Turning Down a Job

saden1 · 06-16-2006, 05:47 PM

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.

gibbsisgod · 06-16-2006, 06:12 PM

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

joebert · 06-16-2006, 06:18 PM

I made that mistake once.

hooskins · 06-16-2006, 06:33 PM

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.

BigSKINBauer · 06-16-2006, 07:59 PM

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

joebert · 06-16-2006, 08:13 PM

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 day 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 week in the bank.

dmek25 · 06-16-2006, 08:44 PM

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

saden1 · 06-16-2006, 10:26 PM

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.

That Guy · 06-17-2006, 12:44 AM

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.

GTripp0012 · 06-17-2006, 01:48 AM

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.

dmek25 · 06-17-2006, 08:04 AM

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?

MTK · 06-17-2006, 09:39 AM

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.

TheMalcolmConnection · 06-18-2006, 12:31 PM

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.

BDBohnzie · 06-19-2006, 10:29 AM

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...

FRPLG · 06-19-2006, 11:08 AM

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.

06-16-2006, 05:47 PM	#1
saden1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Seattle Age: 45 Posts: 10,069	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. __________________ "The Redskins have always suffered from chronic organizational deformities under Snyder." -Jenkins

06-16-2006, 06:12 PM	#2
gibbsisgod Playmaker Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: 129 W 81st street Age: 45 Posts: 3,503	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

06-16-2006, 06:18 PM	#3
joebert Camp Scrub Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Age: 43 Posts: 24	Re: Turning Down a Job I made that mistake once. __________________ Every now & then declare peace, it confuses the hell out of your enemies.

06-16-2006, 06:33 PM	#4
hooskins Most Interesting Man in the World Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chantilly, VA Age: 37 Posts: 8,606	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. __________________ Vacancy

06-16-2006, 07:59 PM	#5
BigSKINBauer Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Washington, DC Age: 36 Posts: 5,688	Re: Turning Down a Job saden is a rich man. I've turned down an internship for another one, thats about it for BSB.

06-16-2006, 08:13 PM	#6
joebert Camp Scrub Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Florida Age: 43 Posts: 24	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 day 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 week in the bank. __________________ Every now & then declare peace, it confuses the hell out of your enemies.

06-16-2006, 08:44 PM	#7
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	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. __________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." courtesy of 53fan

06-16-2006, 10:26 PM	#8
saden1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Seattle Age: 45 Posts: 10,069	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. __________________ "The Redskins have always suffered from chronic organizational deformities under Snyder." -Jenkins

06-17-2006, 12:44 AM	#9
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: VA Age: 42 Posts: 17,574	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.

06-17-2006, 01:48 AM	#10
GTripp0012 Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Evanston, IL Age: 37 Posts: 15,994	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. __________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

06-17-2006, 08:04 AM	#11
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	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? __________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." courtesy of 53fan

06-17-2006, 09:39 AM	#12
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,740	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.

06-18-2006, 12:31 PM	#13
TheMalcolmConnection I like big (_\|_)s. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Age: 43 Posts: 19,254	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. __________________ Regret nothing. At one time it was exactly what you wanted.

06-19-2006, 10:29 AM	#14
BDBohnzie Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Frederick, MD Age: 46 Posts: 4,628	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... __________________ Bad Things man, I mean bad things... “WE TOOK HIM IN THE SIXTH ROUND SO WE'RE NOT SMART EITHER.” - Shanny on what the Skins saw in Alfred Morris

06-19-2006, 11:08 AM	#15
FRPLG MVP Join Date: May 2004 Age: 46 Posts: 10,164	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.

Turning Down a Job

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