UPDATE: Decision has been made. :)

I rarely post anything seriously here, especially when it concerns my private life, but in this instance it might be good to get some outside input.

First off, this is not a super serious issue as in "oh my god how am I going to live?", but it does at the very least affect my near future. Anyway, I decided to leave the craptastic world of fast food after some eight years (two different companies/cities) to look for something better at least work-wise. That part's a done deal already as I officially quit last Saturday, and I've been actively looking for work elsewhere before and since.

Here comes the dilemma: I've been offered a job from two different places today. Wage-wise they're not all that different but hours, benefits, and flexibility is quite varied between these two.

The first job is a full-time and more or less permanent position as a security guard. It's nothing scary or hard as the position I've applied for is at a front desk day shift which mainly concerns itself with only letting valid employees enter the building. It's a set schedule - which would definitely be good thing after all the years of fluctuating schedules I've had before - 7AM-3PM, Monday thru Friday. While I'm ambivalent about it requiring me to be in a union, which can be a curse or blessing in some cases, it does offer decent medical and dental benefits. Plus, I wouldn't have to clean anything, get down and dirty or deal with obnoxious customers.

The second one is as an entry-level cashier position at a national retailer chain (one of the better ones), but it only offers part-time hours with maybe the chance to gain extra hours by filling shifts with maybe full-time availability later on should there be an opening. Obviously as part-time I wouldn't get any actual benefits and the schedule would vary still, but the hours of the store are considerably shorter than in my previous work, but I would expect the it to be a bit chaotic during the holiday season - I've always avoided stores during the big sales events like Black Friday.

Now while some may think the first may definitely be the better option you also need to take into account that I've been considering going back to school in the not-so-distant future with a good helping of financial support through my post 9-11 GI Bill I'm still eligible for. I may be able to even do that as soon as this Winter's trimester, and if I did that a part-time job would come in much more handy, especially since I know that place already work around employee's class schedules as needed. Pretty much anything I would earn at the job would go straight to savings.

I haven't officially been hired by either one of these places yet so I can still back out of one or the other, but I'm unsure what would be best... Well, shit.

I have no first hand information to offer you or anything like that, but from an outside perspective the first offer is hands down the better of the two.

If you're returning to classes after a long hiatus there's nothing wrong with taking evening classes. Hell, getting out at 3PM leaves a ton of flexibility - you aren't talking 9 - 5, where 5 is really 7:30 - 8 to ??? depending on the workload. Honestly, no brainer. Plus a position as a security guard "sounds" like it would be much better resume fodder for later on in life, as opposed to a cashier. A front desk position might even make it easy to transition into the very company (should you be interested) you'd be working at, once you start putting some time into a degree.

*edit to add - Almost forgot - best of luck to you regardless of what happens!!! Sounds like it could be exciting times ahead for you!

How do you know the retailer would work with your school schedule? I work with students and I see many employers who will, and many who won't. It's probably not covered by the chain's policy, and likely left to the supervising manager. Get a good supervisor, and it can work great. Get a bad one, and it can go badly. The supervisor you sign on to work for may not be the same one there in 3 months.

If it has low pay and no benefits, depending on the college you may be better off getting a work-study job on campus rather than keeping the retail gig. Though availability of 'work study' varies widely.

Likewise, look at whether there are programs available to you that would accommodate the work schedule in the security gig.

I think the good news is that you don't really need to make an "optimal" decision here. And presuming you aren't signing yourself into indentured servitude, you aren't really "stuck" with any decision you make now.

Unless you have another option for health insurance (ACA/state coverage/parent's plan/VA) I'd probably opt for the benefits and the stable schedule. The other option carries too much risk that you sign on and they don't have hours for you, or throw you into 50 hours during Black Friday, etc.

From experience, work + school is easier with a set schedule of more hours, than a flexible schedule of fewer. Go with the job that gives you medical.

Forget both of those and just become a stripper instead. You can even work from home on some nights. (￣ ‿￣)づ

Thank you for the input so far. Me and Rob Schneider, eh? =P

You mean like this-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AnW97qET4E


While I was in San Francisco, one of my Christian neighbor's daughter was a stripper/escort by night and a law school student by day. She was making $700-$1100 an hour and only worked 9-10 hours a week.
She was pretty open about it because she said "all the other girls do it too".

As for the OP, second is clearly better if he wants to go back to school. Although in this economy, education does not mean much if you have no connections or inside man to get you the job you want.

Best option: https://youtu.be/cQZWaIZ__OE?t=57s

I have nothing serious to add, sorry.

If I were you, I'd establish a solid plan for what type of business you'll be involved with if you go back to school, and weigh the pros and con's of a permanent position now over a permanent position 1-4 years from now.

In the long term, which will yield a happier life for you? Which will give you your wants, as well as meet your needs? I imagine as ex military, a security guard job would be like shooting fish in the barrel. Do you want to continue a guardian-type role in society? Or do you want to go to school to be involved in something else, and possibly start your own business?

That's the main focus I would have, if I were in your shoes. Unfortunately for me, I never served in the military, so I don't have as many options as you do. And btw, you certainly deserve those options, as do all of our troops.

I hope this helps!
~Leucius

Work(ed) both types of jobs...... So I say find out what your hours at school would be if it can all be evening classes then take the security job but if it varies then definitely take the retail one.....

Good on u having ... options, actually!

Even before getting to the second to the last paragraph, I got the impression that you were not exceedingly keen on either of these jobs.

And having the idea that you should accept the one that would allow you to study and qualify further.

So go for the one that accommodates you better in your goal beyond.

But this somewhat assumes you are free without a child. if not so, I hope amiably with the co-parent.

Security position with benefits and a set schedule sounds a lot more stable and desirable to me in your presently described situation, and as OneFiercePuppy mentioned it may actually be easier to schedule coursework around a set schedule than it would be around a constantly changing one. I also think it wouldn't be too difficult to find a part-time entry-level cashier gig at some point in the future if you do decide to become a full-time daytime student, so it's not like that option would be closed to you later if you decide to take the security position right now.

I think Leucius provided some very sound advice though which is to consider what your future goals are and where you ideally see yourself in the next 5-10 years. If what you want can only be obtained by going to school full-time during morning+daytime hours, then maybe that's what you should get busy doing. Or if, perhaps, what you want to learn or get out of school can be done through night or internet classes or perhaps even self-study/mentorship, then maybe having a more grounded employment status and financial footing would be more optimal.

Having the full-time job would provide more security--no pun intended. Also, you can't go wrong with "bennys". However, I don't think you should let your GI Bill education aid expire as, really, I think you could definitely improve both options with a degree(s) to your name.

Retail sucks... I've been there. As you said, we're headed for the holiday season which means they're hiring extras just to fill the demand. No guarantee of still having your P/T shitty retail job afterwards.

And, as you do have the ability to work 7-3, that doesn't preclude you from taking courses in late afternoon and weekends. Even if you do college part time, you can still get there...just a bit slower. There are many colleges out there that have programs designed for people with other obligations other than dorm parties.

Either way, of the 2 options, go with option #3: get that degree, and get the job that will best support you while doing that. (pssst... I think it's option #1 ;-)

I'd also say #1. Be very careful of part-time retail jobs. I've seen people get cut down to next to no hours "because their boss forgot to schedule them" and never know what kind of favorites get played. For many companies, you being part-time means they do what they want...10 hours one week, 50 the next or else and while they may claim to be flexible with your schooling, if it comes into conflict with what they want, you may end up on the short-end of the hours stick.

Also, I think the security job sounds much better on a resume. If I were hiring someone, I'd trust a security guard more than a part-time cashier at a retail store.

It should be fairly easy to schedule classes around a fixed work schedule like that as well.

Full-time plus evening and weekend courses. This is a no-brainer, really...