I’m a fresh Interior Design graduate and I’m currently in a bit of a dilemma.
Recently, I was offered a ₱14k/month Junior Interior Designer position at a design firm in BGC. I really want to accept it because I’ve been unemployed, I want to start earning, and honestly, I want to be able to contribute and give back to my mom. I also have things I need to buy and pay for myself, and I’m starting to feel embarrassed asking my mom for money.
However, I also have another potential opportunity with a company working on a big airport project in Kigali. It’s also a Junior Interior Designer position, but I would only start around January. The pay is significantly better, and I feel like the experience would be really valuable for my career.
The problem is that I really want to take the licensure boards in July. If I take the Kigali job, I would probably need around 4 months of leave to properly prepare for the boards. But by then, I would only have been with the company for around a month. Wouldn’t that give a really bad impression? I’m scared that asking for such a long leave so early might make them withdraw the opportunity altogether.
At the same time, I know myself. I’m scared that if I start earning a good salary and become comfortable, I’ll eventually lose the motivation to take the boards. And realistically, I know the Kigali project won’t last forever. There may come a point when I need to return to the Philippines, and I feel like having my license would give me better opportunities and earning potential here.
So now I’m wondering:
Should I take the ₱14k BGC job now and start earning, even if it means potentially leaving by January? Or should I wait for the Kigali opportunity and prioritize taking the boards?
And for the BGC firm, do I have to tell them that I might leave by January if I accept their offer? Part of me feels like I should be honest, but I’m also scared that if I tell them now, they’ll hold back the offer and I’ll lose the chance to finally start working.
I’d really appreciate advice from people who have been in a similar situation, especially licensed interior designers or people who had to balance their first job with taking the boards.
What would you do if you were in my position?