And now, N. Y. called

[yankeeyosh]

Well, my interview process has shifted a bit to the south towards the big city. A headhunter who I have been working with since May 2005 has been working on an opportunity in New York City, for a catastrophe modeling position at another insurance company. On the surface, it sounds pretty good...I would have more responsibility, have more of a mentor, etc. But I did some research, and in all honesty, the overall structure of this company isn't much different from what I have now...another drab suit & tie organization. It's yet another entry level position (so spreadsheet cleaning and the mundane stuff will be part of the game...the question is how much) and the pay really would probably be the same that I'm making now, and would actually be worse since N. Y. C. has a higher cost of living than boston. If I was convinced that the hiring manager really is interested in developing my career, it wouldn't be a big deal, but I am so terrified in terms of going to another uber-corporate situation, where you feel like a small cog in a big machine and whatever you do now is what you'll do ten years from now.

I will be heading to the interview next week, and I have a funny feeling that I'm pretty much a shoo-in. I'm the number one candidate from all accounts. Yet, I really don't want to be in another situation where I am miserable, but I don't know what else would be out there for me. If I could get one of these jobs I applied for in boston, it wouldn't be a big deal. But I don't know if that's happening...and I have a feeling that New York will be the only place that will give me the offer.

And I don't know if I want to move back to New York. Yes, my family is there, but I would probably wind up living at home, with my father (who would continuously be disappointed in me), and I would regress socially and be a hermit once again. I am starting to like boston, and even though it's small, I am starting to build a bit of a social network in a sense. I don't want to give it up and head back to a place which even though I spent so many years, I really don't know anyone.

I don't know what to ask for or what. It's more a rant than anything else. If I get the University position, or anything else, it's moot. But as I said, I almost feel like it's destiny that sometime in late Feburary or March, I'll be renting a Budget van and bring whatever crap I have back to Long Island, and start yet another job which I fear in a month I will be miserable at. I don't know anymore.

[Deni81]

Keep your head up Mark. Who knows what lies ahead.

[spiritedaway]

Chin up, Mark, and stay positive.

Go for the interview and see what happens. Don't worry about what could happen or how it's going to work out until AFTER you get an offer.

No point stressing about it yet. :)

Good luck!

[pisces2473]

Chin up, Mark, and stay positive.

Go for the interview and see what happens. Don't worry about what could happen or how it's going to work out until AFTER you get an offer.

No point stressing about it yet. :)

Good luck!
Totally agree!

[and1grad]

Hey Mark, dont go into a different situation unless you think its gonna be a slam dunk. There has to be AT LEAST more pros than cons. I have a similar situation where I'm being recruited for a job back in So Cal which would be great except for the fact that I dont miss So Cal and my cost of living would increase more than my pay would. Do whats best for you rather than what might sound good on paper.

[mishl982]

I agree with the others that you shouldn't stress too much YET, but just from the way you write about this position, you don't seem very thrilled about it.

But yay for the fact that you seem to be having a lot of opportunities come your way! :huge:

[yankeeyosh]

Yeah...I'm not that thrilled...if it was in another industry or just a different environment, I can see taking it...hell, I'm willing to go for less pay than I'm making now if the job appeals to me. But another entry level position at another Fortune 500 (nearly Fortune 100) company? I'm almost 30, and I really am at the point where I want to get beyond that level...beyond doing 100% grunt work. I don't mind it once in a while, but not all the time. I don't care if they make it sound like an "enriched" job. To me, entry level is entry level. And seeing that I ****MUST**** stay there two years, to be 31 with a master's degree and still spend virtually all of my time cleaning spreadsheets is beyond ludicrous.

The only thing is that if I turn it down, who knows when I'll get another offer. I have at least three more phone interviews coming up, but I don't know if any of them will pan out.

[pisces2473]

Mark....read this thread: http://www.quarterlifecrisis.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24836

Now, tell me...would you rather this had happened to you?


My fiance is 30, with a masters degree and makes like $15/hr. He doesn't really like his job, and for a lot of reasons that are not his fault, he cannot find a new job right now. Do you think he's happy? Hell no. At least you are making a little more than he is, so that you can use that to make your free time a little happier.

[yankeeyosh]

I know. I don't know why I thought of work last night...I guess I was in a denial stage for a short while or maybe it was just a diversion and just wanted to forget. I am scared shitless right now. I really am.

[winneythepooh7]

Mark....read this thread: http://www.quarterlifecrisis.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24836

Now, tell me...would you rather this had happened to you?


My fiance is 30, with a masters degree and makes like $15/hr. He doesn't really like his job, and for a lot of reasons that are not his fault, he cannot find a new job right now. Do you think he's happy? Hell no. At least you are making a little more than he is, so that you can use that to make your free time a little happier.


Good points. Mark, you say that you would be happier taking a big paycut to have a ton of work to do. Do you really mean that? I made $10K less working at another job in the past where I didn't have time to eat or pee. I was miserable. I do have downtime sometimes at my job now, but I'd rather be in the situation I am in now. Otherwise, I would be super pissed that I wasn't being finanically compensated for everything I had to do.

[yankeeyosh]

Good points. Mark, you say that you would be happier taking a big paycut to have a ton of work to do. Do you really mean that? I made $10K less working at another job in the past where I didn't have time to eat or pee. I was miserable. I do have downtime sometimes at my job now, but I'd rather be in the situation I am in now. Otherwise, I would be super pissed that I wasn't being finanically compensated for everything I had to do.

Well, not a big paycut. Only perhaps $5,000. I would take the paycut and not be miserable every day (although if what transpired last night was any worse, I would *really* be miserable in more than one way).

[pisces2473]

Dude, you need a reality check. $5000 pay cut would be a HUGE deal to some people, including me.

[yankeeyosh]

Dude, you need a reality check. $5000 pay cut would be a HUGE deal to some people, including me.

Well, seeing that I'm moving to a cheaper apartment in a couple of months (assuming I stay in boston), a $5,000 pay cut would probably give me the same standard of living I have now, which is OK. Of course, it's not feasible for others, but for me, it's OK. Nothing more than that, though.

[yankeeyosh]

Well, I head for New York tomorrow. I'm not saying much, but it sounds a bit different from what I originally thought it would be. Let's just say that it definitely will NOT be entry level.

[yankeeyosh]

Well, I went to the interview in N. Y., and I am very pleased. My opinion shifted dramatically this week. This position is a much more challenging position...more of a project manager/data management specialist position...second in command to the VP of Catastrophe Management. The "grunt work" that I despise won't be as prevalent...in fact, I would be coordinating with "assistants" who would be handling the bulk of the data cleanup...I would be more involved with getting deep into the numbers, and managing the datasets. Much more development and not as much production. It's not as rush-rush as my current company, and even though they are a subsidiary of a large corporation, they have their own culture. There are some people who wear suits and ties, for instance, but unlike where I currently work, it is not mandatory apparently. It's corporate, but intelligence rather than business savvy seem to be respected more here than where I currently work.

I am less against moving from boston than I was. Granted, I will miss my social activities, but I guess I can pick them up in N. Y. It may take a while, and I guess it would be weird to move back home for the fifth time nearly at age twenty-nine (although it will certainly only be for a month or so), but I guess it's not the end of the world.

[cache]

Great to hear things went well!

[red]

I am less against moving from boston than I was. Granted, I will miss my social activities, but I guess I can pick them up in N. Y. It may take a while, and I guess it would be weird to move back home for the fifth time nearly at age twenty-nine (although it will certainly only be for a month or so), but I guess it's not the end of the world.

good to hear about the good interview. however, why would you consider living at home? why not get your own place? it seems like that would be setting yourself up for something more positive? if you do get this job, i am sure you can find an affordable apartment somewhere in the boros.

[yankeeyosh]

good to hear about the good interview. however, why would you consider living at home? why not get your own place? it seems like that would be setting yourself up for something more positive? if you do get this job, i am sure you can find an affordable apartment somewhere in the boros.

No, home would only be temporary...for a month or so till so I can easy my way in finding a place. I am certain I would have a solid income...even for N. Y. standards...definitely not worth complaining about. I might be thinking of Forest Hills in Queens...the neighborhood I was born in.

[AshleyJordan]

Well, it sounds like a positive step, and that worrying too much about your housing situation if you are to move to NYC is just "borrowing trouble." You'd have a place to stay, and finding an affordable apt. in Queens shouldn't be too tough (esp. now that the local r.e. mkt is cooling down a little.)

[winneythepooh7]

Yeah, I was speaking with our housing coordinator today, and she said that there are still a ton of large 1-bedrooms in Brooklyn and Queens that are around $1000-$1200 a month. It's still a lot, but if you are frugal, well worth it to not have to deal with a roommate or your parents.

Also if you are willing to live in an area where there's not a train, it may be even cheaper (if you are willing to bus-it).

[red]

i wouldn't bus it in queens and i am an extremely frugal person. the line of people waiting for buses at my subway stop can get to be like 50+ people long. i used to have to take the bus in my old neighborhood (also in queens) and it was a nightmare.

[yankeeyosh]

Yeah, I was speaking with our housing coordinator today, and she said that there are still a ton of large 1-bedrooms in Brooklyn and Queens that are around $1000-$1200 a month. It's still a lot, but if you are frugal, well worth it to not have to deal with a roommate or your parents.

Also if you are willing to live in an area where there's not a train, it may be even cheaper (if you are willing to bus-it).

Yeah...I'm certain I would make somewhere north of what I am currently making (possibly substantially more), and that's about the amount I currently pay...so it shouldn't be too big a deal.

[AshleyJordan]

Just for the record, I have nice apartment for considerably less than that. It can easily be done in NYC if you live in thr boroughs.

Also, I know I must've posted this like 5 million times, here, but you can also live very easily in NYC without a car, saving a ton of money on transportation costs that you might have in Boston or any other city.

[yankeeyosh]

Just for the record, I have nice apartment for considerably less than that. It can easily be done in NYC if you live in thr boroughs.

Also, I know I must've posted this like 5 million times, here, but you can also live very easily in NYC without a car, saving a ton of money on transportation costs that you might have in Boston or any other city.


That is true and why I feel N. Y. is more affordable than many people think. Although to be fair, you can get around boston and Cambridge without a car. I was planning on possibly selling my car and moving to Cambridge and take a bus to get home to N. Y....since I rarely use my car anyway (usually just to drive to the 'T').

[AshleyJordan]

That is true and why I feel N. Y. is more affordable than many people think. Although to be fair, you can get around boston and Cambridge without a car. I was planning on possibly selling my car and moving to Cambridge and take a bus to get home to N. Y....since I rarely use my car anyway (usually just to drive to the 'T').


Probably. Also, I don't *dislike* Boston, but having studied Urban Planning, that city (and its streetscape/public transportation/drivers) frustrate me greatly! :evil:

[yankeeyosh]

Probably. Also, I don't *dislike* Boston, but having studied Urban Planning, that city (and its streetscape/public transportation/drivers) frustrate me greatly! :evil:

Yes...the 'T', I suspect, stands for "Terrible", "Too Unreliable" or "Time to go home because there is no service after midnight".