So - I just got offered a job as an eligibility worker i for the county that I live in. I would have to start a 16 week training for the position in 2 weeks. Of course I think this is an awesome opportunity and it will have great benefits, and there would also be in the future room for me to move up with in the county.
I spoke with my boss this morning, and he does not want me to leave. I like my boss, but I don't really feel that I am used to my full potential. (who knows if I would be at the county either). So they told me that they can not pay my medical, dental, vision, etc., like the county can but they will give me the paid holidays, and an extra week of vacation to match what I would receive at the county.
Now I don't know what to do ~ I need some food for thought and I figured you ladies are just the right people to give it to me straight. Also, I should add that I am working for an industrial electrical contractor and work has been quite slow. Rumor has it that if we do not pick up by the end of the year, we could have to close the doors. (of course it is a rumor and I am not sure how much truth there is to it)
So, I am ready for the adive, what would you do in my situation? and what are the most important things that you think I should consider? I have to make a decision by the end of the day today.
TIA
ETA: We have several electricians who are not working right now. We are a kind of specialized field and do not really do commericial or residential work which seems to have more opportunities right now. I originally applied for this job back in December and took a test in March and then interviewed last month. I decided to look for a new job because after I had reached 90 days here I asked my boss to give me paid holidays. They said that after I had been here for a year they would give me paid holidays. So after a year went by, I did not get paid for the holidays and they said that they changed their mind due to the slowness of work. I was mad that they didn't keep their word so I looked for another job and this was one of the few that I applied for. I am pretty picky about work if I already have a job. If i was jobless of course I would apply for more things. Just to answer a few of your questions. I feel like this is an opportunity that I shouldn't pass up. There was literally about 200 people at the test that I had to take and they told us that they were doing 2 tests a day for 3 weeks! That is thousands of people applying for this position. I think I need to take it!
I took the job!! I start on the 29th. Yeah - I am so excited!! I think I knew all along, but they wanted to keep me so bad that I started feeling guilty I guess. Thanks for all your advice, you confirmed everything that I was already thinking!
You guys are the greatest!!
@ Cheryl B ~ there policy is that they do not pay for holidays. Only the people who are on salary get paid holidays except the office manager who has been here for like 18 years. I negotiated it in after I had been here for 90 days. But after the time had passed, they changed their minds. I guess it was meant to be because that was the only reason that I even looked for another job when I stumbled across the county position, and that was last December!! It has just taken this long for things to come to fruition.
Thanks everyone for your encouragement - it is much appreciated, and helped me to feel better about leaving. Have a great weekend ~
: )
I would take the county job in a heart beat.
What will you do if you stay and the company closes down in 6 months? Do you think you would be able to find another job?
I always recommend moving forward, not back. Everyone that I know that has stayed for a counter offer, had ended up moving on soon anyway. I would take the new job. Nothing is certain, but it sounds like the better deal for now.
I really think you should take the county job.
You will have complete benefits, which in itself is HUGE.
You will have chances for advancement as well.
At least here, it's hard to get a county job because so many people apply for them.
I think you'll be sorry if you don't take the job.
Congratulations! Go for it!
Take the county job. 1 - you're not challenged at your current job. 2 - the county job offers more security since your current company might fold. 3 - better benefits. 4 - room to grow with the county that your current job doesn't have.
I DIDN''T take a county job as an eligibility worker in Orange Co, CA at one time because my mom backed out of babysitting at the very last minute. I was told they would call me for the next training, and it never happened, even though I called back a few times a year and was told I was "on the list for the next training." A friend of mine got a job with them a few years later, moved up high in the ranks, and she found out no one ever got called back for a new training, you get a one-time opportunity because of all the people wanting jobs with them.
My point being, if you don't take the job now you will never have the chance again, so be aware of that when making your decision ❤
I would take the county job as well. Your current job won't pay you as much, won't give you the benefits AND they're struggling financially? That's an easy one as far as I'm concerned.
go with the county job. sounds like they have better benefits. plus, you sounded excited about the new job and not so much the old one.
For me that's an easy choice, go with the county. The insurance alone would make the choice easy for me. Once you factor in the vacation, paid holidays, opportunity for advancement and the job security, easy choice!
Definitely go with the county job. Moving forward is always scarry because we her comfortable. Go for it and start a new adventure that you sound excited about.
I would take the County job. If you calculated the $$ value of the benefits it would be significant. That alone would be enough if I currently did not have benefits. Sounds like there are more opportunities for the future in this new job as well. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!!
Take the county job, the benefits would be better and if your current company is struggling all the promises in the world wont mean diddley
TAKE THE JOB!
County jobs are good jobs!
You need the benefits.
You can always leave if you hate it (give yourself a 6mos to a yr) but
you can never get it back if you decline it.
County jobs are much more secure than other jobs (even though they've
had furloughs, etc.)
Go, go, go. I am happy for you! Enjoy your new job! :)
Of course your current boss doesn't want to lose you and who can blame him/her for trying to offer incentives to keep you on board?! Only you can know what you want to do - don't feel bad for leaving if it's what you want! If you applied in the first places, I'm guessing you want the job. I worked for the state and government employed jobs are fantastic, personally I would take it in an instant! In fact, I was just laid off my state job (booooo, this is something to consider when taking a county job) but I am patiently waiting for it to open back up and I will return...its a great job!
Take the new opportunity, as your old one could be coming to an end. There is a season to everything and this one has come and gone. Move on. New opportunity, better benefits. You didn't mention retirement, but that's the biggest one of all.
I work for an electrical contractor so I know what you mean about things being slow....( if we didnt have an aging school system that needs tons of electrical work I wouldnt have a job right now) I would take the county job. Thank your current boss, and begin your new job. Congrats & good luck
Maybe I don't understand things or the way they are, but how is working for the state of California a sure thing? Isn't the gov. budget in CA as badly messed up as our country as a whole?
Consider:
Which pays more? Always go with the higher paying. People always say "money isn't everything" - that is what poor people say. Money is very important. The bottom line is this: work will always suck some days, there will always be things you love and hate about every job. Which puts more money in your bank account to do things with and for your family?
Which has better benefits? Same reasons as above.
Which job is most stable? Same reasons as above.
Going for the job that would make me the "most happy" has never worked. It has made me the most broke and regretful. You make yourself happy no matter the situation.
Good luck!
Weigh the non-tangibles too - government jobs are often less flexible than private jobs. If your child has a baseball games at 5:00 and you need to leave early can you at the county. Government jobs have great tangible benefits, but sometimes, depending on the job, flexbility for family needs is not there. It might be the same at the private firm you work for now though.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Do you have anything in writing?
What can you change at your current position to make you more utilized and use the education, experience and knowledge you already have?
Why were you looking for a new job in the first place? to get a raise from your current place of employment or to get "utilized"? Everyone starts looking for different reasons....
I would heed rumors....use the knowledge that you have in place regarding your current employer and look around - are people jumping ship? is business waning?
i personally would take the county job even though my boss has countered their offer....I would go with the stability...however, CA is in a huge financial crisis itself...so that's something to consider...what happens to your job if CA keeps going down the tubes?????
MUCH to consider...please feel free to PM me...
Take the County job.
Hands down.
The company you are with now, is not stable enough. They can't even pay for your insurance benefits, and several Electricians are not working now.
That is a HINT... at the stability of the company.
TAKE the County job.
Since your current employer already did not keep their word, I say go. Working for the govt you will receive great benefits and retirement benefits, so in the long run it will be more beneficial and it sounds like it will be more of a challenge you are craving.
take it, take it, take it. working for county you might not make the most money, but hours are great and benefits are wonderful!!!
My sister in law seems like a great employee but has a real knack for working for smaller employers (think she likes the family atmosphere) who tend to have to eliminate positions rapidly in an economic downturn. From my perspective that seems real nice of your current employer to try to match most benefits but health dental and vision are actually HUGE benefits that you cannot really ignore (or pass up in some households). I also often wonder if when an employer pulls out all the stops the can to keep you if they will hold it against you later when they feel the economic pinch or workload pinch from accomodating you. I will warn you that I am VERY skeptical of employers intentions and motivations as I have been burned bad by employers who turn on a dime when they suddenly don't like you anymore but ultimately of course this is up to you
I worked for the county in my area - take the job! The county isn't going anywhere. And from experience, if there's a rumor the company may close its doors, it's probably more than a rumor.
Good luck!
You've already answered your own question. If you were happy at your current job, you would haven't gone looking for another. Also " I think I need to take it!". Take the job, don't second guess yourself.
Okay first you need to figure a better estimate of whether the firm you work for will fold. That is a big one. I know the firm Troy works for is always in need of electricians so it may not be as dire as they make it sound.
The next is do you need health benefits? If they would just be nice but not needed they shouldn't be given much weight. Who has the most pay? Flexibility to leave if your kids need you? Career advancement?
Really you need to give weights to each issue and then make the best decision for yourself. :)
If the current position hasn't live up to their promises before why do you think they would now? If even the change sounds like it might be a more interesting position and opportunities in the future to advance, think about taking it. And benefits are nothing to discredit. If you did get sick would your current policy cover you? COBRA and personal policies often have "escape" clauses that benefit the carrier. Usually with state positions the policies are more "stable."
County or state jobs are good. Take it. It is stable job.
You need to look out for yourself. I can tell you that your current company does not care about YOU (nor will the county). I think employees are too loyal and caring for their own good and the company feeds off that. I am sure your boss likes you and his hands are tied by the company regarding your benefits. I do know a few large business owners and do recall one statement "HR works for the owner not the employees." He was joking how stupid some employees are to go to HR for their problems. I am not saying to do anything unethical, but you have a better option and I think you should go for it. I bet the current job will start offering things to keep you. I find this very tacky. I know it has happened to several people. It goes to show they want to give the least they can to keep you. Why wouldn't they have offered those incentives before you accept another job? Oh, they will now match the county's offer minus the benefits? Depending on your situation benefits can amount to 30-40% of your pay.
Updated note:
I just read your update. Very happy for you and I'm glad you didn't feel so guilty that you stayed. I am sure you left on good terms and hopefully they will have the door open should you ever need to work there again.
County job! You can't beat a job like that and the security it provides.
Best of luck!
My husband made a career move, well.........was laid off for about 10 months but thankfully had 911 dispatching under his belt for a number of years and that led him into his f/t job he is currently at. The pay is way less then what he made working in the paper industry for 23 yrs, but the benefits are wonderful. He is civil service so there really aren't any "merit raises" but it looks like they have already noticed his potential. He had gotten an offer at one paper company, but was very hesitant because of the hours he'd be required to work, the traveling and not only that, if one big company is bought out chances were good the new one would eventually and we'd be in the same place again. If you are able to do this, I would say go for it because the benefits alone make it well worth it, plus the other benefits that go along with the job. Best of luck to you in making your decision.
The answer is simple. Take the County job!!!! It will be job security in the end and better benefits...not empty promises. Your current job seems to not be as stable as it should be especially in this day and age. The first test they failed was not to keep the promise about paid holidays.
Take the County job....you'll have no regrets!! Especially if they are hiring!!
I think you need to take it also. Look at the way your company has treated you already. You already know that you can't count on them to keep their word. And those benefits would be too hard to turn down. It's very rare anymore than people get medical, dental and vision. Also, with the county you will have a great retirement package, paid holidays, paid vacations, paid sick time - all of which will NEVER be taken away from you. I would make the change and I would also tell my employer that one of the deciding factors was they way they "changed" their policy just about the time they were supposed to start paying you for holidays. By the way, did they ever announce that there was a changed policy, or only said that after you asked for the holiday pay? That might not have been legal, but I don't know.
Hi, I work for the county as an eligibility worker for a few years now, and I left a job of 17 years and I have yet to regret my decision. I think you made the right choice....
Best Wishes
Change is good. The peace of mind and paid benefits are worth it. Your current employer has already gone back on his word once. The economy is not helping your current employer either
Many members of my family have worked or currently work for government agencies. I have to say, they tend to be very safe jobs with very good benefits. Benefits, especially health, are huge! Also, many government jobs have a retirement system that will give you a pension. A pension is usually much better than a 401K, as a pension pays you a set amount each month and a 401K is a lump sum that will eventually run out. Government pensions offer more security, as opposed to a company that can go out of business. Just food for thought.
take the county job
That's great for you! Definitely take it!!!!!
I would take the job. The medical, dental and other benefits alone are a huge bonus and don't compare to a few extra days of holiday pay. You are probably healthy right now but if anything were to happen, medical expenses could be huge.
Take the County job - stable job with great benefits & room for advancement. With the economy in the state it's in, you could be out of a job tomorrow with the industry you're currently in. Seems like a no brainer to me, personally.
Take the job! I have the same opportunity and hope that I will be able to feel the same way you did! Good luck and be happy!!
