So I have two awesome sounding job offers and they're both very different from each other, even down to which city they're in and I have no idea how to decide. I change my mind every 10 minutes. I can't make any real decision if I'm constantly second guessing myself. What do I do?

P.S. Sorry Dri.

go to the city you'd rather live in...or the one that pays more.

Flip a coin. While it's in the air, you'll wish for one or the other. That's the one.

The cities are San Francisco and Seattle. Both are cool. The SF job pays a bit more, but the city is more expensive and there's no state income taxes in WA. So it's about the same really.



Definitely a method I've been considering. But I think I need to talk it out with friends and family more before I resort to that.

whoa, so you got offers from both? nice. congratulations.

Be glad you have two great choices. And good job, proud of you bubba.

Seattle rains all the time and you will be gloomy.

I'm not gloomy

And believe me, the nice days here make it all worthwhile

Are you at liberty to discuss where you have an offer from ?

Coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco
--Mark Twain

That is pretty cool, shmoo. Ask yourself what you see yourself doing in 5 years. In 10. In 20. Which job would best help you accomplish these goals?

Good luck..I am sure either way you will make the right choice, and even if you don't, fuck it, you can always move.

Obviously go with Seattle (KEXP on a radio) Schultzy's Sausages, Summers in Seattle, Being in the NW and not California.

I'm putting in for jobs in London, Seattle, Portland, Boise and Spokane right now. Hopefully i'll hear back soon.

I am. I didn't because of a lack of desire to share my life with fake internet people.

But what the fuck.

Offer 1: Returning to my old company doing economic consulting, but the San Francisco office rather than Boston. This is a fast growing office with lots of junior people and senior people, but not many in the middle where I'd be, so it's a good opportunity. Plus, the VP who is after me is on the fast track and will likely be promoted soon, so that'd put me in a good position too. I know several people in this office who I worked with before, and they're all awesome people (see amusing story below about one of them). It's like returning to a family and I feel I belong there. I won't have to go through a period of "paying my dues". Pays more, but SF is really expensive. But there are twice as many baseball games to attend.

Offer 2: Marketing research for Microsoft in Seattle (well, Redmond). Basically determining key drivers of their volume licensing business (that is, selling software to businesses) and having a real impact on what the company does. It will be a very small team and they gave me a really attractive offer (I know what other graduating MBAs got). Lower salary, but really good signing bonus, stock, and relocation benefits. I'd want to live in Seattle though and commuting home from Redmond SUCKS. Probably better, or at least more predictable, hours than the econ consulting job. Also has the attraction of trying something new. All the people I met there seem very nice, but I clearly don't know and love them as much as a few of the people I know at the other firm. Plus, Microsoft is evil. But their also a big client of the other firm, so maybe they're both evil.

Amusing story referenced above: Back in 2000, when I first started at my own firm, this other woman who now works in SF started the same day as me. One evening not long after we started, a group of us were out and she and I were talking about music. I was saying how I kind of liked a lot of lesser known artists and when she was asking me names I kind of was avoiding naming anyone because I didn't think she'd know them. So then she says "well, do you know Built To Spill?" (remember, this is 2000 when BtS were still awesome). I was blown away. We ended up talking about Dismemberment Plan, Jawbox, Papas Fritas, and a bunch of others. Not acting fast enough in asking this young lady out may have been one of the bigger mistakes of my life.

Wasn't Seattle voted America's most literate city?

That's one of the reasons it tops my North America vacation spots.

One of my friends, being "helpful" pointed me to this article that says that SF is one of the healthiest cities for men: http://health.msn.com/menshealth/articl ... wsignin1.0

Also, I interned for MS and lived in Seattle for the summer, so I know what it's like as a city, at least in the summer. Strangely, it's been sunny all three winter visits I've taken in the last year. Recruiting weather?

It was pretty awesome to be able to listen to them in the car during the commute. But man did that commute suck.

I listened to them over the internet at work in Boston, I could do the same in SF.

Three of the top ten are in SF metro area.

I know both cities pretty well. Seattle great, but SF is a world-class city. A little more intense. Seattle is easier to live in. SF has better food, more interesting urban neighborhoods. But if you are going to wind up in a suburb, Seattle is better.

Oh, hell yeah. SF's crazy, traffic-wise. There is no way you could even dream about how bad the commute is there. To anywhere. And don't get me started on rents.

And besides, the Big One (earthquake) is looongg overdue.

So what are you going to do, stay in your hotel room and read the whole time?

True, but wine country is a 45 minute drive away and/or just cross the bay, where its always hot in the summer.

That's some good tough choices to have son.

Good advice Senator. When you split hairs on this one, you might as well look long term.

move to san fran. i've already got places to stay if i choose to visit seattle. this way i can see a whole new city.

thanks, shmoo. you're the greatest.




(congratulations on the job offers! you'll be missed.)

Except if I want to live in the city, my company is also in the city. I'd take public transportation. Actually, the girl I talked about above walks to work on nice days! Can't walk from Seattle to Redmond and even public transportation isn't great.

did you miss the boat on indie rock chick? If she's not hitched, and you're still carrying a torch, i'd head thataway

but either way you're gonna get some good as hell seafood.

She's got a boyfriend that she moved to SF for. That ship sailed in like 2001.



Is that a euphemism?

An euphemism? That doesn't sound right.

no you foodie, it's a food reference.

Do we have any Bay Area boarders? mcaputo?