Help Me Think Through Potential Job

[saraml13]

So I just did a second set of in person interviews with a company.  They seem to like me a lot and are basically creating a role for me.  However, I have very mixed feelings about the job and need help thinking about it and next steps.

Background: I was laid off a month ago.  This is the first company I've gotten this far with.  I have other job leads, but all very preliminary.  Also, this opportunity came through a head hunter that is the middle man in this process.

Pros:

• In the same general industry as my old company.  It's not the exact same products, but I speak the language and think the learning curve won't be too steep.
• They have been going through a transformation process the past couple years to be more innovative and growth focused.  They are brining in a lot of new people and I was impressed by the energy of everyone I met with.
• They really like me.  They are basically creating a new position to find a place for me
• On paper, the job is pretty interesting to me. It's in an adjacent function to my previous role and will help round out some skill sets and experience I've been looking to add. 
• The head hunter has indicated that they think they can can me my target salary of 10-15% over my old salary for this job.

Cons:

• The commute.  By far my biggest hesitation. In rush hour, it's a solid hour each way of pretty stressful driving. If the weather is bad or there is an accident, it could easily be 90 minutes or more. I've done that type of commute before and found it pretty soul crushing.
• I don't love the industry and worry that 2 consecutive roles in this industry will pigeonhole me into this industry, versus letting me position myself as a more general technology person.
  
• The company doesn't have any name recognition outside of its core markets, whereas my previous employers have all been pretty big name companies.  This company is definitely less prestigious.
• The job function on paper looks great, but it's a lot of influencing without authority and I'm a little nervous that I might end up spending a bunch of times on projects that go nowhere.
• I've interviewed with 10 people. 10/10 have been men. That's not particularly shocking for this industry, but I'm getting tired of being the only woman in the room.  

So WWPD?  Am I crazy to turn down or stop pursuing this company? I've never been unemployed before, so I'm getting very antsy being out of work.

Also, I think the head hunter will talk to me on Monday before they put together any type of official offer. If I decide not to move forward, should I be upfront and cut off the process before they get to a formal offer? Or is there value to getting an offer in hand to be able to at least validate my salary expectation, etc.?

[mama2a]

I'm sure you've thought of this and maybe didn't mention but could you negotiate working from home a few days a week? It's so hard to say not knowing you and your desires but if you have a few preliminary options and it's only been a month since your lay-off I'd suggest not taking it. That's just me though--I'm very anti-commute in this stage in my life with a young kid at home.

[saraml13]

Feb 17, 2017 20:17:51 GMT -5 mama2a said:

I'm sure you've thought of this and maybe didn't mention but could you negotiate working from home a few days a week? It's so hard to say not knowing you and your desires but if you have a few preliminary options and it's only been a month since your lay-off I'd suggest not taking it. That's just me though--I'm very anti-commute in this stage in my life with a young kid at home.

So my last company was easy to WFH because most of the people I worked with were in different offices anyway. But this company recently spent a lot of money building a new headquarters and consolidating a bunch of offices together. My impression is that they have more of a in-person culture. Also, the job involves a lot of close collaboration with other functions, so I think it will be hard to do that remotely, at least at first. I'm sure I can WFH for the occasional blizzard or sick kid, but I doubt I'd be able to plan to regularly WFH 1-2 days a week.

I've expressed concerns over the commute to the headhunter. They keep assuring me that the company is flexible on hours and I can work out arrangements with my boss once I start, but obviously the headhunter is very motivated to get me to accept an offer, regardless of how much flexibility I would really have.

[2chatter]

I would put zero stock in the headhunter and their words about culture. I quit recruiting because I was pushed to pretty much lie to people about things like that.

I'd ask about WFH - I have been 100 percent remote for almost 10 years in a culture that was very in person when I started. You can totally manage it remotely - it just takes discipline. And if you are in three days a week that would cover it - seriously. Do some research and come armed with "I read an article in HBR that contends..." good luck!

[sdlaura]

I would rule it out based on the commute. I couldn't do that with little kids.

[indyrowergirl]

I know I've posted only a bit about my current situation, but I'm trying to get out of a 45-1:15 commute.

As the kids get older they have more and more activities in the evenings. DS1 is in 1st grade and it's really coming to a head. 5:30 basketball 2 evenings per week is kicking my ass. Due to the variability in my commute I have to leave work by 4 to guarantee I'll be able to pick him up, get him ready, and get him to practice/games. It sucks and I don't see that it's going to get any better.

I can understand the pressure to find "any port in a storm" but I don't know that I'd plan on staying at that company for more than 3ish years if you did take it.

[saraml13]

2chatter, I agree. I don't trust anything the recruiter says. I think they smell blood and are going to try to push me hard.

I'm glad to get some sanity check that I'm not unreasonable to rule out the job because of the commute.

[erinshelley21]

Not only does the commute sound bad, you don't sound like you're pumped about the job itself. If you're not loving the industry and you don't need to find a job right away, then I would keep searching.

[helenahhandbasket]

The commute sounds typical to me, but if it's out of the ordinary for your circle, that is something to consider. Is there any flex on the workday? Can you go in earlier and leave earlier to avoid some of the traffic?

Aside from that you don't sound that enthusiastic. If you need to take the job because you need income ASAP, then absolutely take it. But if you are ok for now, keep looking.

[ss265]

saraml13, agree with previous posters. Talk to the hiring manager about WFH 1-2 days a week. Also ask about flexible hours that might allow you to avoid rush hour (if that's possible). I currently have an hour commute but if I was disciplined enough to work 7-4 or 7:30-4:30, I avoid some of the madness. That being said though, if those accommodations are not the company culture, you risk losing them if you move to another manager so keep that in mind.

If you aren't excited about the opportunity though and you don't need the income right away, I would keep looking.

[saraml13]

I have a hard time separating my lack of enthusiasm for the job from my dislike of the commute. Regardless of location, it's definitely not my dream job, but I think I would be a lot more excited if it was a 30 minute commute. The job would be a pretty safe choice, in terms of being in a field I know and something that I think I'd be good at. In theory I want something that is more of a stretch and a new industry, but it's hard to turn down a sure thing.

helenahhandbasket , an hour commute isn't uncommon around me, but I don't know any women with small children who do it. I had a commute like that before we moved to the suburbs and had kids. I found it pretty stressful, and think it will be even more so if I actually have hard daily pickup times. It wouldn't be so bad if it were reliably an hour, but the potential variability is what kills me. I just picture watching the clock every single evening commute with my fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong and I'm not late for DC pickup.

ETA: Obviously working is better than not working, finance-wise, but we're not in bad shape right now.  

[judyblume14]

saraml13 - late to the party. But seeing you post that your guys are in decent shape financially right now, I'd keep looking. A commute that's typically and hour, but potentially worse would be a huge deal breaker for me right now, based on our kids ages and bedtimes (our kids are roughly the same ages).

[2chatter]

I will say that I went in at 5:30 and picked DD up from MDO at 2:00 - I avoided traffic, got extra quality kid time and got used to the timing. I don't particularly enjoy kids in the morning - it's not fun. If DH covered mornings and you scored two days a week WFH (I did it T and TH) it might not be terrible. Something to keep in mind maybe for another job with a commute.

[saraml13]

Feb 21, 2017 10:07:16 GMT -5 2chatter said:

I will say that I went in at 5:30 and picked DD up from MDO at 2:00 - I avoided traffic, got extra quality kid time and got used to the timing. I don't particularly enjoy kids in the morning - it's not fun. If DH covered mornings and you scored two days a week WFH (I did it T and TH) it might not be terrible. Something to keep in mind maybe for another job with a commute.

I'm a morning person, but ouch! to starting work at 5:30 am.  I don't think I could shift my schedule that much, but DH and I could definitely stagger working hours for the right job and that's what I'd have to do to make this commute work.  It would require us purchasing a 2nd car, which is something I've wanted to do anyway.  Right now we get away with one car because DH takes the nearby train to work and I do all the DC transport. I'm just thinking that this job isn't THE job that is worth doing that for.