Which job to take...

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So i'm having abit of a dilemma at the moment, I have three job options on the table, both have positives and negatives.Job No 1 Is construction of a natural gas refinery, fly in fly out, 4 weeks on 1 off working 56 hours a week, possibly more OT and all amenities supplied (accom, food, laundry in a self contained camp), paid for travel time at the start and end of each rotation and flights paid, job duration is 12-18 months, money is good (10k+ per 5 week rotation after taxes), work will be a combination of TIG and stick pipe welding up to 300mm in various materials (309 stainless, Duplex stainless, 250 carbon, B2 & B3 Cro-Mo).Job 2 is a pipeline, again fly in fly out, 3 weeks on 1 off working 77 hours a week (21 days strait of 11 hour day's, all expenses paid, but job duration is 6 months,  hourly rate is the same as job 1, so works out to more money in the bank, and if i'm working away stuck in a camp with nothing to do but work, but job duration could be a third of job one, work is welding A333 600mm ID pipe, 16mm wall with Tig root run and hot pass, and  MX-71 flux core MIG fill and cap.Job 3 is local, 3 months duration working 13 12 hours shift's per fortnight (156 hours per fortnight), money is the best of the lot per week (works out to be 75k after taxes for the 3 months), work is a superheater replacement, and main steam repair's in a local 375 megawatt power station boiler, welding will be 309 stainless to B3 Cro-Mo with TGX flux core Tig root, and 309 cap (superheater) and 150mm wall, 1 meter OD Copper nickel high temp main steam pipe with Tig root and hot pass, stick fill and cap, but obviously, shortest durationnow where i'm, stuck, is i'm recently married, and my wife is 8 week's pregnant with our first child, we've both agreed working away is the way to go until the baby's born, as we'd both like to buy a house before baby's born, and I want to be there when baby is born and home for at least a month after, with the 6 month job, it should be all done and finished when baby get's here, but i'll be looking for work afterwards, Job 1 has already said i won't be able to take a month off when baby is born. the last couple of year's we've struggled really badly financially with the economic downturn hitting the power and gas industries here in Australia really hard, so i've spent 2/3eds of the last 3 year's not working simply due to lack of work, and saturation of labour in the mechanical fields here, with these offer's I have on the table we're looking at buying a home and starting a family, so getting the work/home balance right is pretty critical.
Reply:Take Job #2Wait to buy the houseBe there when your kid is bornCheck back with 1st company again
Reply:I'm inclined to agree with CinRed.Regards,RobGreat Basin WeldingInstagramBlue weldersRed weldersMy luscious Table DIY TIG Torch cooler
Reply:I agree too. Another option is to eventually look for a similar gig outside the US and pay ZERO taxes on the first $80,000.More cash for you, one less drone or TSA prikk for them.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeI agree too. Another option is to eventually look for a similar gig outside the US and pay ZERO taxes on the first $80,000.More cash for you, one less drone or TSA prikk for them.
Reply:I would say, take job #1 as it has the potential to make you the most money. This will help get your new family on a more financially stable foundation. You have to balance your wants and needs, and it sounds like you Need to be able to support the family financially more so than Wanting to be home for the birth and a month afterwards. There have been many babies born and done just fine with the father gone in support of home operations. Maybe by the time the 12-18 month job is completed, there will be other opportunities closer to home, or possibly sooner. This option gives you the most time possible being employed before having to start searching again. You can always look around some for other work during the one week home, each time to try to find a job closer to home so you can quit job #1. Job #1 seems to make the most sense to me right now, to help get your new family into a house or at the least get some money put away to help towards that means. It might be another long dry spell on jobs for awhile after the 3 or 6 month jobs play out. So consider going for the longest possible employment opportunity.
Reply:A tough call... whatever job you take, make the personal connections that will leave a good impression that might lead to future work. Thank you for thinking of your family, there's a lot of guys that might make a different decision.
Reply:Number 2 seems the best fit with one consideration.  What's the hiring procedure at number 3's power plant?  Are you thinking of buying within commuting distance of this plant?  Will doing the superheater job help you get your foot in the door for future work, possibly in-house maintenance.  If you got on full-time 40 hours/week would you still get shut-down hours when they happen?  That would be an ideal solution.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparksNumber 2 seems the best fit with one consideration.  What's the hiring procedure at number 3's power plant?  Are you thinking of buying within commuting distance of this plant?  Will doing the superheater job help you get your foot in the door for future work, possibly in-house maintenance.  If you got on full-time 40 hours/week would you still get shut-down hours when they happen?  That would be an ideal solution.
Reply:I understand about you wanting to be there when your child is born and also about your father working away from home through most of your childhood. My father had to do the same thing to provide for me. I hated him for awhile because he was always gone. Saw him on average about 1-3 weeks a year and it was only once a year I got to see him. I was young and didn't understand at the time but once I got older I thanked him for doing what he had to do to provide for me because it was also very hard for him to. He did it because there were no jobs available locally. Not saying your father did it for the same reasons. But that's why I say job #1 because you say work is hard to find so I would think it best to take the longest job you can get. Like others have said you can look local work on your time off. I don't know how much houses are where your at but around here with what you would make you could buy a house and support your your family for awhile after the job is over hopefully until you get another job. #2 might buy you a house but you probably wouldn't have anything left after the job was over. But the final decison needs to be made between you and your wife
Reply:if you want to remain married and not hear for the rest of your life how you left your newly married pregnant wife to fend for herself you better take job # 3.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:I would say job #3 like doc said... honestly, it's the quickest way to get some money flowing... then after that job is up, just be well not to spend it all, and look for another job locally.
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelder... and not hear for the rest of your life how you left your newly married pregnant wife to fend for herself ...
Reply:Does the wife work? If she does during the pregnancy is there work for her where job #1 is? I guess what I'm saying is, why not bring the wife with you for job#1? Its a year to a year and a half, if its a being close to family thing i understand that. What is the drive time between A and B? Just because you travel doesn't mean the wife can't follow and when she gets in to the third trimester she probably wont be working anyways. Just some ideas to think about.
Reply:my Wife doesn't work atm, but she isn't willing to move any further from her family then we are at the moment.With that said, i was the one that was hesitant to work away, she's spent the last few month convincing me that i should work away due to how thing's have been, and with a kid on the way, knowing we're going to have to be able to support it, we've both decided working away is a good idea at least until bubs is born, and re-evaluate it after to see how we're feeling then, but she's been the driving force behind the decision.also keep in mind, money doesn't go far here, a pretty basic house in the area i live in (rural town) is 200k, look within an hour's drive of the state capital, and it's more like 350-400k, and living cost's are about 80% higher then in the U.S, fuel for example is $6.10 a gallon for 87 octane, home loan interest rates are around 6% P.A, so the money from all of these jobs won't go as far as it seams it will.Last edited by ttoks; 04-10-2014 at 04:36 AM.
Reply:Couple things on housing:  It might not be the best investment yet.  Long term it is, but its a huge strain on finances, because it is so much more involved than renting. you may consider leaving that for later.Having a kid on the way is a huge strain, but really, a father does not do much the first 2 years of life, except be present.Personally, I would take job 1, save as much as possible - to the point of having the wife move in with her family.After that job is done, keep that money in the bank, all 100K or whatever you've earned, and vow, never again.Then find a job 3. Or anything steady. And then move the wife away from her family. Use a job 3 to do so. East coast Australia is small enough that you can fly up or down for visits. She has got to learn to turn to YOU when she has problems. The fact that she does not want to leave her family right now is a red flag. May or may not be pregnancy, IDK. Will only be worse if she lives with them while you build a nest egg. Internet and telephone can suffice, as she will learn. It is tough to be away from home during a childs first year, but many did it in the war, and the women got along fine. This is where family comes in.  My grandmother did it, and she had the agony of not seeing my grandfather for 2 years, including 3 months during which he was listed MIA, presumed killed while he was in the 39th and the 2/6, up in New Guinea.  Comparitively, you've a walk in the park.Get that nest egg. From there you oprions are very wide open, from an annuity, to investment rental property, and so on. 12 months is 100K, 18 months is 150K. After taxes, you say.  Take the money and run, invest it wisely, and then never do it again.Last edited by Daeyel; 04-10-2014 at 08:09 AM.MillerMatic 252Miller Xtreme 625Miller Digital Elite