KO, help me out here guys...

[root]

For those of you who don't know, (because the lack of help I give around here it probably doesn't seem obvious)...

but I work in IT suport.

My last job was working as the network admin at a software house, it was fairly cool, I had a load of responsililities for the company, (though it was only a smallish company, so it didn't seem so bad!)
adn I provided support for other large business and government agencies as an outsourced IT guy at this company on occasions as well.
all in all it was great.

but then I left.

I now work in a university (in bath [uk]) offering desktop support to achademics, researchers and students,
in some ways it's not as good, certainly not as technical, but it's great to work in a university,
literally everyone is passionate about their work, and everyone is so clever, and you literally learn things from just being around people.
now I like my job, but personal reasons dictate I'm going to leave and move a bit closer to my family home, (i'll be moving back to my dads whilst I search for another house.

but heres where the dilemma comes.
so far i've applied for two jobs, both are pretty different from each other.

The one I want will be doing exactly the same as I do now, and as I said, the people is great, the work is great, the hours are great and the payment is fair.
so I've applied for an IT support job at one of the old universities in Oxford (so the people should be real clever as well!)...

but I've also applied for a job a little further south of Oxford at a company who specialise ni offering supoprt for businesses, the job sounds a lot more technical and smoething that I could really get my teeth into, I had an interview via telephone today when I apparantly really impressed them, and I've erached stage 2 formal interview (posibly with written test, cause there were test questiopns asked over the phone!) next wednesday...


Only trouble is this...
that job is a little further south than I had wanted, I'm thinking of moving to actually live in Oxford, and working ni a Uni in the city centre means I could walk to work, (means I can drink after work) -if I go with the second job I face at least a half hour drive to work every day and then the same in the evennig...

so I'm in this strange position.
in many ways I'd like the server support for many cmopanies job, cause just from the interview today I am quite excited about it, it's something that I know that I could do, but also know that it'd challenge me every day, #
I also know that they strongly support internal progession so ther eis definitly a career path there.

on the other hand, if I work in a university, I get the feel good factor of working with people who truly seem to want to work there, they enjoy their job, and I enjoy mine.
It's a job I have to drive to, driving = no drinking, I don' think there are any public transoprt links to the place it's at, so no socialising after work. =

also, (and as far as I'm concerned this is the worst), one of the services that this company offers is software creation, usnig their developers, based in eastern europe, now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against eastern europeans, but I'm fundamentally against outsourcnig, I think it's bad practise, overly too expensive, and you just don't get the same support through language barriers...

but the universities in Oxford do have medical labs that test on animals, I don't want to be one of those guys you saw on the news last year having abuse shouted at them as they go to work.


so, what is it to be...

do I go for a job in a university, knowing that I'll like the work and love the environment.
or do I go or a job in a supoprt specialist, knowing that I'll be chalenged by the work, and have what coul be callde ethical problems promoting their business practises...

I'll stall them at the interview until I've been interview for both and sen whether each one is hopeful.
but essentially, I'm saying this is a big decision...
one that I ca't be arsed to make...
so you all can decide for me!

(and yes money does matter else I'd have been working for the ethical housnig foundation!)-bt I dno't know dfor sure what the offer from either lpace is yet, but I intend to talk my way up from teh start!

 

[mammikoura]

well, honestly I'd just think about it like this. If the jobs would have the same pay, and were at exactly the same location, and everything like that would be exactly the same. Which one would you choose? Because at least to me, I know I'm going to be spending a huge part of my life working, so I damn well want to have a job which I can enjoy doing. To me thats the most important thing.
So think about it, but from what you wrote I guess I'd say university since you did say
"do I go for a job in a university, knowing that I'll like the work and love the environment." and to me that is what really matters the most. And it does have a more suitable location for you, though to me that kinda stuff isn't so important.

 

[root]

well... in the last to job (and my current one) I had to drive 20 miles to work... there are only so many after work drinks that you have to take a pass on before it becomes a bit miserable!!

The uni job should be in the region of £23k - £27k and transport in Oxford is so good that I could get rid of my car and save a load of mney, (my home town isn't far from there either so I could get a bus back there! when I want to visit family)

the other job, well, I love a challenge, but the distance and everything... and I already think that I'll have to talk to them up to the wage I want...

they say that a definition of employment sucess is earning your age...
I'ce decided that I'll push for that level of success this time... (and I'll probably get it)

I could have had it in the last job too, they offerd me a review and priomised a more than health raise to stay there! and even my current job they asked if there was anything they could do to sway my decision away from leaving...
(I really love benig appreciated!!!)

but you're right, I think that somewhere inside I know that I want to work in the uni more...

it's just that that's mostly desktop support, and I really miss the back office suport side of things with the servers and everything...

but it carries a whole load of prestiege as well to be working in one of the oldest an most respected Uni's, but since their application process hasn't even closed yet, and I have no date for interview, (if I even get one!) I may be putting the cart before the horse in pinning my hopes on that job!


only trouble is now I actually have to fin my suit for interviews.. I really don't know where it is, or if it even fits. and I've lost the cufflinks to all my best shirts.

 

[LambOfGod]

Yea man that all comes down to personal preference.

Is the Pay the same?

I had a job that was in between your jobs i worked at a School and a Networkadmin. It was a great job. And I liked it alot.

From my current position, I would say i miss the atmosphere the most, Its very important you enjoy where you work. I would make that one of my # 1 priorities.

PS. I drive 40 Mins to work 1 way.
I only drink on the weekeneds.

In your case i would take the Desktop Supportjob at the University.

 

[muz]

from the sounds of it you like the prospect of working at a uni more than the other company so i say go for the uni ,

 

[GlasseyeUK]

Ok the best way to play this, is you do both interviews, you do not have to give an answer to either, just say that you need to think about it, for me personally half an hour drive is nothing, I do it everyday for work, and you can still have a good time...

For me it all depends on what you value, the social life that work provides compared to the social life I have now is nothing, so I will take that, I hate going out with my work colleagues but part of that is due to the position I am in with my current role, I can never truly relax unless I am going out with other managers...

So yeah I would agree its down to personal preferances, if work is just that, a means to a decent wage then don't worry half an hour drive is nothing, however if your work social life is important then you need to truly think about it...

 

[lhuser]

I'd consider the one that's more of a winning situation...and if you really feel the need to drink something, buy it at the store and store it in the trunk until you get home...doesn't hurt.

 

[setishock]

A truly wise person weighs more than just the financial end of the job. Getting to and from the job is an important aspect to consider. Cost of living in each of the areas should be factored in also. But the most important (to me anyway) is being mentially satisfied with the work. Working at a place that pays good but is not what you have in mind buys you time to look deeper in to finding something you really want to do. The job at the uni could network you out to other prospective jobs. Or possibly lead to side work for cash.
Keep in mind if the environment is not one that provides personal satisfaction then you'll not be happy.