1337haxor

So I just got two job offers for my internship in September. Both of which are nice jobs I wouldn't mind doing since I would learn a lot from either one.

Job #1:
It is for a global technology consulting company. I will get a chance to work with a lot of cutting edge technologies setting up labs and helping out with any IT related things in either the networking, servers, or intrastructure departments. People there seem really nice and I had a great time interviewing with them. Atmosphere was great (they even had a conference room dedicated to Milton Waddams from Office Space). They told me that their main goal is to have me help out and to learn as much as possible.

40 miles away (about 1 hour drive) and I will have to pay tolls for the PA turnpike to get there (about $2/day at most). No free lunches so lunch will be out of my pocket.
Normal work hours from 7 to 4.
Pays $40/week more then Job #2
I'd be the only intern at that branch




Job #2:
#5 in the investment firm business. Will get to work with production servers after trading hours. No chance to work on any other fields. The job interview seemed alittle dry where they asked me questions about this and that. It seemed like a place where I did what was needed, but I could learn from it. They tried to influence my decision by inviting me to a social party with other interns they were looking to hire. Everyone I know or have talked to that works for this company loves it and tells me I should take the job.

5 miles away (15 minute drive) and there are no tolls. Free food all day so I can eat whenever.
Work hours are 1:30PM to 11:30PM.
Pays $40/week less then Job #1
They hire tons of interns, but most of then I'd probably wouldn't get along with (drunk womanizing frat boy types)




I would go with Job #2 due to distance and free food, but the hours are kinda keeping me from clicking the accept button. Doing the math, I'd be making less from Job #1 due to the extra things I have to pay for, but I'm trying not to use money as my main factor. Now with both jobs, there will be more then enough opportunities for overtime as well. Both places have a great atmosphere and very casual.

What do you guys think? I have til Monday to decide. If Job #1 was closer, I'd go with that one. And if Job #2 didn't have crazy hours, I'd go with that one. I also feel that I can learn more from Job #1, but I might learn as much from Job #2. Both companies are pretty give in their field and both are willing to hire me again for my next internship or even full time once I graduate.

What I'm going to do tomorrow morning is do a few dry runs to Job #1 to see what kind of times I'm looking at if I take different routes to the place. That way I know the optimum route there and back with or without traffic. Mapquest estimates 50 minutes, but I know there is construction on some of the roads.

-Robert