I need career advice. I’m at a boutique firm but it’s Meh. I have two job offers from new firms & a job offer from a gov agency to do similar work. Each offer is better pay ($8k-35k raise w/ better bonus potential at the firms than my current bonus). However, I hate billable hours.

Just as I’m negotiating, a recruiter for an in house role called me. She has other roles open too. Do I turn down the guaranteed firm job & raises on the chance of an in house role? In house seems ideal. Based in LA

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I’ve done the firm thing and I HATED it and billables. I love working for the government (mostly because I love what I do and always wanted to do it), but also, the benefits are so much better. I suggest looking past just the paycheck and consider the quality of life and benefits.

At my old firm, I got 2 weeks PTO. If I was really sick, I could call out, but obviously, that was rare. Either way, I had to make up hours from sick days and vacation time.

At my current job, I have 5 weeks of vacation annually and it accrues, so I bank unused days. I also get 12 days of sick leave per year (1 per month). I also typically work 8:30-4:30, unless I’m on trial or have a time sensitive investigation that cannot hold. I don’t stress about being late or leaving early for doctor’s appointments. I get days off for religious holidays and basically all the federal/state holidays (which is helpful because my child’s daycare is typically closed on federal holidays). My quality of life is just so much better.

There are certainly limitations to my life with my job, but I feel good about my decision to return to a government job. I can’t speak to in-house. I’ve only done government jobs and firms, but I can say it’s important to assess the totality of the circumstances (I couldn’t help myself). Look at the culture, the pay, the benefits. Will you feel you can actually take vacation? Will you be able to come in late if you have a doctor’s appointment? Will you have colleagues you feel like you can be friends with (or at least have a good working relationship with)? Which job will you feel good about doing?

Good luck!

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