As I mentioned, I’ve been vacillating between unemployment and underemployment for over 13 months. Previous to that time, I was telecommuting full time and doing very well. During that time, I’ve also been telecommuting, but my very part-time employment means that I’ve rarely been able to pay my bills (thank goodness for family and Church). After seven or eight months of really looking, I’m finally starting to get some nibbles. Here’s the four options I have, keeping in mind that relocation is not really an option: 1) A company about 7 hours’ drive from my home. This company would allow me to telecommute, but would like me to spend an entire week on site, every 1-2 months. The position would be salaried with benefits, with high enough pay to cover all of our bills. However, my experience in the industry tells me that the job security is next to none. 2) A university about 15 minutes’ drive from my home. This university would not allow me to telecommute, but would give me consistent hours (except when they need me to work different ones). The position would also be salaried with *amazing* benefits, but with low enough pay that I would only be able to pay about 80% of my bills. From what I know, job security at this university is also *amazing*; as my wife puts it, you’d pretty much have to kill your boss, to get fired. And of course with a large organization such as this, there’s *plenty* of room for advancement, which could translate to a higher salary, somewhere down the line. 3) A startup company about 30 minutes’ drive from my home. This company is currently using me as a contractor, but is hoping to get government grants in February 2009. If said grants come through, they plan to hire me and about 20 others as salaried employees, with benefits. The position is primarily telecommuting, with occasional trips to the office. The pay is high enough to cover all of our bills, but of course it’s a brand new company, with everything that entails. 4) A placement firm that would assign me to a company with one office about an hour from my home, and another about 2½ hours therefrom. I would telecommute almost exclusively, but they would like me to actually come in, occasionally. The position would be salaried with benefits through the placement firm, but as the project is only supposed to last about six months, I have no idea what will happen after that. I’d still presumably be employed by the placement firm, but will they have another project for me…? The pay is high enough to cover all of our bills both during the project and for some three months thereafter, but…. So…. Anyone have any gut reaction? I’ll certainly be making it a matter of prayer, but the more feedback I can get, the better! Thanks!

i would do what you would think is most fun. i think the job at the university sounds pretty darn good, but thats just me bc i like people. that and its close to your home. yes it will only cover 80% of your bills but does your wife work? if your worried about not paying bills and if your wife doesnt work then i would chose the next best thing and that would probably be the new company. yes it may struggle but what happens when it succeeds? you never know. pray about it. God will give you the answers you desire. good luck to you and i hope you choose the one that is best for you! Dez

With the economy the way it is going, I would take the 'amazing' job security and benefits. The University job sounds the best of them all. The reasons are as follows: You already say there is next to no job security in the first job. More jobs will be lost in the coming months. Bad idea. Startup company, 'hoping' to get grants. The failure rate for new companies is very high within the first two years during normal times (87%). This is a recession/depression. Those numbers will climb. Bad idea. Placement job, most likely temp. Again, the job situation is getting worse instead of better. No guarantee of having that job continue (probably won't) and no job prospects afterwords. Bad idea. I would go for job security at this time, with this economy. Mostly set hours is good, it's close enough that commuting is not really an issue, and the benefits have to be factored in. You could always cut back a bit if needed, to make your bills less. Or perhaps your wife could work as well? There are more options open to you with the university job than any other. As someone unemployed for 2+ years now, and knowing how the economy is going, security would be my biggest need.

I would choose the university personally; the security and benefits at this point especially, would seem to be a wise move in the long run. It has been my experience that if you do well in a university system the pay will advance. The medical benefits REALLY helped later and continue to do so. I'm retired from a university library and have to say it was the most wonderful job. Pay was meager but it was secure and the job was very enjoyable. The interaction with the students made it for me. All the ideas and thought buzzing around in such an atmosphere was really enjoyable for me as well. The first pay increase for me was pretty reasonable as they start most at a probationary rate and move them into the 'main stream' pay rate when the probationary period is up. Other small raises and some nice incentives followed such as leave that increased as I built seniority. That was my experience; I wouldn't change a thing. :) Best wishes on a great job!