Advise on Job

[IndecisiveOne]

Looking for some opinions from mustachian minded people on which job to keep.  I have made a pros and cons list and still cannot decide.  Any input would be appreciated. 

Here is the background.  I am a married,  childless, completely debt free professional in my mid 30s who switched full-time employers last year but have still kept my foot in the door at my old employer.   Now my old employer is offering me full-time position at a better location. 

Job One:
-Pros:  The work is usually interesting and not as stressful as job two.  I work with other professionals.  Six weeks of vacation.  Great benefits.
-Cons: I work second shift 5 nights a week.  100 mile roundtrip commute (I know, face punch!), ~20% less pay than job two

Job Two:
-Pros:   15 minute commute, better pay, longer shifts/shorter days scheduled, sometimes have to work on days off and not compensated
-Cons:  HIGH stress, only professional on site, three weeks vacation (would be four next year), good but not great benefits

Any input would be very much appreciated.  I am torn on what decision to make and need to decide soon.  Thanks!!

[lthenderson]

What are the reasons you left your old employer for the new one? Was it simply over the location or were there other reasons? How did you leave? Was is two weeks and gone or was there a lot of notice and sufficient time to hire a replacement?

Generally, I have found it best to move on and not to go back. Companies tend to have long memories and the next labor trimming that comes along they may be reminded that you left them before... But a lot of that depends on the answers to the above questions.

[Kitsune]

Depending on the reasons you left your old employer (as addressed by lthenderson), a few points to consider:

1) Car operating costs (depreciation + maintenance + gas) for 100 miles/day (usually seen anywhere from 50-75 cents/mile, depending on car age/price/gas mileage/etc - let's give it an average of 63 cents/mile, for ease of calculation). So. Times 5 working days/week times 46 weeks/year: almost 15K in vehicle expenses, PLUS the 20% pay cut. PLUS the time spent driving 100 miles daily, which is unpaid and annoying. Am I calculating this right? Like... that's a significant financial cut. Plus second shift: ugh.

2) High-stress. How do you DEAL with high-stress? Like, personally, jobs that other people consider low-stress I'd call boring, and jobs that people consider high-stress I'd call interesting, but I'm also VERY skilled at disassocating my emotions when needed, managing my stress levels and not freaking out about things, and being generally zen. If you don't have those skills and can't see how you'd learn them, the stress thing might actually make it worth the pay cut. It seriously depends on what you value and what you can handle on a day-to-daybasis.

[IndecisiveOne]

I left my first employer full-time because of the long days without a break and high stress.  Also this new job offered experience in a new practice setting.  However, I never fully left job one and left full time on really good terms so that is a non-issue. 
 
It basically comes down to do I want to commute and work second shift but have a great work environment or do I want to have an eh-ok work environment and be closer to home with hours that I can actually see my spouse, friends and family.  I am really torn. 

[Kitsune]

..be closer to home with hours that I can actually see my spouse...

Not a question you have to answer on the forum, obv, but something you should take into account for your own calculations: is your marriage doing ok with you functionally not there 5 days a week? I know I'd have a super hard time with that. My husband would probably take it even worst. Your marriage may vary. ;)

[Sibley]

I'll just chime in that if you're not putting any effort into your family and friends, you will eventually find that you've lost something there. You don't get time back.

What does your spouse think you should do? You clearly aren't leaning strongly one way or the other, so if your spouse does, I'd go with that.