Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people) ---- UPDATED Mon 2/7

UPDATE Mon 2/7:

Job 1 (ad agency) actually called him friday night around 7pm and asked if they could give him a decision right then on the spot and he said he would call them back so we talked about it and he called them an hour later and said basically he was going with another job offer. They offered him MORE money. He said he needed until monday.

But even with that, he decided on Job 2 (corporate company)!!!

He asked Job 2 for a higher salary, and said they would need him to come in tomorrow to go over everything.

He called Job 1 to let them know he was going with Job 2 and the guy was cool and said well if it doesn't work out call me ASAP.

Hoping for good news after tomorrow's follow up!

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ORIGINAL POST:

I posted something similar back in July about DH either taking a contract job (with more pay) or sticking with his current company (full time job) and he ended up sticking with his current job.

Well, they aren't doing so well lately and he was getting nervous so he applied to 2 jobs last week and had an interview at each job, one yesterday and one today.

They both offered him the job on the spot!

He's taking the weekend to think about everything but he's definitely going to take one of them and not stick with his current job.

They both sound great and I know there are worse things than to have to choose between 2 job offers but he's really torn. I mean so torn. He doesn't want to make the wrong choice. I know it's ultimately up to him but here are the two jobs... wdyt?

1. AD AGENCY
-same type of designing as current job (competitor actually), car dealership ads mostly so not much creativity but he knows it well
-15% higher salary
-right hand man to art director
-9a-6p but flexible with hours if he needed to come in later some days
-small but growing company so there is potential to move up within art dept
-owner very down to earth, seems to have big big money
-30 mins from home
-complete opposite direction from where we both work now and where his parents live (he drops DD in the morning to them usually, which he won't be able to do anymore)

2. BIG CORPORATE COMPANY
-in house designer for company
-totally different type of designing (more creative, sketching, cutesy stuff, etc)
-12.5% higher salary
-will be the ONLY in house designer so pretty busy
-9a-5p with occasional late nights if needed
-company is expanding fast so a lot of growth potential (international company)
-beautiful brand new building and office
-owner seemed very down to earth as well
-free or deeply discounted childcare if we needed it
-some travel involved to office in NJ and conventions (one coming up in Vegas)
-30 mins from home
-2 mins from where I work


Medical benefits aren't an issue, I cover DH and DD under mine.

IL's are pretty much set on moving closer to us anyway so DH doesn't see that as an issue but pick up/drop off of DD will be mostly on me until they do.

Any opinions on this would be great, i'll show him what you guys said tonight.

Message edited 2/7/2011 11:29:15 AM.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

I would go with the ad agency. The projected fast growth of the other company and him being the only artist would make me nervous that there would be a lot more long nights than they are saying right now.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

I think it depends on what he wants to do design-wise. If he is looking to be more creative then I think #2 sounds betters and sounds like he would have more freedom in his designs.

Also, I bet he can negotiate a slightly higher pay if that is what is holding him back. Just say "I received another offer and would like to know if you would match it because I loved the company....yada yada"

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Hands down, the second job with the corporate company. Sounds like he will be more challenged creatively, it doesn't affect your daycare situation, and the money is similar and he could probably even get them to match the other jobs offer. I really think job #2 sounds like a better opportunity based on what you wrote. Good luck making a choice!!!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

I say #2!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#2 would be the one I'd make him pick! Sounds so much fun, I would love a job like that...

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

To me, #2 sounds better. If I were making a change, might as well do a big change. I feel like #1 could get monotonous quickly.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Hands down #2.. with the way the economy is, I'd go with the company that has longevity and continues to have a steady uprising..

Either way, I wish you the best!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

# 2

Good luck making a decision!!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

as a graphic designer i would go with something that i would really want to "live" with. I am working at a college = no creativity for the most part. I work under a creative director that really only loves his style and takes no input so eventually your beaten to submission and hate your job.

so for me #2 unless he really doesn't want to be the fix it guy. he will have to stay late but if it means your doing something you love you really don't mind then.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

The downside to #1 (as I see it) is that small companies in this economy might not be as stable as a big company. Additionally, it doesn't sound like it will afford him the creative outlet he would like (and that is based on my impression of the "side" work he does).

The downside to #2 (as I see it) is as the only in-house designer, late nights will probably be 4 out of 5. Additionally, the travel might be an issue as you would be alone to care for DD.

If it were me, I would research the heck out of the big corporation over the weekend. Check the stock market (if they are publicly traded) to see what their growth curve has been over the last 5-10 years.

Make sure they have a solid foundation. For the smaller company, call the local BBB and see what the feedback is. If DH knows the company as a competitor of his current employer, then he should know what the new company's reputation is and whether they're up and coming enough to be scaring his current employer as a serious competitive threat.

Overall though, it doesn't really sound like he would be making a "mistake" regardless of which one he chooses. And, frankly what may be the right choice for you and him & DD in 2011, might be wrong in 2014, and there is no way to figure that out now.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

I am a graphic designer and after reading both descriptions, I would go with the second job. As someone else mentioned, you can let them know you have another offer on the table and the salary is slightly higher. Maybe be they will match...

Best of luck to your husband!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#2

BTW - a poll would have been nice!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Ad Agency for sure.

he can squeeze his creative juices on the side business

plus, the salary is higher and the work hours seem more flexible. I am a bigger fan of smaller companies in general, too.

one of my best friends working in big corporate advertising. the hours are HORRIBLE. HORRIBLE.

she was at a smaller firm that was great..until it was bought out by a bigger firm. the culture completely changed.

Message edited 2/4/2011 4:44:17 PM.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

All things considered I say #2

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Thank you Thank you, this is great!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#2

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

good luck

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#2!!

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Another vote for #2--it sounds like a more stable company and a better commuting situation.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#2

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#1 sounds like more of the same, so I would say #2.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

#2 hands down.

Re: Help DH make a decision! (esp designers/artists/creative people)

Here's my experience with a small company..I would choose #1 and here's why but this may not apply for what your DH wants..I've done GD for 15 years...my first job was in a small company... I was one of 2 artists at the time fresh out of college..2 months in the other guy quit...which meant everything was MY work now..many late nites, stress, etc...so that would freak me out about being THE artist for #2 (but it also turned into a great learning experience & pushed me beyond my comfort zone). If you are out sick...no one else will pick up the slack.

The upside to being in this small company after they hired another person was the fact that I got to "shine". Being in a small company you can get noticed. I worked closely with the owner/President on things outside the daily work flow like Marketing campaigns and ideas for the company. I was brought into "brainstorming" meetings. My voice was heard and my ideas were used which was pretty cool. As the years passed and the company grew and was reorganized I had the opportunity to be a manager. After more growth I got to be one of 2 artists in a newly creative division of the art department called Creative Service where I got to work on less boring BS and be more creative. I left the job after 8 years...we took a BIG hit on 9-11 due to our office location & our clients but I recently got a call from the company owner about some p/t work...because they remembered me. (I left in 2004). Either one sounds like a great opportunity so i wish your DH the best! Sometimes us creative types have trouble deciding.

Message edited 2/4/2011 11:10:28 PM.