To turn down £70k salary

[Plonker85]

I’ve been headhunted for a job with a property developer. They’ve offered me £70k plus benefits plus likely 4 day week (I have young children).
My current salary is £50k with local government and its flexible, I can leave early to pick kids. And I know the job inside out.
It’s such a tempting offer but I just want a work life balance and not have to prove myself over again by starting a new job.
Am I mad to turn this down?

Nice stealth brag.

It depends what’s your situation re: outgoings and partner?
How old are the kids are you in rural wales or London

I wouldn't get out of bed for less than £188K.

You wouldn't be mad to turn it down for those reasons, but what's your job security like in local government? I know ours has had a run of redundancies lately... Is that a concern?

Tricky one - I think I’d end up staying put though. The flexibility is worth an awful lot when you have little kids.

Would they keep you in mind for future positions when your kids are a bit older?

Also - pensions and benefits are definitely to be considered.

Honestly, I think I'd have turned it down too. An extra £20k sounds nice but you earn a decent wage already and know your job well & have flexibility. I think unless you really want a new challenge or hate your current job, I'd stay put.

The £70K comes at a price, do you have a partner who could be more flexible?

If you know your job inside out than a change is good, but its a tricky choice - if you want to move upwards there isnt that much further in local government to go (and not great security either!).

Have you ever worked for a property developer? Ever worked in private consultancy?

If you haven't you are in for one hell of a shock. The pressures are very different.

You aren't mad to turn it down. Especially if work life balance is a concern. Property developers pay well for a reason.

Depends whether you want a challenge.
Are you excited by the approach? Has it started you wondering? Only you will know.

Talk to them about your concerns, if they want you that much they may be able to be flexible.

Do you love your current job?

You were headhunted so I'd go back to them and ask for more flexibility or negotiate different terms as I suspect they may consider them and work with you on it

MN is so bitter about Money.

I would take it OP, I think you’d be mad not to.

How awful for you.

Depends on the circumstances. A lot of that extra £20k could be lost in tax and lost child benefit.

Also how secure both jobs are, pension entitlement and expectations re hours, travel etc.

What do you do? If you’re a back office professional then make the move. If it’s sales then pass. Either way you are in for a huge culture shock, but it’s 70k; even if you only last a couple of years you will still be a lot more better off.

Well it depends how keen you are on the job itself - does it excite you? The extra £20k will all be subject to higher rate tax so won’t be that much extra in reality. Don’t forget to account for extra costs of childcare if your a/l is less than in your current job.

I think you are right to turn it down, unless as PP said, you are at risk of redundancy in public sector.

Local government and a property developer are very different beasts - I would stay where I am with young kids.

I used to work for a property developer. Awful place and the industry is not something I'd recommend. I honestly don't think 170k would get me back there.

MN is so bitter about Money

Agreed. Heaven forbid someone should be comfortably well off.

Working for the LA probably means you're on a civil service pay scale with all the perks that entails-very good AL, lots of flexibility, able to leave on time, decent pension scheme etc etc

70k from 50k with the tax difference will probably see you about £900 a month better off.....is that £900 worth the work life balance plus perks that you currently have?

Money is a dirty world on mumsnet. Lol