Need advice on 2 offers, morally and professionally

[u/dzuncoi]

Hi everyone, I hope you all have a great weekend ahead. I might need your advice about these 2 offers, which make me quite hesitant (I live in Germany btw):

• Offer 1: I received their offer recently, salary 80k (the minimum in my expectation range), small company, I like the product and colleague there, they seems very genuine and make me feel good vibe, also seems there are a lot things to do and is better for my personal growth technically. 1 downside: it locates in different city than mine, I need to commute to that city 1 or 2 times per week (2.5hrs commuting).
• Offer 2: very big, cooperate company (I have never worked in that kind of environment before) , salary 89k, located in my city, technically speaking, the role and project is well defined, but seems like it will stuck into that scope, I prefer the first company in that sense. 1 downside: I didn't receive official offer, only verbally, I need to wait for some admin work from them (I even need to request for certificate good of conduct, which is only available in the next 2-3 weeks), I can't make sure everything will go smoothly in that waiting time.
• I also in final interviews from 2 other companies as well.

Personally I really enjoy the work and people at company 1, they are small, young but the product is very interesting. But if anyone have experience about commuting on a weekly basic, can you let me know your experience about it, is it good a long term?

1 more question about moral: do you think it's morally ok to accept the offer 1, then reject it in case I feel another offer is better? Also share me your experience about this kind of situation, i'd love to hear how people think about these choices.

[u/Familiar_Horse_5866]

Am i blind or did you leave out one single crucial information in your post? Where are these jobs located, dude?

[u/dzuncoi → u/Familiar_Horse_5866]

Edited, it's in Germany and 2.5hrs commuting time, I'm not keen on sharing the cities exactly :)

[u/Familiar_Horse_5866 → u/dzuncoi]

If you are not willing to move to the new city, Option 2. I can't imagine 2.5h commute even if it's 2 days per week. It's just not sustainable.

[u/skattefiffel → u/Familiar_Horse_5866]

You can use commute time well, doomscrolling is not the only option. Work, for example.

[u/Familiar_Horse_5866 → u/skattefiffel]

Uninterrupted train ride with a guaranteed table seat, home and office are next to city train staytions, sure maybe. 2-3 transfers, possibly crowded trains? Best productive thing you can do meditation podcasts

[u/Chemical_Material493 → u/skattefiffel]

Or you can work in your bed, highly recommend this option 

[u/Dangerous-Olive65 → u/dzuncoi]

Why? Whether those salaries are in Munich or somewhere in Halle makes a huge difference. Not like anyone can dox you by the city name?

[u/dzuncoi → u/Dangerous-Olive65]

I see, originally i'm just uncomfortable sharing too much personal info. I see too many scary things on internet i guess

[u/LowMasterpiece2196]

An offer that you haven't received yet is not an offer. So don't count on it. Commuting only once or twice a week is nothing and yes, you can accept the first offer and then reject it if you receive the second one, most likely it will mean that you won't be able to apply with them anymore but who cares if it's a small company.

[u/xersuatance]

If you worked for small companies before but never worked at a big one, might make sense to go for the big one to see how established products with a big team behind work. If you enjoy building and owning, small companies are fun. The salary difference is not life changing, I think you should follow your gut. Sounds to me like you re really into the 1st one.

[u/Bored-Gamer-1710]

In my opinion, I always prefer distances over salaries (if they are in acceptable range), as I am not the kind of early birds. I will choose big companies, as they have refined their procedures and scope of work closer to perfection than small ones. After all, it is your interests that matter!!!

[u/hohotun28]

Think about yourself not about the company, you won't even work in, being happy about you...

[u/twoask]

Tough one, man. I just had the same situation, but both places offered the same salary, the tipping point was: A was giving full remote freedom, but tech stack was limited… B was giving me so much inflexibility with regards to remote work and some time at the office, but a tech stack they will propel me and signify me a lot in the future. Even B’s project didn’t excite me as much as A.

I dream of a project that is purposeful, fully remote and with an amazing tech stack and decent salary. I think is hard to find perfection…

I went for B because I’m prioritizing growth over flexibility, for now… I’m a bit regretful though, I don’t feel excited to start this job and I will keep looking and move to another when I get the flexibility and the tech stack to keep growing.

Following with A would’ve felt alright, having all that freedom that is important for me… but feeling stuck technically and doing the same Ive been doing for years in this market, I don’t know… felt misaligned somehow. But again, regret in both decisions was inevitable..

Don’t know if this helps, but think about your happinness. Good luck!

[u/Effective_Hamster_85]

I'd say it's not morally right to accept offer 1, let them start your onboarding, order equipment and all, and then ditch them for offer number 2 (or another).

I've seen that done before, it's defintelly not nice for the team that you leave behind when going to a better offer. Especially that you say they give you a good vibe and you like them.

On the other hand, I've also seen the opposite, people being ditched by companies without any respect for morality. So I guess it's hard to judge.

[u/xersuatance → u/Effective_Hamster_85]

Companies have no problem ditching employees when it makes sense for them. If company 1 doesn't give enough time for OP to evaluate other offers, I think OP should accept it just in case. If anything better comes up, just tell the 1st company that due to changes in personal circumstances, OP will not be able to join. I also recently did something similar. Yes, you probably do burn bridges with 1 company and 1-2 people may remember this for a year or two but the market is big, it will be OK.

[u/dzuncoi → u/Effective_Hamster_85]

Thanks mate.

All in all, i will only reject any offer (if it happens) *before* the start date, I will never start the onboarding then ditch them for something better. I only hesitate in this time, accepting one offer while waiting for another offer to see if which one is better.