Decision Time

So, after having 2-3 phone or in-person interviews a day for nearly 3 straight weeks, it is finally time to make a decision as to what it is I want to do as a next step in my career. I have lots of things to consider, from some very different companies.

1. Which company would allow me to have the best work/life balance? I need to know that I will have time to get to know my daughter, who is on the way in May.
2. Where can I learn the most, and continue down a path of becoming a well-rounded developer? I really need a place where the people, technologies, and the overall atmosphere foster my personal growth as an engineer.
3. What salary will support our lifestyle, especially with a baby on the way? While not too important to me, I do need to know that I will be able to afford having a newborn… especially with the cost of daycare in the Boston area.
4. How do I fit in culturally with the companies? Will I mesh well both personally and professionally with the current processes, policies and people?
5. How much stability do I need? The job market is hot, which permits more risk, but at the same time, I have a daughter on the way… so where is that sweet spot?
6. How excited can I get about a company and their product? As anyone who knows me is well aware of, I think people should be excited to go to work everyday. Of course, I am excited about all the places I applied to, but regardless, this is a factor that I need to consider.
7. Flexibility of hours and working at home? If I have a plumber, or some other sort of service person that needs to come to my house, can I work from home? Or, if I need to run errands in the evening, can I skip the commute so I can do just that.
8. Location, location, location…. what will the commute be like? One train, two train, a train and a bus, 30 minutes each way, an hour each way? Places to eat, ease of getting to after work events, etc.

Those are all the key points, at least the ones that have enough weight for me to put on the list. I really need to pick a position without having any doubts. The worst situation I could put myself in is accepting something and then always wondering “what if I had gone with company X?”. Of course, nothing will match my awesome story of turning down the chance of millions of dollars by working for Facebook…. I love my wife and have never been more excited (other than the day Christine agreed to marry me, and the day I was married) about the upcoming events in my life. Baby Kaylee wouldn’t be on her way into this world if I had taken Facebook’s offer. B-)