Offered two different jobs. Job A is short-term but awesome. Job B kind of sucks but is permanent. Advice?

Crappy permanent jobs are everywhere.

Some people are more concerned about job security and some people are more concerned about their intellectual stimulation from their job. You should give some thought to where you personally fall on that spectrum. Make a list of what you see as the pros and cons of each job. You probably will find that the process leads you towards the alternative that you genuinely prefer.

I'd take the part time position and here is why. You don't plan on making a long term career of the permanent job. If you had a family and wanted to settle down the boring long term job would make sense. Since you plan to go on to grad school, the seasonal job would be better. If you want a career in wildlife bio, I don't think experience counting parasites in a lab will help as much as actually being in the field.

I suggest you take the 4 month job that you think you will enjoy. Life is short, enjoy it.

I say go for the short term job.

You are young with no family and said short term money isn't a concern. Money and stability are the only things pointing to the longer term job.

You said you don't want to be looking for a job in 3-4 months but you will be so that is part of the discconnect.

And if the short term thing is a better opportunity and better for long-term advancement in your career, I wouldn't worry about the patch on your resume.

Good luck.

Wait you forgot to say how many MPW you can run with each job. Obviously factor that in.

Take the short term job which could give you experience relevant to another job you actually want. Besides, all that microscopy will destroy your eyes, neck, and soul!

Take the short term as it fits your future plans, but apply to those grad programs now...what are you waiting for ? Unless you are going to really do something over the next two years that makes a difference to graduate school, don't put it off. Create a short-list of 5-10 programs that you plan to apply to; you have until the end of March to post this homework assignment.

Thanks for all the input, guys. The two jobs have given me pause because I've already taken the fun, low-paying job multiple times in the past, and while it's been great, I've been living pretty meagerly for several years now. I've also been told by multiple people I need to upgrade my wardrobe and car if I'm ever going to attract women... I guess the prospect of just hunkering down and making some money for a while seems enticing to me, even if it is staring into a microscope 8 hours per day. But you're all definitely right too. Life is short, and if I plan to leave this job in 9 months or a year or something anyway, what really is the difference?

I'm still open to more input. Thank you all.