<p>You are lucky to find youself in the position to choose! I personally would go with the larger firm. Has been our experience that there is less stability in smaller firms and more of a drive to produce for the firm.Of course, there are no promises in the workplace today! The larger firm could be bought out and you could be eliminated ! Brings about the concept of instability in the workplace today. Follow your heart and good luck! There may be another job 5 years down the road no matter what choice you make!</p>
<p>What do you want?</p>
<p>It sounds as if your main goal is to work for an employer in a city where you can attend your choice school? Frankly, I don’t see any employer paying your $300k and allowing you enough quality time to devote to earning a degree of any substance. You wouldn’t have to travel? You wouldn’t have late hours in the office? Would you really earn $300 with a 9-5? If your focus is earning the degree, why not just continue consulting where you have the flexibility you’ll need? I think you’re setting yourself up to not progress with your degree. </p>
<p>On the flip side:</p>
<p>What do you have to lose by taking (trying) one of the positions? You’re consulting today! You can always, ALWAYS, consult again. And, a stint with a reputable firm never hurts a consultant. </p>
<p>I think you’re being much too analytical about selecting the position. An acquisition isn’t an automatic kiss of death. Some employees do quite well during/after a M or A. </p>
<p>Intersesting theory you have about selecting a position based on who you will work for. That’s very risky, for obvious reasons. My bosses have moved around more often than I have. While it’s nice to like the person for whom you work, I wouldn’t bank a career decision on it. You’ve already experienced the downside of taking a positon for a certain boss and losing your own job after your boss loses his. Why make another decision based on that?</p>
<p>Are both of these companies in the same line of business? Doesn’t one of them strike your fancy more than the other? If I lose my job today, I can tell you where I would go. There’s a HOT company in my field and I’ve been following them for some time. Which of these companies does it for you? You have to take some of the 10k with a gain of salt. I’ve read some 10ks where my clients discuss what they’re doing with me, and I can tell you that they are nowehre near completing what they say they’re doing. It’s a lot of rah-rah. A career isn’t all about stability and money… it’s also about your own passion and how that passion fits with the company. </p>
<p>I have to assume that you have a niche. Anyone who doesn’t have a degree and earns what you earn (and consults) has to have a niche? What’s your niche? What are you known for? If I mention your name on the street amongst people in yoru field, what will they say about you? Now, how does that niche fit with these potential employers. </p>
<p>It’s not just about them (the employers)…it’s about YOU. you’re successful enough to turn the tables and think a little differently.</p>
<p>Best of luck with your decision!! </p>
<p>P.S. I also wouldn’t move in with your D 
No matter how close you both are.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading this discussion with a lot of interest, and although I came in late to the discussion, I can tell you what I would do:
- I’ve always followed my heart and my passions in making major life decisions. If job #2 excites me, and is a path to learning, and career growth I would take it. True, you need to check out the financials of the company but as Alumother said, in technology, it is better to go with the people and the technology even if it is a candidate for takeover because you have learned something in the meantime.
- I don’t know how strong your desire to get a law degree is, I would look into that. If your job is all-consuming and you have absolutely no time to pursue your studies, then I’d go with choice #1. But I’d also consider how important it is for me to go back to school and for what reason.</p>
<p>I agree with Momsdream about an acquisition not being the kiss of death. The company I work for was a small brokerage firm that was gobbled up by a major retail bank in order to start an investment banking division. Now, this part of the company is their “strategic” product area and where most of the growth will be because this retail bank has nowhere else to grow within the US.</p>
<p>I also love working for small companies or at least small divisions within large companies (as I’ve done in my last 2 career moves). There is a sense of entrepreneurship and excitement and the ability to make major decisions without much bureaucracy that does not exist in a larger company.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Which may be as valuable as a law degree…</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Could a couple of election law courses satisfy the learning deisre?</p></li>
<li><p>On the smaller company. Is it self-sustaining or is it VC funded? What is the burn rate and the VC picture/dilution for the next three years? Would your high salary put you at the top of the chopping block? </p></li>
<li><p>All the job offers, suddenly. This sounds like a life which is being called to adventure…not nesting with adult children. If not these particular adventures, then perhaps another?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for responding; I do sincerely appreciate it. After some time on the phone Friday with both companies I have accepted the position with the larger company. It is not exactly what I am looking for, but it’s at least 75% of what I would like to have, which is about the best I can do right now. </p>
<p>Momsdream, your post makes a lot of sense. I do have a “niche” and I am very, very good at it. However, no matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to get my income over about $120K/year - that’s the most I’ve ever earned. When my position was eliminated last year, I did sort of a career “autopsy” - in 25 years in the workforce, I’ve worked for four companies. Promoted at least twice in each, made VP in two of the four. But I cannot make the SVP or EVP level, because I do not have a college education. And of course I have absolutely no hope of ever making president or CEO. At least this job will get my income over the desired level, and, if I cannot force the time necessary to get a degree, at least I will be able to pay off my house quickly, and then be better positioned to resume consulting so I can have the time to go to school. </p>
<p>I absolutely hate consulting - it’s been a good ride in terms of the money, however, I hate the stressful nature of it - have five clients, they’re all different; it drives me crazy to be focused on one project and then another client goes 911, or I’ll be at one site and two of three of the others call. It’s sometimes very difficult to make the cerebral journey between industries, zero to 75 in a subsecond. It came to a head for me last week - I returned a call to a trade lawyer in Washington, I’m doing the work for his antidumping case, and, on autopilot, I accidently identified myself to his paralegal as the tech operative from the commercial real estate company whose CRM database I’m building. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so stupid. Then there was the event three weeks ago where I introduced my technology insertion clients to the mayor, explaining how they were expanding into this city (which of course made the mayor very happy), completely forgetting that any statement made to the mayor is a matter of public record (they’re black ops, totally top secret). Fortunately I fixed it so no harm - still - how embarrassing - this is simply a mess. </p>
<p>The other myth of consulting is that it’s easy at first to pretend there’ll be all this free time - or at least one will have more control of time - well, perhaps I’m doing it all wrong, but it just hasn’t been so for me. I’m finding I have less time - make that no time - to do anything I want to do for me. Probably most of this is because I worry too much where the money is going to come from - and I probably shouldn’t, because the money does indeed come. But it’s never guaranteed, and I cannot enjoy any “down time” because I’m always worried about the revenue flow, always obsessively checking email, afraid to be separated from my cell phone, etc. I’m doing things that I absolutely do not approve of - such as answering my cell and conducting business discussions while driving in heavy traffic - I hate that, think it’s stupid and dangerous, but take the risk because there is no guaranteed salary. Perhaps it would be easier - more enjoyable - if I weren’t so mindful of a dependent in college, and of course a mortgage payment. </p>
<p>Bottom line, I want to go to school, I’m 25 years late, it’s my turn, and trying the larger company seems to support that intention better than any of my other options right now.</p>
<p>Latetoschool:</p>
<p>I agree with you that consulting is very time-consuming even if you do one project at a time. The bosses always want to squeeze the most out of you.
Good luck in your new job!</p>
<p>latetoschool, good luck to you.</p>
<p>Dadofsam, thanks for your post, I do agree that the first, larger company will consume less of my time. The support elements are already in place and so I will not be expected to have to pinch-hit for IT support etc. They’ve already lined up all my goodies, insurance, laptop, blackberry, office and furnishings, etc., paid for my travel, I don’t have to think about anything except to execute faithfully and to the best of my ability on what they’re hiring me to do. If I can give them 40-50 solid hours per week of my very best work, there should be enough energy and time left so that I can go to school.</p>
<p>Achat, I simply do not like small companies - or at least, I don’t think I do. I have interviewed with - and turned down - several job offers from small companies in the past 12 months. Mostly I have come away troubled by the lack of knowledge, poise and professionalism - and even informal learning - perhaps because of tight budgets and the need to multi-task, the lead entreprenuers and senior staff seem to be far less capable and current than their peers in larger organizations. </p>
<p>I do agree that mergers and acquisitions can work out wonderfully. It was certainly a wonderful experience for me - until my president was fired, and then three successive bosses were assigned to me over the following several months. I was actually thrilled when my position was eliminated because the last six months were miserable.</p>
<p>Cheers, thanks for your kind words! It’s not sudden though - I have continued the interview process, and have averaged one or two job offers per month. However, these two are the first I’ve come to considering accepting. </p>
<p>Of course, the top, elite jobs that I would really, really like to have, I have not been able to land an interview, because I have no degree and therefore am screened out immediately. Actually, the job I have accepted does require an undergrad degree and they prefer a master’s. But my former supervisor’s recommendation combined with my work history allows them to set this requirement aside. Had I applied for this position cold - say from a job posting - I would not have been invited to interview.</p>
<p>jym, I am not sure I could count on my former boss to create a position for me if I were to have selected #2. Actually, I fear the opposite might happen - if, for example, I would have selected #2, and told him, he might close all future doors. I don’t think I would risk his future references - but since he “sold” me to his bosses - the ceo, president and evp - turning him down could be poor form and potentially expensive.</p>
<p>LTS, everybody is different. I could care less if I’m never promoted again, as long as the money keeps coming. The stress of an SVP or EVP is more than I am ready for at this time in my life. I’ve officiall gone on record stating that I have three key motivators:
1.I have to remain on compensation - no straight salary job - they aren’t lucrative enough.
2. I have to work from home.
3I have to manage nobody. I have dotted line support, but don’t want to supervise direct reports. NO thanks!
. If you know what you want, it’s easy to target appropriate career moves without worrying about every little thing. You’ve done exceptionally well, so far. So I’m sure I’m not telling YOU anything:) </p>
<p>Are you really interested in becoming a SVP? What if you could earn SVP money without a promotion beyond your current level? At my company, executive level promotions are usually the reward for something you’ve done that nobody else wants to do…maybe an International stint, being an EA to another SVP (this is VERY typical - have you done this? ugh - no money here). I’m just curious about all of this. I really have no advice. </p>
<p>What strikes me is that your 3rd and 4th paragraphs remind me of my life as an EMPLOYED person. I don’t think that sort of pressure is limited to consultants. Not only would you be expected to ANSWER your cell from the car, you would be expected to host conference calls that are planned within your “windshield” time in order to maximize your effeciency. Your blunders are also not limited to consulting. </p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll do well and congrats on making a decision!! </p>
<p>How will you celebrate?</p>
<p>Dstark and marite, thank you so much, I may need a bit of luck here! </p>
<p>Backhandgrip, your post is exactly what I was thinking - bigger company, less risk. Somewhere around here, I have a copy of Richard Florida’s book - the one where he projects employment landscape, knowledge workers and the creative class. Bottom line, you’re right about the five year prediction.</p>
<p>Momsdream, I do not really want to be an SVP. I want to study political science, election law, nationbuilding, and counterterrorism. Haven’t a clue how that might lead to a paycheck, but that’s what I want. </p>
<p>I agree with you that the same stresses come with employment (hence the blackberry - yuck, I cringed when they told me that). However, what strikes me most about the lead entrepreneurs of micro businesses, small businesses and solo practitioners is that over time they appear to get “left behind” intellectually. It’s not that they’re collectively less endowed with grey matter - it’s more that their responsibilities and schedules simply do not seem to permit them to acquire the continual stream of informal learning and “tribal knowledge” that one inhales and absorbs in larger organizations. Perhaps I am being unfair or overly judgmental, however, I have been unemployed for 13 months, and I have maintained a very active job search, and I’ve met many, many owners and principals in small businesses, and many solo consultants over these same 13 months, and quite frankly what I have observed is not appealing.</p>
<p>I absolutely intend no offense to any consultants or small business owners - I do have the highest regard for their collective accomplishments (especially since they create 80% of new jobs) - however, it’s not where I want to be.</p>
<p>Oh - forgot to add - I’ll celebrate when a college offers me admission lol :)</p>
<p>Momsdream - another thought - perhaps you could offer some ideas: by my fuzzy math, in order to equal all the bennies and goodies (insurance, training, etc.) that come with a $120K salary working for a traditional employer, I’d have to bill about $200K consulting. I have not been able to do that. Perhaps my skill set isn’t strong enough or my network deep enough. Perhaps I simply don’t perform well when worried about cash flow. Perhaps I haven’t a clue how to go about it. Oh, and working from home? I hate it - I feel trapped, isolated, benched, retired. </p>
<p>How do you do it?</p>
<p>** Independence isn’t Pretty**</p>
<p>I know what you mean about small firms. The same will happen when a large firm’s organizational structure is thinned (which I suppose is happening more and more). Suddenly, you have to rely on a skill you haven’t used in more than 5 years becasue you’ve always had “someone” to do it for you. Now that person (or entire department) is gone and you’re “it”! This is where you have to make hard decisions about what to sacrifice - yourself or your job. You either draw the line and say “sorry, I don’t know how to look into the billing system to see that small error the client is complaining about and I’m really not interested in learning. We must have BILLING people to do that - can someone pull the bill and check?”) This usually earns you the title “primadonna”. Or, you roll up your sleeves and set yourself back 5 years by re-learning the grunt skills. I suspect this need for backpedaling is often a sign that it’s time to move on. </p>
<p>I’m with you totally! But, if I were a consultant, it wouldn’t bother me as much.</p>
<p>Actually with a good accountant and the tax deductions you can take as a consultant, you would not need to bill anywhere near $200K to get the same benefits. You might actually be able to bill less than the salary to yirld the same net depending on your assignments.</p>
<p>What surprises me here is that companies still care if you have a degree, Would they care for Bill Gates and all the rest whose achievement have transcended degrees? Do they actually tell you this matters or are you just shy to apply for jobs that list degrees as a qualification? If you’ve performed in companies and have references, I can’t see this making an iota of difference.</p>
<p>But I agree with the poster that said you can’t have it all. If you want to break out of the $120,000 range, you will have to devote all of your energy to the company.</p>