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The only possible reason to even consider Option 2 would be if you have a serious learning disability and/or an established track record of abysmal test-taking performance even when you are comfortable with the material. A year is a long time--you should have plenty of opportunity to master the concepts on which you will be tested--and it sounds like literally everyone working there managed it.
If it helps you better evaluate your options, you should ask the hiring manager from Option 1 what percentage of new hires "wash out" at the one year mark by failing the test. I have a hunch that you will find the number is very, very low. After all, it would be incredibly expensive and frustrating to keep training and then subsequently losing candidates year after year. I am sure you will find plenty of organizational support behind you in preparing for and passing the exam.
Job offer 1: It's with a government municipality. Benefits are amazing. Initial pay is ok ($40,000/year) but there is plenty of room for growth. Stuck at that pay for the one year probationary period. The job is in my chosen field of study and is interesting. However, the catch is that you have to pass an difficult exam at the end of the first year of employment or you are terminated. If you pass the exam, you are a "lifer" with that agency (i.e. difficult to fire, etc) and can start advancing with that agency.
Job offer 2: With a different government municipality. Benefits are amazing. Initial pay is $45,000 and there is decent room for growth. Stuck at that pay for a two year probationary period. The job is not in my chosen field of study and is rather dull. No catches. Once you complete the two year probationary period you are also a "lifer" and can start advancing with that agency.
Would you choose the "dream job" of offer 1 or the stability of offer 2?
If they will be testing you on what you are learning on the job and you love what you do, choose job 1.
Offer 1, you are likely to do better in that job anyway. Besides, given that it's in your field of study, you would probably pass the test anyway (unless you got REALLY lazy).
Job offer 1: It's with a government municipality. Benefits are amazing. Initial pay is ok ($40,000/year) but there is plenty of room for growth. Stuck at that pay for the one year probationary period. The job is in my chosen field of study and is interesting. However, the catch is that you have to pass an difficult exam at the end of the first year of employment or you are terminated. If you pass the exam, you are a "lifer" with that agency (i.e. difficult to fire, etc) and can start advancing with that agency.
Job offer 2: With a different government municipality. Benefits are amazing. Initial pay is $45,000 and there is decent room for growth. Stuck at that pay for a two year probationary period. The job is not in my chosen field of study and is rather dull. No catches. Once you complete the two year probationary period you are also a "lifer" and can start advancing with that agency.
Would you choose the "dream job" of offer 1 or the stability of offer 2?
If you don't go with the job in your field, I wonder if you will regret the road not taken. Most of us spend a lot of years working; I think working in a field you truly enjoy is worth the lower starting rate, but that is something everyone has to decide for themselves.
From what you posted here I'd say take the long view, and go for the job in your chosen field.
Congratulations on two job offers, and good luck to you.
Is your chosen field of study the career path you want to take? Or is the career path for job# 2 something that is good for a long term career.
Whichever you take, that experience gained is going to be the building block for your career.
In 5 years if you want to move across the country and need to find a new job, you will qualify for positions based on your work experience. This will either be the career track of #1 or #2. Which one is better long term for career opportunities(pay, growth, number of positions available) and which one to you like or loathe?
Just because #2 isn't your field of study, it doesn't mean it isn't the best career path for you. Once you get a couple years working experience in #2 - that becomes your new career niche.
Which one is a better fit for you - short and long term? Get out a sheet of paper and put pros/cons to being in in career #1 after 5 years and career #2 after 5 years . On that sheet of paper - put the pros/cons of where you would be in 5 years of your current job ended and you had to find another. Is it possible with that 5years experience? Are there many jobs out there that you would qualify for, or just a few? What kind of advancements would each lead you to in 10 or 15 years?
To be honest, I lean toward #2 because the pay is more than 10% higher.
How confident are you that you can pass that test after 1 year if you took job#1?
Why does #2 seem ho-hum and does the overall career potential for#2 ever get better than ho-hum? Why do you think it's ho-hum? Is it the people in the office or the entire line of work/specialty?
I didn't get a response to my question, so I'm just going to throw this out there.
Some tests, no matter how much time you put in studying, are extremely difficult to pass. The CFA, which some people say is the hardest test to pass on Wall Street, is one of those. Fewer than 20% of the people taking the test for the first time, pass levels 1 through 3 of the CFA.
If this test you're referring to has a low pass rate - you need to take that into serious consideration. Yes, at first blush everyone will feel job #1 is the more attractive job to take - but is it a job you can keep?? That's the question.
Is your chosen field of study the career path you want to take? Or is the career path for job# 2 something that is good for a long term career.
Whichever you take, that experience gained is going to be the building block for your career.
In 5 years if you want to move across the country and need to find a new job, you will qualify for positions based on your work experience. This will either be the career track of #1 or #2. Which one is better long term for career opportunities(pay, growth, number of positions available) and which one to you like or loathe?
Just because #2 isn't your field of study, it doesn't mean it isn't the best career path for you. Once you get a couple years working experience in #2 - that becomes your new career niche.
Which one is a better fit for you - short and long term? Get out a sheet of paper and put pros/cons to being in in career #1 after 5 years and career #2 after 5 years . On that sheet of paper - put the pros/cons of where you would be in 5 years of your current job ended and you had to find another. Is it possible with that 5years experience? Are there many jobs out there that you would qualify for, or just a few? What kind of advancements would each lead you to in 10 or 15 years?
To be honest, I lean toward #2 because the pay is more than 10% higher.
How confident are you that you can pass that test after 1 year if you took job#1?
Why does #2 seem ho-hum and does the overall career potential for#2 ever get better than ho-hum? Why do you think it's ho-hum? Is it the people in the office or the entire line of work/specialty?
Job 2 would be better for transferability. It's "boring" because it sets me up for an administrative or HR job depending on the outcome of the program. I guess I could work in admin or HR anywhere if you put it that way.
Job 1 is more of a niche with less transferability.
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