Node.js developer Volodymyr Lipovsky wondered how to choose between two offers, one of which promised money, comfort and stability, and the other — development, challenge and interest. With such a choice in mind, he turned to the community. Here is which side IT people took in over 200 comments and what arguments they gave.
Node.js developer Volodymyr Lipovsky wondered how to choose between two offers, one of which promised money, comfort and stability, and the other — development, challenge and interest. With such a choice in mind, he turned to the community. Here is which side IT people took in over 200 comments and what arguments they gave.
Here are two possible offers that Volodymyr Lipovsky suggested for developers to consider:
Do HR still ask you about 5 years? I no longer hope to find a product that I want to tell my friends about, I still wanted it 5 years ago, but I don’t have enough money, so the first offer. If it means that I will have to study a little less than all the time, that will suit me, because during the full-scale study it became more difficult. I still invest money in development, that’s why there is still not enough of it. And I have a psychotherapist, though, he costs so much that no social package will cover it
Option number 1. Interesting tasks are everywhere. With a normal load, there will be time for self-development. The main thing is that it is not support. An interesting stack, a young friendly team, challenges and high traffic are synonymous with overtime and poorly organized processes. If your normal working day is 10-12 hours, everything else is irrelevant. Growth opportunities are everywhere. If this is bulging, most likely there is manipulation to squeeze more out of a person. New technologies die out quite quickly, it makes sense to focus on more stable solutions. They have become classics for a reason.
The first option. Nowadays, it’s better to choose money, and then you can change jobs if the project doesn’t inspire you over time.
Work to earn money. I can have fun and do what I like for free. Therefore, the first 100%
If you live in Ukraine and you also have a large expense item for the army/your own security — the first option is a time requirement that does not require an interesting stack or product idea.
The first option is clear. You can be inspired when your basic needs are met.
I believe that you need to do what is interesting. Otherwise, nothing else will simply make sense. Just think: where will you burn out most quickly? That’s right, in the job you don’t like. And, as it was said in one book, «a dead man can’t work.» You will most likely be more satisfied in the job that interests you. And there will be development there, which will allow you to receive a 300% salary in the future.
An uninspiring project and an old stack — you won’t last long there, you’ll burn out morally and then you’ll have to take a couple of months of vacation for that 60%). But in reality, the difference in salary is a little smaller.
Finances are definitely important, but option 3, where you have both money and a cool stack, would be better. And to get that in the future, I would probably also pay attention to option 2. You will get less money now, but by working with a fresh stack, you will gain skills that will allow you to apply for a better role for better money in the future.
Personally, I would choose the second option, because I would still think if the difference in money was colossal, for example, twice, and if it was 60%, then in the second option you get the opportunity to work with pleasure, having the desire and opportunity for development, which will ultimately allow you to catch up with the difference in salary, because the entire experience of working in such a place will be much better, and plus, when you change jobs in the future, you have already worked with something new and interesting and have improved, which will make you a more interesting candidate and open up new and diverse ones for you.
I would choose the second option. A big salary, but without inspiration, will not bring satisfaction. In such a job, you will quickly lose interest and regret it. The second offer offers a higher salary than now, but less than the first. But… unlike the first offer, the second one has interesting challenges, a nice team leader who motivates, and also an interesting product idea. It is definitely worth it
I’m for development, challenge, interest. And also offer the 2nd option your amount, make them a counter-offer, arguing with your skills and experience. Like why your experience is worth so much. Being happy every day is a necessity and a choice. Not everything can be bought. With a healthy mentality, you are a more relevant candidate even for the next companies. Or don’t choose between the 2, but wait for the 3rd offer.
Choose the one where you won’t be fired for some game. Frankly, the Latest Stack, High Traffic, Product Idea always look incredible on paper, just like in the CV of most candidates) Until you work on this project for at least a few weeks, feeling all the «greatness» of the code base with the latest stack, and how all the internal processes tickle your hump like a rake. For now, all these rosy teenage hopes can be left behind)
Interesting survey. Looking at the current salary — the higher the current salary, the more likely it is option #2
If you have enough to close the Base + more than 50% of the salary remains, then development. And so the pants would buy the whole thing.
Also consider the stability of the second company on the market. Judging by the description, it is a product. So what stage is it at? Is it self-sustaining, or is it still living solely off of investments? What are the company’s actions regarding development, promotion, and attracting investments? And ideally: find current employees on Linkedin and try to communicate. Ask what the atmosphere and processes in the company are really like. Whatever happens, you will work in a «new and interesting» project for 3-6 months and then look for a job again.
If the project is great, the team is great, and the team is incredible, why is there psychological help in the benefits? It’s kind of alarming.
As Dmytro Bravchuk, a Global Technical Recruiter, summed up in his comment: «Quot capita tot sensus! As many people, as many opinions.»
