Long story short

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took me 8.5 Semesters to get the M.E. in structural engineering, and B.S. in civil engineering

My relevant experience is: hands on (labor work as apprentice for construction), hands on (mechanical, automotive), design (bridges and buildings), 3d modeling (solidworks, csibridge, etc.), FEA (ansys, csi products, etc.), as well as niche skills like concrete canoe and building and tuning a Naturally Aspirated vehicle

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-got an internship in feb.- presently there--> got an offer for 65k, 14 days PTO (bridge work, did not feel that I would have good growth within the company, so i DECLINED)

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pulled some strings, got another interview for precast concrete industry, they couldnt meet what I wanted (which was 70k, this place was much further away as well)

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went to structures summit in Chicago, met big boy owners (such as owner of CSI, and other influential individuals within the structural engineering world),--> got business card--> got interview--> big boy said hiring freeze currently, and gave contact to another individual

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the other individual, let's call him Mr. S, --> got an interview, went well, extremely interested since it is within the loop, forensic engineering (good because this exposes me to many markets such as concrete, steel, and wood which would effectively prepare me for S.E. and P.E. for potential side business prospects upon acquiring my licenses)

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Mr. S called me today saying they cannot hire until Q1 of 2019 due to internal company, and this is only potential

another company called me today, gave me an offer for 65k, and basically 3 days PTO --> i only interviewed with them for shits and giggles after a campus career fair --> powergrid industry --> will not really prepare me for my S.E. and P.E.

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I am traveling to Europe soon (2.5 weeks), and my other prospect was another bridge engineering firm (can match 70-80k apparently), however will not meet/speak with me until I come back from Europe since it is so soon.

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My worries are:

  1. Will not find something till February/March
  2. the other bridge engineering firm will screw me over (i got a whiff of that with the forensic company as well as the powergrid company)
  3. my position within a company will not prepare me well for the S.E., P.E., and overall growth within engineering as a discipline, and the company itself.

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My options:

  1. Go back to said original bridge company, and reapply for position (i am cool with the supervisor, and everyone in the office, and homie basically said you are always welcome back)

  2. Risk going without a job (and effectively decline powergrid offer)

  3. Pursue a completely different (maybe niche) market (I was doing some physical modeling for fitness/tuxedo start ups/brands, and/or do mechanic/car work/labor contractor work) , and at the same time give my try at FOREX

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What do you all think I should do?

I've made a risky decision before, and making another risky choice like that seems to be pushing my luck (as well as, I hate talking to my parents, LTR, or acquaintances about this type of sensitive decisions). I am leaning on going back to the original company...

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Thank you for your time