this is just a college job. just some cash to help pay bills.

one day, hopefully, you’ll have to negotiate between offers for two different high paying salaried positions. these may be the only source of income for you and your family and may drastically impact your quality of life/work-life balance. the stakes will be much higher then.

use this situation as a learning experience, and don’t stress yourself too much over it.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 14:06

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More money + better potential + happier people = win

gawdzillla > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 14:24

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if they dont cheap out, and start paying people $30/hr instead, they wouldnt have a problem hiring

Shane MacGowan's Teeth > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 14:30

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DON’T start with putting in your two weeks, unless you won’t work there anymore no matter what. Start by explaining that you’ve gotten another offer with higher pay and better opportunities, and that you will probably take it unless they are willing to prove they want to keep you. If they don’t meet your number (don’t tell them your real number), THEN you give notice. But don’t start with quitting, and ask them to talk you into staying. Start with that you deserve more money, and have taken steps to make sure that happens, either at that job or another.

B/Xmrrmvr > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 14:31

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congrats

Shane MacGowan's Teeth > Textured Soy Protein 02/24/2016 at 14:33

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This is an excellent point. Also, there’s a case to be made for taking the least responsibility possible to focus on your studies. Especially if it pays more.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/24/2016 at 14:53

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Good choice. The hardware store is definitely a better place. And if you get an employee discount... that’s an extra bonus.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Van Man, rocks the Man Van 02/24/2016 at 17:55

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It could be argued that where I currently work will give me more room for growth. I am (or was) following the path of people who became department managers, then associate managers, co managers, etc. But being I’m still in school there’s no way I’m ever going to do that. To many hours needed.

There’s probably a better chance of getting moved up to a better position at the new place with more pay than I would get as a department manager anyway. Which at this point probably matters more.

samssun > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 03/01/2016 at 07:01

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Don’t “hand in your two weeks’ notice”, just tell your boss you’ve been offered a similar gig at more pay but like your current one, so would he be open to a raise? Maybe they won’t pay $11 at your level, but if you highlight responsibilities X, Y, and Z and say you’d like to take on more, maybe it turns into a conversation about promotion which pays $12.

samssun > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 03/01/2016 at 07:16

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This may sound condescending but I’m not far removed from college summer jobs so hear me out: the pay difference now, while nice, is the least important it’ll ever be. The extra buck or so an hour means an extra night out or car part, and will be dwarfed by your first real check.

It matters if the jobs are identical BUT whichever will let you move up a level (if neither, keep looking) is worth a ton. Hiring is a big risk, and just like how having any experience puts you way ahead of people with none because it demonstrates you can show up and work, getting promoted off the bottom rung is another huge distinction because it says someone was willing to trust you with more responsibility.

Having your promotion from jr. bagger to lead bagger on your resume and being able to tell a story about it in an interview will resonate with the recruiter, regardless of the “real” job.