To accept job for convenience?

[Wren1975]

At the end of last year I lost my job and I have been looking for something new. I am a qualified professional and have worked at quite a senior level for most of my career. Today I was offered a much lower grade job (no seniority and roughly half my last salary) but in an organisation about 5 minutes walk from where I live.
I am tempted to take it because 1) I am a single parent and it would give me more time at home 2) I don't drive so commuting is always a chore 3) I have a chronic illness so sometimes an easy day is more than welcome.
However I am reluctant to take it because 1) It's a huge drop in salary 2) I worry that it will look bad on my CV/affect my longer term prospects 3) I worry that I will lose self respect/respect of others
What do you think? AIBU to want to accept a job just because it is convenient?

I did it the year before last. Gave me 4 months breathing space before I was promoted internally twice in rapid succession putting me back where I was before.

Sometimes convenient wins out, more importantly is the role interesting/challenging?

Congratulations!

Less seniority and half the pay don't necessarily translate into easy days. Sometimes the "workers" are under a lot of pressure too.

It's hard for anyone to advise. Your concerns are fair I think, but whether they trump the upsides of a reasonable job 5 mins from home, only you can say. Are there prospects of expanding the role? The halving of the salary similarly depends on your circs. I like to imagine I could take a cut from £100k to £50k no bother, but at the sort of salary I actually earn, I couldn't make ends meet if it were halved. But a job is way way better than no job, and being out of work is pants for your self respect, confidence and finances.

Thanks for your posts, they were really helpful. I decided to accept the job

I hope it works out well for you Wren. Thanks for updating!

To be honest, it sounds like it could work, because if it's so close you'll save a lot of money in not commuting and it might work better for your health.

You won't have an issue with your CV. I had a nervous breakdown and dropped from deputy head to head of department in 6 months because I couldn't cope. When I had feelers out last year looking at a possible job in the borough where I live, I just was honest with my potential employers and they all said it was refreshing and they were glad to know the reason was to do with my health and not my actual capabilities.