One of the main reasons I decided to move to DC was for better job prospects but this is getting silly

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
04/13/2018 at 10:41 • Filed to: None

Remember how I told you I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and it was a good job, and I was moving to DC for it? Well, I’m still moving to DC but now I might have to take a different job. I don’t know. It’s weird. Companies keep throwing more stuff at me. What the hell?

Job A: Georgetown, with free parking and/or transit reimbursement. Manager title, good salary & benefits.

Job B: Tyson’s Corner, free parking because of course it is, it’s not Georgetown. Manager title, little bit higher salary (by a 4-figure amount) than Job A, and I’d be in line to replace the Director who’s hiring me, because she wants to step back to working 30 hours a week and have a successor lined up. If/when that happens I’d get a 5-figure raise and be eligible for a yearly bonus. Could be in 6-12 months, maybe longer, it’s not guaranteed, and of course I’d have to not suck at my job.

Don’t ask me how this is happening. I haven’t even really been negotiating for this stuff. All I did was tell Job B exactly what Job A’s offer was, and that their initial offer, and their follow-up offer, were pretty far below Job A, but Job A was waffling on maybe making their job temp-to-hire instead of a direct hire.

I told Job A that I had a lower offer from Job B, but it wasn’t any temp-to-hire crap, and Job A got rid of their temp-to-hire crap. With how much higher the salary was than even Job B’s first counter, I figured that was my best option, thanked Job B for their interest, and told them I was going to take Job A. I did take Job A.

If I’m being honest with myself, Job B offers a better career progression path, both within the company and if I were to look at others in a few years. Also it could be a lot more lucrative. Working in Georgetown would be kind of appealing for being able to walk to get tasty lunches (or join boutique workout cults like Barre3 or SoulCycle) but I don’t know if that’s a good enough reason to take Job A for what is now less money and ok but not as good career prospects.

Maybe Job B thought I was negotiating? Maybe I actually was, by accident? Oops? So, um, I guess maybe now I have to take Job B? I accepted Job A’s offer because with the temp-to-hire BS removed, it had been significantly better than Job B’s first counter. If I want Job B now, I’ll have to back out of Job A, which feels a little shitty, but such is life.

Don’t even get me started on trying to find a place to live, that’s a whole other mess. I was close to having a place lined up in Rockville which I may still do but man, Rockville to Tyson’s is a bear of a commute. Rockville to Georgetown also sucks but I felt like maybe it would be sorta manageable along Canal Rd depending on time of day. Rockville to Tyson’s, I know I’m absolutely fucked. My inner optimist keeps saying “it’s only 15 miles!” but I know better than to listen to my inner optimist when it comes to DC traffic.

I found another possibility in VA that’s halfway from Seven Corners to Bailey’s Crossroads (the address says Falls Church). Both are 1-car garage townhouses but the VA one is 230 sq ft smaller, and $200/month more expensive, than the already expensive Rockville one.

If I end up living in the Rockville one I’d probably also end up going to the same gym as my mom. That is of course if I ever make it back across the American Legion bridge in time to go back to work the next morning.

DISCUSSION (23)

Cash Rewards > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 10:49

If your looking at the Tyson’s job, Merrifield /Mosaic District could be a potential place to live. It’s all brand new construction, has your boutique eateries and cycle studios, and would be an easy commute.

Dark chocolate > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 10:49

My wife just got an offer for a new job at the Medical center. She’s a doctor.

The orientation package had parking options:

Option A) $45 / pay period plus free (15 minute) shuttle ride

Option B) $200 / pay period plus free (2 mins shuttle ride)

Option C) Park in the hospital @ $5/hour

Textured Soy Protein > Dark chocolate
04/13/2018 at 10:51

I had surgery last fall at the University of Wisconsin hospital. They screw their employees on parking something fierce. It’s hundreds of dollars per year to park in a surface lot several blocks away. Thousands to park in the garage attached to the hospital. Even for the nurses and front desk people and everyone else.

WilliamsSW > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 10:52

Well, shit - this is a pretty awesome problem to have! It’s good to be in demand.

I guess you’ve inadvertently been negotiating - through open and honest communication, which is always the best policy.

You have to do what’s best for you in the long run, even if that means reneging on Job A. I’ve been in the corporate world the last 25+ years, and I’ve seen it happen many times. Companies don’t like it, of course, but they don’t take it personally. It will just be a setback for them to move on to their plan B.

Good that you haven’t inked anything in Rockville yet- - good luck wherever you end up!

Textured Soy Protein > Cash Rewards
04/13/2018 at 10:53

We’re trying to avoid apartment-like settings if at all possible. We’re happy to live near fake downtowns like that but not in them.

(I was being sarcastic about boutique workout cults.)

WilliamsSW > Dark chocolate
04/13/2018 at 10:57

Wait, what? They charge docs for parking? That’s crazy. My wife is a doc, too, but not a hospital employee - she goes to 4 hospitals and not one of them charges her. Maybe because they’re not in city centers?

Textured Soy Protein > WilliamsSW
04/13/2018 at 11:03

We could very well end up in Rockville. Without traffic it’s a 27 minute drive to the office in Tysons. With traffic, well, it’s DC. I’d be close to family, tons of restaurants, groceries etc all nearby, and if we want to go into DC for fun there’s also a metro stop with plenty of parking near that place. Rockville has loads of awesome Chinese restaurants and as a Jew who grew up in Rockville boy do I love me some Chinese food.

Cash Rewards > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 11:07

“fake downtown” is a good way to describe them, and yeah, better near than in.

Vienna/Oakton? Straight shot down 123. My kids daycare is in Tyson’s, I get on the beltway at the mall, so any specific traffic questions let me know.

And what do you got against cults?

Textured Soy Protein > Cash Rewards
04/13/2018 at 11:19

I looked around Vienna & Oakton but so far was finding stuff that was cheaper/crappier than the place I’m looking at in Rockville (it’s an 1800 sq ft townhouse with 1 car garage + basement + back patio) or a lot more expensive. Not much that’s comparable. It’s definitely an area I have my eye on though.

Dark chocolate > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 11:20

Yes, My wife is looking forward to pay $400 / month on parking.

I have asked her that next time negotiate the fucking parking in the contract numbers.

Dark chocolate > WilliamsSW
04/13/2018 at 11:21

Yes, This is Houston’s city center. The Medical Center. Next to some of the most expensive houses. It’s walking distance from the downtown. And fuck parking.

WilliamsSW > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 11:30

Ah - as long as you know what commute you’re signing up for, that works. And having family close by is a big deal.

Sovande > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 11:43

I drove 8.1 miles the other day in this traffic. It was at 7:40am. It took me 54 minutes to get to work. Buckle up.

Look at areas you want to live and then check Google maps at the morning and evening commute times and see what the actual travel time is. Then add 15 minutes.

RacingShark > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 11:46

I grew up in MoCo and commuted to Tysons for a bit. It sucked 15 years ago and sucks even more now. I moved to VA and never looked back. Personally, I like VA much more than MD (except in october when you have to pay the car tax).

I wouldn’t attempt a tysons-rockville commute. It sucks and the beltway is your only option. Tysons traffic is a disaster and will only get worse. You could potentially take the metro to georgetown (and hop on a scooter or bike).

A lot of jobs are in VA or DC, so living there will make your commute easier. Falls Church is also a reasonable uber ride from DC if you want to party it up. There are also many ways to get to falls church. If one is backed up, you can always change it up and go a different way that is just as backed up, but you feel like you’re doing something about it.

You may also want to consider income taxes. MD income taxes are higher than VA. Falls church may be $200/mo more, but you may make that up in income tax. (MD has state and county tax, VA has only state... I think)

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 12:08

I guess I don’t see the downside to job b, more money and more potential seems like a win

Future next gen S2000 owner > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 12:20

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Belichick quit the Jets after one day as their head coach. Do what’s right for you, no one else will.

Textured Soy Protein > Sovande
04/13/2018 at 12:20

Yeah I’ve been doing the google maps commute scouting with that method.

WilliamsSW > Dark chocolate
04/13/2018 at 12:22

Considering that docs are likely to go back and forth a lot, at odd hours, and spend a lot of time there, it’s fucking ridiculous to not include it in the contract, regardless of whether it’s downtown or not.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 12:37

also keep in mind its nbot all about the money. you need to factor in enjoyment of life which includes office environment and getting there and back.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 13:56

Life outside of the Midwest

dogisbadob > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2018 at 14:12

good luck in whichever job you take

Textured Soy Protein > OPPOsaurus WRX
04/13/2018 at 14:13

Job A is a mildly shitty office with a nice view of the Potomac River. Work environment wouldn’t necessarily be better but more cool lunch spots. That’s not super important to me. Most of the time I eat a basic lunch at work. Might go out once a week.

Textured Soy Protein > RacingShark
04/13/2018 at 14:16

The job in Georgetown provides free parking. Metro to there from MoCo means riding the red line to Dupont and catching a bus to Georgetown. Might as well just drive.

The townhouse in Rockville is willing to allow our cats. I’m waiting to hear back from the Falls Church place. The agent is asking the owner. The cats mean we have to be more flexible.