Seeking advice on two job offers

[M017]

Good day seafarers hope you are doing good.

I need your advices, put yourself in the same situation and let me know why you made this choice.


## Option 1: French Company in Gabon
- 3rd Engineer position on a 120m vessel. Oil Tanker
- $4200 salary
- 4 months at sea, 4 months off (no shore leave during sea period)

## Option 2: Qatar Company (LNG vessels)
- Junior Engineer position on 300-400m LNG vessels
- $1600 initial salary (worldwide trading routes)
- Potential salary increase to $5000+ after gaining Gas certificate (requires 3 months experience and one promotion from Chief Eng)

Fellow mariners, I'd appreciate your insights on these options. Which factors would you prioritize: short-term financial gain, long-term career growth? Share your experiences and advice."

 

[Captainesti]

I once picked the lower paying option because it gave better hours and let me spend more time with family. Money’s great, but time and peace of mind mattered more for me.

 

[William01]

I always tell younger people to go with the position that will give them the most experience and make their resume look good. If your at the top of your field then go for the big money.

You don’t mention a family, that should play into your decision. Leaving Mom home to raise kids while you’re at sea for 4 months is asking a lot of your wife. Are you prepared to miss milestones, birthdays, anniversaries, school plays…?

I worked mostly in the mining industry, home each night until the mine closed then I got into the oil patch, both kids were gone so I didn’t miss too many milestones. I got to travel all over western Canada and see areas that I wouldn’t normally see, some good some not so good. Living in camps and hotels isn’t the same as being home every night.

Good luck on whatever you decide, not always an easy decision to make.

 

[Captainesti]

Starting lower isn’t fun, but the chance to move up and earn more makes it worth it, kind of like when I considered training for HVAC work—HVAC certificate programs cost between $1,200 and $15,000, but the payoff afterward was solid. Getting that extra qualification opened doors I hadn’t expected, so short-term sacrifice can lead to bigger opportunities later.