Help me with this career decision?

Question

My current situation:
I am a recent college grad who has been with an engineering firm for a little over a year now. I originally had an apartment closer to the office but now I am living in a house my family has passed down to me. This means my daily commute is now 160 miles (3 hours) round trip and is interstate. I like my actual job, I don't love it, just like it.

My question:
Should I stay with the company because of its pretty decent pay, benefits and 401(k) package, or should I find a job closer to my home? Currently I am applying to engineering jobs within the state I live in, and that includes trying to get a position through a technical recruiter (contracting job meaning lose all benefits/vacation days).
So, stay at my current job with it's killer commute, or potentially get contracted out closer to home with less benefits (but I am still going to push for the same pay). Which option sounds better, and is there another option I am not seeing?

Answer 1

I used to have a daily 3 to 4 hour commute myself. Hated it. Just hated it. I am sure you can find better things to do with your time.



Either leave the home, and move closer to work, or leave the job and work closer to home. You could probably get 2 jobs and earn extra money (if you wanted to) with all the extra time you would have working closer to home.



For me, I have found that NO JOB is worth one penny more than they pay me for. You don't get paid for the 3 hours of driving or car insurance, or gas, or anything.

Consider it this way: If you worked there for 8 years, you would have spent close to 1 year JUST driving back and forth to work, for FREE.

Answer 2

Move abroad, there are many other countries where engireering is incredibly demanding and earns bucket loads of money.

Answer 3

I could not agree more.