Job Offers, Benefits, and Distance - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sue · 03-28-2007, 02:20 PM

Hey everyone =)

Have a few questions and would like some opinions.

I'm moving cross country in May. Already have an apartment set up, already sent my resume out to MANY different places. I'm a Certified Medical Assistant and have worked in pediatrics for over a year.

There are a couple of places who have responded back to me that I'm possibly interested in, and of course, there are pros and cons to each of them.

Possibility #1: A children's hospital, working in the ER. Pay is unknown at this point, because someone from a different location has to call me with details. Pros are: I prefer pediatrics since this is what I'm doing now, benefits would be wonderful, and I'm assuming pay wouldn't be so bad either, it being a major hospital. One major con: it's 36 miles one way from my apartment.

Possibility #2: A pediatric clinic. Doing what I'm doing now, but in addition, there is allergy and asthma involved with it. This is good, because I would learn even more than I know now. Pay is still unknown at this point, because although they're very interested in me, they prefer to meet with me in person, which will be done the first week I arrive at my destination. Also, they're only 9 miles away from my apartment. Still don't know about the benefits either. So can't think of any cons yet until I find out about the pay/benefits.

Possibility #3: Another hospital. Not pediatrics, but okay by me since that would mean I would gain even more experience. Pay is fine. Not what I would really like, but I did the math, and it's manageable with my bills and rent, and would still have enough money left over at the end. Very awesome benefits. One con so far is that it's 19 miles away from my apartment. This isn't TOO bad though, since with my current job I drive 20 miles one way as it is.

So I know I need more details, and I'd like them as much as you would to help me figure this out.. but, nothing I can really do.

So here's my question. Would you drive a long distance for hypothetically good money, or would you prefer to drive a shorter distance with less pay, but able to save money due to less gas and taking public transportation, etc.?

Thanks

kurty[B] · 03-28-2007, 02:55 PM

Once my home is finished I will be 30 miles from work, but that's because of cost of living near my workplace. It is not so bad though, because traffic flows rather smoothly.

The 39 miles can be not so bad, or a horrible daily nuisance depending on traffic. If there was no means of public transportation for the 39 miler than I would think long and hard about it.

Depending on the pay, the position 9 miles away seems like the best bet.

eribrav · 03-28-2007, 03:04 PM

kurty is right. It's the quality of the 39 miles that matters. In a rural area, with highway driving and no traffic that's a 40 minute trip. In an urban area it might be a couple of trains, a bus and then a walk which personally would be a nightmare.
Also I wouldn't assume that the "major" hospital is going to offer great pay. The opposite may be true.
I would also guess that the peds clinic will have predictable hours whereas the ER may be random and probably will involve working some holidays and weekends. You should definitely ask about the hours involved in each.

dirtyrascal7 · 03-28-2007, 06:22 PM

Do you have experience working at both a hospital and a clinic? I don't really know the difference, if any, but that could be significant if you have a preference on the size of the facility, opportunity to move up, etc.

As for your question, I really wouldn't even put a big emphasis on logistics. I'd just take the job you feel most comfortable with -- the people, the facility, the job description -- because you can always move closer later if you feel you're too far away. And IMO, 36 miles is really not that far assuming everything else is what you want it to be.

newtx · 03-28-2007, 07:46 PM

I wouldn't let the the distance scare you. Make your descision based on long term job satisfaction. Choose your location based more upon job satisfaction and potentially future growth and happiness.

braisler · 03-29-2007, 08:04 AM

Sue, the obvious question hasn't been asked, so I'll go ahead. If you are just renting an apartment, why not just move closer to whatever job you take once you get there. Sure, there is a hassle of moving, lease contracts, and all of that, but that is a one time hassle. Over and done with and then you can live maybe 3 miles or 3 blocks from your new job. Isn't that what apartment style living is supposed to be about... the ability to pick up and move along when and where you need to?

My 2 cents.

03-28-2007, 02:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sue Teufel Hunden's Freundin Location: Westminster, CO	Job Offers, Benefits, and Distance Hey everyone =) Have a few questions and would like some opinions. I'm moving cross country in May. Already have an apartment set up, already sent my resume out to MANY different places. I'm a Certified Medical Assistant and have worked in pediatrics for over a year. There are a couple of places who have responded back to me that I'm possibly interested in, and of course, there are pros and cons to each of them. Possibility #1: A children's hospital, working in the ER. Pay is unknown at this point, because someone from a different location has to call me with details. Pros are: I prefer pediatrics since this is what I'm doing now, benefits would be wonderful, and I'm assuming pay wouldn't be so bad either, it being a major hospital. One major con: it's 36 miles one way from my apartment. Possibility #2: A pediatric clinic. Doing what I'm doing now, but in addition, there is allergy and asthma involved with it. This is good, because I would learn even more than I know now. Pay is still unknown at this point, because although they're very interested in me, they prefer to meet with me in person, which will be done the first week I arrive at my destination. Also, they're only 9 miles away from my apartment. Still don't know about the benefits either. So can't think of any cons yet until I find out about the pay/benefits. Possibility #3: Another hospital. Not pediatrics, but okay by me since that would mean I would gain even more experience. Pay is fine. Not what I would really like, but I did the math, and it's manageable with my bills and rent, and would still have enough money left over at the end. Very awesome benefits. One con so far is that it's 19 miles away from my apartment. This isn't TOO bad though, since with my current job I drive 20 miles one way as it is. So I know I need more details, and I'd like them as much as you would to help me figure this out.. but, nothing I can really do. So here's my question. Would you drive a long distance for hypothetically good money, or would you prefer to drive a shorter distance with less pay, but able to save money due to less gas and taking public transportation, etc.? Thanks __________________ Teg yw edrych tuag adref.

03-28-2007, 06:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
dirtyrascal7 That's what she said	Do you have experience working at both a hospital and a clinic? I don't really know the difference, if any, but that could be significant if you have a preference on the size of the facility, opportunity to move up, etc. As for your question, I really wouldn't even put a big emphasis on logistics. I'd just take the job you feel most comfortable with -- the people, the facility, the job description -- because you can always move closer later if you feel you're too far away. And IMO, 36 miles is really not that far assuming everything else is what you want it to be. __________________ "Tie yourself to your limitless potential, rather than your limiting past." "Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him."

03-29-2007, 08:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
braisler Addict Location: Midway, KY	Sue, the obvious question hasn't been asked, so I'll go ahead. If you are just renting an apartment, why not just move closer to whatever job you take once you get there. Sure, there is a hassle of moving, lease contracts, and all of that, but that is a one time hassle. Over and done with and then you can live maybe 3 miles or 3 blocks from your new job. Isn't that what apartment style living is supposed to be about... the ability to pick up and move along when and where you need to? My 2 cents. __________________ --- You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother. - Albert Einstein ---

03-28-2007, 02:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	Once my home is finished I will be 30 miles from work, but that's because of cost of living near my workplace. It is not so bad though, because traffic flows rather smoothly. The 39 miles can be not so bad, or a horrible daily nuisance depending on traffic. If there was no means of public transportation for the 39 miler than I would think long and hard about it. Depending on the pay, the position 9 miles away seems like the best bet.

03-28-2007, 03:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
eribrav Junkie Location: upstate NY	kurty is right. It's the quality of the 39 miles that matters. In a rural area, with highway driving and no traffic that's a 40 minute trip. In an urban area it might be a couple of trains, a bus and then a walk which personally would be a nightmare. Also I wouldn't assume that the "major" hospital is going to offer great pay. The opposite may be true. I would also guess that the peds clinic will have predictable hours whereas the ER may be random and probably will involve working some holidays and weekends. You should definitely ask about the hours involved in each.

03-28-2007, 07:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
newtx Addict	I wouldn't let the the distance scare you. Make your descision based on long term job satisfaction. Choose your location based more upon job satisfaction and potentially future growth and happiness.