2 legitimate job offers today

So, I received 2 legitimate job offers today. Below are the pros and cons. I'm open to feedback if anyone wants to chime in what they think seems like a better deal.


Job offer #1:

Salary: $20/hr = $38,400
Location: neighborhood - no parking ramp
Hours: 40 - no overtime
Office: 5 people
Role: front desk
Offer letter: none; verbally offered me the job and told me to start on Monday
Job growth: was told there would be a .30 pay raise after a month with possible "growth" based on job performance.
Public reviews: mostly positive

Job offer #2:

Salary: $21/hr = $40,320
Location: downtown - light rail pass or parking space in ramp
Hours: 40 - unspecified overtime was mentioned in interview
Office: 20 people
Role: admin assistant supporting 2 people
Offer letter: hiring manager called me today to confirm my email and emailed me the offer letter
Job growth: was told there may be "possible" job growth but couldn't guarantee.
Public reviews: mix of 50/50 positive and negative

I emailed the hiring manager of Job #1 to ask for an official offer letter (I let her know that I received an offer letter from Job #2). I explained that while I'd love to work for their company, I want to be 100% confident with my final choice and didn't feel comfortable just starting on Monday next week, without a clue as to the compensation, healthcare, etc. that was verbally summarized but not put into print.

While Job #2 seems like the obvious choice based on salary, I'm not crazy about the thought of working overtime. Job #1, the woman who interviewed me mentioned, that "we're like a family here" which I've always interpreted to be a red flag b/c it indiciates a lack of professional boundaries between workand home.

So, the question is, pending Job #1's response to my request for an official offer letter...do I settle for Job #1 based on the following:

1) no overtime
2) low salary
3) free parking since its in a residential neighborhood
4) no human resources person

Or, do I take Job #2's offer based on the following:

1) $1+ is equal to a $1,920 difference (deduct $150 a month for parking or $83 a month: I found a parking ramp across the street from Job #2 plus the light rail stops across the street from Job #2; so that means $1,770
2) human resources person on site
3) paid parking required
4) some overtime not yet specified that would not be paid extra for

Expenses (estimated per a free tax calculator):

Job #1 = Take home after taxes is $2,570 = $30,840/salary

Job #2 = Take home after taxes is $2,688 = $32,256/salary

With either job offer so low, I'll have to continue to rideshare drive to make ends meet.

Ideally, I'd like an admin job that pays at least $45K. Both are terrible salary-wise yet are full-time jobs. Meanwhile, I dont have another temp job lined up yet. So I have to rideshare drive to make ends meet.

I could use people's opinions.

Job number two sounds like potential blow ups and office politics. You working under 2 people doesn’t sound like a good fit.

Good point, @Nammu. Former employees complained about this company's clique culture and low pay. my state lists the minimum pay for this role as $45K, so both law firms (the 5 person law firm, part of a larger franchise and the larger downtown law firm that has been around for 35 years, lowball their entry level staff's salaries).

I did call the contact at Job #2 and asked him about:

-is overtime required
-would he increase the hourly rate
-would he pay for parking

He called me back to let me know:

-the firm would pay the $150/mo parking ramp
-overtime is NOT required and that if I was asked to stay late, I would be paid for overtime (state law requires that they pay me for overtime, thankfully)
-he would not budge on the low salary but it's still better than the $38K Job #1 salary.

So, that means: for both jobs:

Free parking for both Job #1 and Job #2
No monthly health insurance premium for me to pay

As far as office politics:

Small office of 5 versus Medium/Large office with an human resources person

Job #1 staff: 1 woman, 5 men - no human resources person
Job #2 staff 5 women, 15 men - one human resources person

I could TRY to address the 2 attornies' office politicking by scheduling 1 on 1 meetings with them every week to protect myself and keep them updated on my work tasks for the other attorney. I touted communication and transparency as my #1 requirement for a helathy work environment.

My worry is that with Job #1 and only 1 other woman, and 5 men, it would stress me out. At the last temp job from hell that I posted about, the mix of men and women were nearly equal.

As much as I would like to walk around the tree lined streets on the 30 minute lunch break offered by Job #1, if I get sick, I'm screwed b/c there's only 5 people there and the role is the front desk.

Job #2 has a front desk receptionist already so if I get sick, the office won't fall apart if I have to stay home to recover for a couple of days.

I just realized that there's more flexibility for me to stay home if I get sick with Job #2, but there's no flexiblity from Job #1 if I get sick since that role is the front desk. Also, if the woman who oversees me doesn't like me asking the same question twice, that could mean she'd potentially fire me....

I still haven't received any email response from Job #1 so that shows me that clearly my request for an offer letter isn't her priority. I just don't feel right showing up to Job #1 on Monday without having everything summarized in writing first.

I could rideshare 8 hours a day and make more money (after the cost of filling my gas tank) than both of these two jobs. However, the idea of a stable dollar amount on a bi-weekly paycheck appeals to me.

So I heard back from Job #1 via email with an emailed list of an offer. Still ony $38,400 with no guarantee of a payraise.
I decided to accept Job #2 and wil do that for as long as I can unless they fire me. (hopefully not). I will continue to apply for higher-paid legal assistant/paralegal jobs while employed in Job #2. It will be easier to get a job while having a job.

Thanks @Nammu for your post. It helped me think more about which job offer made more sense.

With them paying for parking, I would have to go with Job #2 also - although I don't do well in "family" type offices - BUT YOU AREN'T ME, luckily and you probably will fit in better than I would. Keep the lines of communication open with the people you'll be supporting and continue putting out feelers. I think you made the best possible choice under the circumstances! CONGRATULATIONS!

Hey thanks for responding @Molinit!

Oh, no Job #1 is the toxic "family" environment with a total of 6 employees and no human resoures person. I don't succeed in small office environments at all. Too many toxic people enclosed in a small work space. Can't escape people's bad behavior. Easy for them not to take responsiblity and shift blame around and become complacent and apathetic and just plain mean to each other. Yuck.

Don't worry I went with Job #2 after much thought.

Job #2 has 20 people in the office and 5 are women and 15 are men. Definitely not a "family" environment. More like, I will be supporting two attorneys as a legal assistant.

Thank you for the advice about using commuincation to stay on top of both attorneys' legal tasks for me to complete. I really hope I can make this work. I want off the temp hamster wheel for good.

At the very least, hold on to this job until I can get a higher paid job in the legal field. Thank you for your congratulations!

Which one are you going to be using more gas driving to? Is one so much closer that you can just go home for lunch vs eating out or packing lunches? Factor those annual costs in and deduct it from the annual income and then take a 2nd good look. One may pay more but also cost you way e in the long run.

Congrats and I think you made a smart choice with job you chose

Hey Motts,

I would take job offer #1 because 5 employees means the statistical probability more or less is lower that you'll experience drama or conflict in the office and that it will be more peaceful. The salary seems straight forward. And, if I were you, I'd avoid OT of any sort, especially undefined OT, because my bipolar disorder and other challenges would equate to that meaning 'burn out' and then in turn = mania for me.

I wish you the best of luck with this!

Job #2 is a 15 minute drive and Job #1 is an 18 minute drive. Plus, Job #2 pays for parking. My rideshare driving earns me gas mileage discounts at specific gas stations so I already save a few cents with my regular rideshare gas mileage. Definitely can't go home for lunch since its not located near my neighborhood. But I can walk to many food kiosks indoors where Job #2 is located. I plan to bring my lunch.

Job #1's location is pretty - tree lined streets and beautiful houses but the office is only staffed by 5-6 people so that's way too small for me. Plus, the annual income is a measley $38K before taxes, about $29K after taxes with healthcare and gas and 401K so very bad. While Job #2 is a slight better deal with $40K, I feel like that's the better deal for me with what I'll get in 2 paychecks a month. I'll be able to rideshare on the weekends and attempt to earn a total of $1040 a month to contribute to my monthly take home income from Job #2.

Good observation FoundbutLost, and something I did think about.

Thanks divine1966. I'm hoping it doesn't end in disaster and allows me to stay at a minimum of 6 months which is enough time to find another legal assistant job with a larger firm that pays more than $40K a year. So, I have a notebook now with a 6 month plan to forecast for where I want to be in a job/career, savings, health, etc.

Congrats 🎉🍾🎈

Are you starting tomorrow or next week? I might not get back to this site today so I want to wish you a great first day!

I start tomorrow. I was given free parking on their parking ramp app already so I am relieved that I wont' have to pay the $150 a month parking fee. The ramp is directly across the street from the law firm and accessible by skyway, which is connected to quite a few eateries and coffee shops too.

Thank you for your well wishes. I bought notebooks yesterday, and watched YouTube videos and even printed off notes about what type of legal assistant duties I'll be doing for this law firm per their law specialty.

I was supposed to take my sick kitten to drop off at another vet tomorrow morning but I rescheduled that appointment.

Now, today's focus is going to a detailer and getting the stink of pot removed from my car, and hoping that my email complaining to the rideshare app awards me a cleaning fee from the rideshare app customer service team for enduring those idiot pot smokers last night.

Good luck tomorrow. Smart idea looking things up ahead of time what kind of stuff they do.

My daughter works for a corporate law firm (she’s not a lawyer). In her experience lawyers appreciate support that various legal support teams provide. They rely on it. She always feels respected by lawyers. I hope you have the same experiences

So a quick update. Day 3 into new legal assistant role for the two attorneys. 1st day of being trained on how to use legal software to complete the legal assistant tanks. One of the attorneys used to be a paralegal here and passed their bar less than a year ago. The other attorney has been here for years and is more senior. So far, the associate attorney is the one responsible for training me.

I like it here so far. Hopefully, it works out.

Another positive update: I get to keep my low income medical assistance since my net monthly income meets the payment standards for individuals in my state. I'm elated that I don't have to take on the law firm's health insurance (although the firm pays the employees' monthly premiums the deductibles for my age range are in the thousands, so that's a no-go for me; the monthly premium for my age without the firm paying for it is $750/month. If everything works out and I maintain employment here, and my $40K salary never gets increased, I'll get to keep my low income medical assistance. Definitely a bonus while I work through my financial straits.