WWYD - potential job in nyc

My BIL told me that his company is looking to hire a team of new employees this year and that traditionally they would rather hire people who are referred by existing employees than to post monster ads or something like that. According to BIL, with my experience and credentials, and his recommendation, I could land the job with no problem. The job pays close to 60% more than I make now, but it's in NYC. I've never worked more than 20 minutes from home, so this is a big deal to me. I'm also very happy at my current job.

I'm torn though, b/c I feel like I can't turn my back on the opportunity to make that much money. If DH had this opportunity he would jump on it. I feel selfish if I don't consider it.

BIL said he told his boss about me and his boss asked for my resume. Should I send it in and see what happens?

Are there any women on this board that work in NYC? Can you tell me what the commute is like and how it effects your quality of life?

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I worked in Manhatan for pretty much all my life up until 3 months ago when my company transferred me to the Long Island office. I live in south shore Nassau County so for me, my commute time was literally cut in half and now, I really don't think I'd take another job in Manhattan ever again even if I were to get a 20 or 30% raise.

Where do you live now and how would you be commuting into the city? See, from where I live, the Babylon LIRR branch is only 45-50 min door to door. If you live further out, like Port Jefferson, Ronkonkoma or even Babylon or Dix Hills - I really would think twice about it. You would be looking at a 2 hour commute door to door..Can you live with that?? Would there be ANY opportunities at this new company to work from home, or maybe have a flex schedule??

Its definitely a lot to think about!

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Wow. That sounds great. I work on Wall St and live on Long Island, so I take the Babylon line daily. I do curse the LIRR somedays, but to be honest, I really like my time on the train. I have my ipad and I read or surf the net, the time goes by fast and it gives me time to unwind, which I need, before getting home. I can see the parkways while on the train and see the bumper to bumper traffic and am relieved I am not sitting in it. Taking the LIRR can be trying at times, but like I said, it is best for me. I need that downtime on the train to unwind and going into work, I work on my strategy for the day, what I am going to do, what I need to do, etc, so for me, its a nice thing to have. I think you should send in your resume, won't hurt to put your feelers out. Where is the job? Would you need to take a subway as well? Where do you live? I don't think I would enjoy my train time if I lived further east, my time on the train is just right, anymore and I would be bored.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I would definately send in my resume. Why not check it out you never know there may be some flexibility with time work location.

I worked in NYC for many years and did not mind until DS started school. Even then it was nto the comute it was the job itself I just put in long hours on a regular basis.

You need to see what works for your life right now.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I have worked in NYC for the past 15 years. When I was younger, it was great. I met different types of people and tried to take advantage of all NYC has to offer. Now I am looking for a job on LI. The LIRR is getting to me. Yes, I read and listen to my ipod and my trains are very rarely crowded, but I would much rather be in my car and commuting 20 minutes to and from. I have a young child I am away from 12 hours of the day. I am frantic on the weekends. I feel working on LI would give me more time with my family and allow me to get errands completed during the week. I am sure you BIL will give you all the inside info but, IMO, I would think a 60% raise will come with alot of workhours behind it. Good luck in whatever you decide!

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Thank you for your responses! I'm still on the fence about what to do. BIL said I'd prob have to take a 6:45 a.m. train out of Babylon, then a subway from Penn. And I probably wouldn't get home until 7 p.m. Right now we don't have any children, but we'd like to start trying next year. And I just can't imagine what life would be like if I was gone 12 hours/day. When I think about the pros and cons it seems the only pro is the money. BIL said he hates the commute and the long hours, but he just thinks about the money and what it enables him to provide for his family. From my sister's point of view, she feels like a single mom during the week b/c she does everything with the kids. More money would be nice, but it def comes at a cost. It's ALOT to think about.

Thanks again for your input!

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

There's way more to this job than the money.

One of the reasons I love working in the city for a big company is the diversity of the employees. I have grown as the result and made some wonderful friends from all cultures.

My commute sucks..no doubt but I worked in LI and there is a different pace and mostly not culturally diverse.

I like walking places and peopl watching. I do like my downtime on the train and when things are running fine and on time and people behave themselves it's fine.

I see no reason not to send your resume and even go for an interview. You have absolutely nothing to lose.

You might love it there. Once you have kids you may find you can have a flexible work schedule.

Don't throw up a brick wall just yet. Go for it.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Honestly, commute aside, you need to weigh the pros and cons about changing companies just like any job switch.

Where are you in terms of your life in general?

For example: Do you want kids?

Is changing jobs (again commute aside) going to interfere with something like that?

What time will you need to be at work and what time can you get home?

I've commuted to the city, and I work on LI now, and honestly, I curse drivers daily even when I am just driving 15 minutes down Montauk Highway to my office in Babylon.

I seriously MISS the train many days. Especially now that it costs $70.00 to fill up my gas tank each week ;).

I also really don't get home that much later then I did when I used to take the train.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I agree. My life has always been on a schedule, no matter if I took the train or not.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I would def send my resume. what have you got to lose?

I'm a commuter going on 9 years this summer. It has its pros and cons. I love that I never sit in traffic, can nap to/from work if i want, play on my phone or read. I hate that my life is run by the train schedule. 5 minutes can make all the difference in your day.

I live in East Rockaway and have a door to door commute of 60 - 75 minutes depending on the train I catch.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I worked in downtown NYC for just about 4 years when I followed my attorney in to open the city office. I had never worked in Manhattan before and looked forward to the opportunity. I'll be honest, in the beginning it was fabulous. I enjoyed sleeping and reading on the train. I actually liked being in the city. There was always a new place to try/go. Money was great. That being said, after a while all those "new" things started wearing off. I was tired of my 12 hour days (when I began commuting I would take the train from Ronkonkoma and then when we moved I took the train from Deer Park). I began hating the people on the LIRR. I began dreading the people on the subway. I was exhausted when I got home and stopped cooking dinner, which I love to do. then DH and I started IF treatments which made me even more exhausted. I did finally get pregnant and that was the end for me. The walking killed me. No one was courtesous enought to let me sit down. i was constantly getting shoved and then I was put on bed rest and that ended that. Aside from my train constantly being delayed and hitting pedestrians, commuting while pregnant was by far the worst experience for me. I am certain that had I done the NYC thing in my 20s when I was single, I would have loved it even more. The older you get though, the more you value different things. If I was still working in NYC, I would leave for the train before DS woke up and I would not get home until after he went to bed. These are all things you have to consider. A 60% increase would certainly be nice to put away even if it is only for a year, especially since most places dont pay for maternity leave. the other side of that is commuting nowaday (train and subway) is not cheap either. You need to factor in a monthly ticket and a money metro into your calculations.

Added: Also money wise you need to consider that everything is more expensive. I also have a shopping habit which only got worse by being within walking distance of a Coach store and Century21. Where I always brought food from home when I worked on the island, that stopped when I worked in NYC (amt of leftovers decreased once I stopped cooking and quite frankly I hated lugging lunch in). Lunch everyday in NYC will run you approximately $7-$10 a day.

Message edited 6/14/2011 12:05:03 AM.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

I should also add that your commute is what you make of it. For me, it's my downtime to read, pay bills, catch up on emails, teach myself a computer program (photoshop).

I have trains I have to make & leave when I leave. It helps that I work upstairs at Penn Station so no subway.

One thing I think about is I'd rather be on a train for an hour than drive for an hour.

Re: WWYD - potential job in nyc

At any job I ever worked in the city, I got myself into a routine of getting to the morning train at a certain time, and leaving work at a certain time in the afternoon, so it was very rare that I would miss the trains I wanted to take.

I think missing a train is more an exception, rather than a rule.

There were also days when the train would just run into problems, so your commute would take longer, but again, more of the exception rather than the rule.

Like anything in life..........if you are generally someone who is running late, this will probably add to your gripes about having to commute.