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I'm in quite the dilemma. Or not, maybe I'm over thinking this.
I'm currently in retail and make a decent wage as a first level manager. I make around $35k a year live comfortably. I work Monday through Friday and my commute is 8 minutes in the morning and about 15 in the afternoon.
I currently have a interview with the Federal Govt WG level ( blue collar hourly ). I will be making %30 more than I do now but will have to commute work I'm guess 30-45 minutes in the moring to 45-1.15hr in the afternoon depending on which shift I'm on.
If I were to get this job, do you think it would be worth the drive to take a Fed job and get out of retail?
I'm not used to commuting, as my whole life I've chosen jobs that have been close to home.
Commuting is a "quality of life" issue. I don't see why anyone would choose to commute an hour each way if they didn't have to. As for the rest...no advice. Good luck with what you decide.
I would take the Fed job, no brainer. Not only higher pay, but more stable and I assume way better benefits, and chances to advance.
The commute would suck, but 30 in the morning and 45 in the afternoon (best case scenario) would be do-able for me. But if I were in the same position, I'd look to live somewhere closer to the job (another plus for apartment living).
Fed vs retail? For 30% more money? Fed every single time.
A fed job will come with a pension, better benefits, and generally speaking more stability. Retail stores come and go, open and close, and your job is only as stable as the profitability of your location. Take the long view, and remember that Sears was a powerhouse retailer in the early 1990s.
The commute is a definite downside. Can you move to reduce that?
Federal for sure. My commute has often been at least 30 minutes, so I'm not seeing that as such a downfall. Bonus if you live somewhere where you could take transit (and thus salvage some of that time for other endeavors).
Your interviewer might be concerned about your commute if it's 1.5 hours one way in the afternoon. You should probably be prepared to move if you get this job.
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