rapidash12's journey

Applied at university for Unknown

I recently found myself in a tough situation regarding job offers at my current university where I work in higher education. I received an offer for a position that would pay **$47,000**, which is an **$11,000** increase from my current salary. This role would expose me to new areas like administrative operations and budgeting, but it requires me to be fully in the office and handle front desk duties, which I'm not particularly excited about. They gave me until **Tuesday** to decide, but I haven't even received an official offer letter yet. The catch is that I’m also a finalist for another position at the same university that I believe aligns better with my long-term career goals. This second role is more focused on program coordination and student programming, offers a **hybrid** work environment, and has a salary range of **$52K–$62K**. After my first interview for this position, I felt disappointed because it was short and I didn’t think I showcased my skills well. However, I later learned that I’m one of the few candidates moving forward to an **in-person final round**. The timing is problematic because the final interviews for this second role will occur after my decision deadline for the first offer. My friends have advised me against burning bridges, especially since both positions are at the same university. I’m torn between accepting the first offer and potentially withdrawing from the second interview process, or risking it by turning down the first offer in hopes of landing the second one. I’m grateful for having options, but it’s a real dilemma. I want to make the right choice without jeopardizing my future opportunities at the university.