Comparing job offer(s)

[Anonymous]

I have a 2nd interview with a hospital later this afternoon for a medical social worker position. I have another job offer in hand and while I have accepted, I haven't signed anything and wouldn't start for another 3 weeks. The company recruiter asked how aggressively I am looking for a job so I shared that I do have another offer. The recruiter said that she would get the ball rolling with the supervisor who was just waiting on her approval to officially interview me (she already completed a phone interview). I got a call literally 10 minutes later and they are stream-lining the interviews so the next two interviews will both be this afternoon. The supervisor seemed extremely positive and I think I have every reason to be optimistic about this position.

They sent me their benefit package info and I'm doing a comparison with the other job offer and they line up honestly really very well with their benefits. The only drawback to the hospital position is that their paid leave is not as good as what I'm getting through the state. I will lose all 14.5 paid holidays and my time off is really very precious to me as I have a young family. It looks like it is possible to take some unpaid leave for holidays and it may be possible to accrue more than the 27.8 days of annual/sick leave if I work overtime but I wonder if it would be helpful to try and negotiate for extra leave if offered the position or would you negotiate to extra pay to compensate? How much extra pay would you try to negotiate for?

That's really my main issue as this position would be literally 3 minutes from home (I could technically walk it or bike it!!!) as opposed to a one hour drive. They are both great social work positions.

[Anonymous]

Does the vacation package change based on years of service?

If not, they probably can't play with it.

I'd ask for salary first.

[Anonymous]

pretty amazing to loose all the holidays.... I'm sure you could ask for more time off.


but if you think about all the time you'll get back. nearly 300 hours (200 work days one hour each way figure you'd still commute 100 hours 15 miniutes each way) of commuting time.

thats huge. i'm looking at job now that will have very similar benefits in time off, greater salary, but double the commute

[Anonymous]

The vacation package changes with years of service 1-5, 6-10, ect... and also with your job band 2-4 at the rate I was looking at but with job band 5 and above, it also changes by years of service but the starting rate for year 1-5 gives an additional 5 days off a year for full-time work.

It seems better to just negotiate extra pay and take the hit with the unpaid leave when needed.

I need to get through the interview first. It's go time!

[Anonymous]

Who you work with will also make a difference. If the second job is in a dysfunctional office, then don't accept it.

[Anonymous]

You are right- the team is a big part of work! It seems like it a really good team that work together well and the staff seem happy! The RN’s who iI’d be working with say they have gotten great autonomy and feel supported in their decisions by the supervisors who back then up but don’t overstep. That’s great for professional growth!

There will be a big learning curve for me but I think that will be good! It’s a new area of social work to dig into and will be a nice change from CPS.

They were really impressed with me and told me just that. The director asked how much I’d like to make anndso I asked for several thousand over what I was offered with the other position and she knows I have another offfer but would prefer to work for them. The director is talking with hr and will get back with me tomorrow or latest Monday with “numbers”.

This would be huge for me! Being right there...I could bike to work or jog before work or even drink a cup of coffee and read the paper ? I could put my child on the school bus and be able to be right there in case of emergency. That’s just so huge!! I won’t have to move out of my community that I’ve grown to love, I can stay local. A 3 min commute opposed to a 45-60 min is just unbelievably exciting to me!

It seems like they pretty much already offered but if I get that great offer, I’m going to accept! If they offer what I asked for, would you just accept or try to negotiate for more?

If they offer lower, I obviously come back with a higher amount.

Just to magnify the excitement this week: my husband asked for and got a terrific raise yesterday with additional raises guaranteed when he gets a certification completed-they will pay and a plan to train him to replace his supervisor when he’s promoted i the next 2 years...they want to keep him and he loves his job! So much good news!

[Anonymous]

update: They offered me the job at the hospital!!! They offered me exactly what I asked for!!! I probably could have asked for even more. I think it's probably too late to ask for more money but I did want to contact benefits to see if my husband can get insurance through them or if not, I may try to counter with a little more money to compensate for that.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! I agree that asking for a higher salary a this point would be gauche.

[Anonymous]

you need to ask for higher than what you expect in negotations--thatsaid, great that they met you at what you asked, so I dont think you should go back for more.

BUT, you can work on hiring bonus or vacation, etc.

[Anonymous]

I actually countered for more based on the benefits: I would have “lost a little money” paying extra for my husband to be on my health insurance so they totally agreed to an extra $2,000 which more than covers it!

In fact, this offer is so unbelievably good....to just share I’m going from a 40-50 minute commute in a stressful CPS position to a position as a Hospital social worker 2-3 minutes from my home with a 40% pay raise!

I am so excited I might cry. The benefit of being right in my community, near my children and Home AND earning a terrific wage is unbelievable to me. I had stayed in my position for so long because the local CPS positions paid even LESS with higher caseloads and so the only good positions were an hour away. I’ve come on here a few times through my search and interview process (3 offers in 4 months) and I have appreciated the advice I’ve gotten! I feel like I navigated this like a “boss”.

Happy Friday the 13th! ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually countered for more based on the benefits: I would have “lost a little money” paying extra for my husband to be on my health insurance so they totally agreed to an extra $2,000 which more than covers it!

In fact, this offer is so unbelievably good....to just share I’m going from a 40-50 minute commute in a stressful CPS position to a position as a Hospital social worker 2-3 minutes from my home with a 40% pay raise!

I am so excited I might cry. The benefit of being right in my community, near my children and Home AND earning a terrific wage is unbelievable to me. I had stayed in my position for so long because the local CPS positions paid even LESS with higher caseloads and so the only good positions were an hour away. I’ve come on here a few times through my search and interview process (3 offers in 4 months) and I have appreciated the advice I’ve gotten! I feel like I navigated this like a “boss”.

Happy Friday the 13th! ?

CONGRATULATIONS! So happy for you and a little envious at your commute ?

[Anonymous]

Congrats!!!