<p>So I'm having a tough time deciding on a couple of job offers. I have one from an IT consulting company and one from an automotive manufacturing place. Both good known companies. I'm an IE. The location is for the car company isn't that good, it's in the midwest and i'm from the northeast near ny, so big culture shock. The consulting job is in a major northeast city so that's a plus. However, I have read awful things about this consulting company such as backstabbing, type A personalities and drama. I'm more of a laid back person so money and materialistic things don't boost my ego like other ppl. I'm mentioning this because the consulting place pays more. The work is also boring from what I've read and I wouldn't have a specific skill set, I've even been told I wouldn't get skills from this consulting job. The car company would give me specific skills (manufacturing--efficiency and IE stuff). I really hate the location but the ppl seem nicer and wouldn't have to deal with drama. The consulting job would let me travel more which is something I've always wanted to do. </p>
<p>I'm torn. Eventually I do want to go into industry and be in a company that makes a difference in society using technology/engineering. But I also want to enjoy my life and see the world. Something the auto company wouldn't give. Any advice would be useful.</p>
<p>At the beginning of your career you should be choosing a job that will help you develop your skill set. The pay should be enough to have a decent place to live and some money for fun stuff. But the pay shouldn’t be the primary reason for selecting a job. Obviously, with two otherwise equal job opportunities, choose the one with more pay.</p>
<p>You also need to be aware of job growth opportunities. Once you get those new skills, does the company offer you a place to use them? Also, once you get those new skills your pay should also increase. </p>
<p>If the company doesn’t have good growth opportunities, then you will have to leave for another company that does offer a growth opportunity. Making a job chance or two early in your career isn’t a bad thing (and my be a good thing to get varied experience if the company you’re working for can’t provide it). By somewhere around the 5 to 7 year mark in your career, you should be settling into a career that you like and have some good skills at. Depending on the field and the company, it may be a company that you can spend some time at and settle down, career wise.</p>
<p>So, if it were me; I’d be go for the car company. It might also be interesting to live in a different part of the country to see what it is like.</p>
<p>I always thought of the first job after college as an apprenticeship, where the goal is to learn as much practical knowledge as possible. The real career starts a few years later.</p>
<p>Living expenses are cheaper in the Midwest than the Northeast, so that might offset some or all of the salary difference.</p>
<p>I have a MS in IE, although I never did much with it. Given what I know about the field, the car company sounds better. Just because your first job is with a car company doesn’t mean you’re stuck working for car companies the rest of your life.</p>