Turning Down a Job
 

I just recently turned down a job with a very promising company (product and $ wise). The pay was 15k more than what I'm getting paid now but what they wanted me to do was not exactly what I want to do at this point in my career. They wanted me to do clean up work and as everyone knows clean up work just isn't fun. So my question to you is have you ever turned down a job? Why?

p.s. It's the bloody off-season folks.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

i have turned down jobs but not ones that paid me 15k more than i was already making.
you must already be making a fortune

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I made that mistake once.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

its not a mistake...honestly its cliche, but sometimes its not all bout the money...I am running an exterior works company right now, as the branch manager....the hours kinda suck, and the pay is ok...but in the end im running my own show, and I have a manager position, all of which are things that are clear benefits over the other job.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

saden is a rich man. I've turned down an internship for another one, thats about it for BSB.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

But hooskins, that's $15,000.

Manager position, cleaning up after everyone, what's the difference ?
That's like being in the higher paying position, for less pay.

Putting $20 a [i]day[/i] in the bank adds up to $7,300 a year (no intrest/ect), they say if you start young you can retire a millionaire by putting 20 a [i]week[/i] in the bank.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

dude $15000 is still $15000. i would have sucked it up and taken it. sometimes it really is all about the money.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I do alright for myself but I am by no means rich. LaVar Arrington (yes, I went there) is rich not poor ol' saden. Actually, the market is really good right now and my skills and experience are in demand.

As for turning down a job that offers 15K more, well, lots of factors contributed to my decision. For one thing, their office complex is in downtown Seattle which would mean I'd have to ride the bus to-and-from work every day...something I really want to avoid. I did that the first 7 months I was here and let me tell you, the fall and winter season is no fun.

The project they wanted me to work on is a piece of turd from what I gathered. The product was in beta stage, had too many developers working on it (20 ppl), most of which were inexperienced. I like doing mentoring work but there is no way in hell you can be an effective teacher after the product reaches beta stage. It's all cleanup/patch work at that point and resistance to change is equivalent to the gravitational pull of black-hole.

Lastly, I'm due the usual 4%-5% raise soon, which should to some extent make up for the "loss" of 15K.

p.s. For me, it really isn't about the money _anymore_ unless it's the kind of money you simply can't say no to and no one really makes those kind of offers anymore.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I totally understand.. 3 years into an EE degree I found out i think it's actually pretty boring stuff that i'm not sure i really want to do.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

Can't say I've encountered a similar situation. I've been doing one thing since I was ten, youth umpire. At this point, nine years expierence, I have a very flexible schedule, and the pay per game is in the $50-$60 range, which comes out to $30-$35 an hour because I work fast. I work for myself technically. Of course, it's only a summer job, and I can only get 2-3 games a week, so I can only make so much. I doubt I would pick up another job before I go off to college no matter how much it pays.

You gotta love not working ever and making as much as I do.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

saden, maybe you were being set up by upper management to see how you handled that job. any chance that job was a try out?

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

As some have said, it's not all about the money. You have to weigh all the positives and negatives.

To me, time off, a 9-5 schedule, no weekends, short commute, good work environment, and good benefits are just as important to me as a big salary.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I graduated college with a BA in Graphic Design. I did it for a year and a half, said I never wanted to do it professionally again and when I left they offered me a month's vacation and 10k more to stay.

I fix computers all day and have never been happier. You just have to do what makes you happy and 10,000 dollars would not have made me happy. That's how much I hated it.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

clean up work as a programmer is absolutely no fun whatsoever. i certainly don't blame you for turning it down.

and yes, there are certainly other things that can easily make up for lost potential income. benefits, shorter commute, regular work week with no weekends...

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I have a local government job where I work 8-5. No weekends. Leave when the clock strikes 5 no mater what. Decent benefits. As secure a job as can be had. And 100% no stress. I took 12k LESS for this job than the project management job I had before. This job is in a different area so with adjustment I am making probably 7-8% less than before but the job is just priceless honestly. The best part. Our department worked to get ourselves in position so that we are basically all getting 30-40% raises come January 1. Then I will be making MORE even without adjustment than before. Money isn't everything though for sure.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I think once you factor in tenure on your current job, you're due for annual increase later this year, and perhaps promotion within your existing organization it could be close to being a wash. It's easy to look at $15k for face value, but as other's have pointed quality of life is so much more important. Still turning down 15K for me is not like turning 15K for the next guy.

Years ago, I was switching companies and thought I had made the wrong decision - I mean I was leaving around 25K on the table. I moved on, and in about three months the company folded. Talk about happy!

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

How's this for crazy: This Friday I'm leaving a lucrative career in web design with good pay, great people, flexible hours and great career opportunities and benefits.

I'm leaving it to be a cop where I'll get almost no pay, shot at, spit at, yelled at, cussed at and completely unappreciated by everyone.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[quote=mheisig]How's this for crazy: This Friday I'm leaving a lucrative career in web design with good pay, great people, flexible hours and great career opportunities and benefits.

I'm leaving it to be a cop where I'll get almost no pay, shot at, spit at, yelled at, cussed at and completely unappreciated by everyone.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?[/quote]

Son, we need to sit down and have a talk:)

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

I know, I know.

The upside is I get to drive fast and carry a gun. Legally.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[quote=mheisig]I know, I know.

The upside is I get to drive fast and carry a gun. Legally.[/quote]

....and eat lots of doughnuts!

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

Hey now, no need to stoop to stereotypes.

I prefer celery and a nice glass of water as an afternoon snack.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[QUOTE=mheisig]How's this for crazy: This Friday I'm leaving a lucrative career in web design with good pay, great people, flexible hours and great career opportunities and benefits.

I'm leaving it to be a cop where I'll get almost no pay, shot at, spit at, yelled at, cussed at and completely unappreciated by everyone.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?[/QUOTE]


Funny thing is I know 3 people in the IT field who have done the same. Childhood fantasies of being a cop must be irresistable eh? Anywho, don't let chicks off because of breasteses.

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[QUOTE=saden1]Funny thing is I know 3 people in the IT field who have done the same. Childhood fantasies of being a cop must be irresistable eh? Anywho, don't let chicks off because of breasteses.[/QUOTE]

I am immune to large breasteses...mostly. Well, sometimes. Ok, I'd pretty much offer to drive them home and pay for their ticket if they had a nice rack.

There's something about IT that just gnaws at me. Maybe it's the terribly depressing, emasculating, soul-crushing feeling after every day that my life and work don't matter or make a difference and I'm only helping "The Man" line his pockets. Yeah, maybe that's it...

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[quote=mheisig]How's this for crazy: This Friday I'm leaving a lucrative career in web design with good pay, great people, flexible hours and great career opportunities and benefits.

I'm leaving it to be a cop where I'll get almost no pay, shot at, spit at, yelled at, cussed at and completely unappreciated by everyone.

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with me?[/quote]

damn you are doing this in SE?!?....wow i have respect for that, bc F that, i would never want to patrol in that place, no offense. keep safe bro...

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[QUOTE=hooskins]damn you are doing this in SE?!?....wow i have respect for that, bc F that, i would never want to patrol in that place, no offense. keep safe bro...[/QUOTE]

I think he's in Southeastern US, not Southeast DC

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS]I think he's in Southeastern US, not Southeast DC[/QUOTE]

Yeah, Southeastern US - I mean I'm dumb, but I'm not dumb enough to be a cop in SE DC;)

Re: Turning Down a Job
 

[quote=TAFKAS]I think he's in Southeastern US, not Southeast DC[/quote]

haha oh wow...i guess i skimmed over the "the"...my bad