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?

An extra £20k sounds nice
It wouldn't be an extra £20k, though. More like £10k after deductions

Good for you. I personally think 70k is peanuts. I wouldn't get out of bed for less than half a million and that would have to include benefits like a company car to get me to and from work plus an added lunch allowance plus a holiday allowance that granted me April till October leave.

A job offer isn't just about money; the terms are just as important in terms of flexibility and other benefits such as pensions, holidays, etc. If the other terms don't suit you, I'd negotiate or turn it down.

It's a nice problem to have

Gosh such nastiness and jealousy. Why is the op not allowed to discuss a genuine career dilemma just because it involves choosing between two reasonably well paid jobs? Mumsnetters do realise that people that earn this sort of money also pay a good chunk in tax which is kind of necessary to keep the country running don’t they?

Personally op I wouldn’t take it with young children. The difference isn’t much once you have paid tax and lost all child benefit etc. And I value work life balance more. I have friends that would and have as they more career orientated than me.

I don’t think it’s fair to say OP is trying to humble brag....

OP I was also just headhunted for another job. In my mind I’d put a minimum salary increase required in order for me to change roles. I too felt the same as you- I liked my previous job, was comfortable and good at my job. But also wanted a challenge! I went for interview and was really skeptical about it, but once I was in the process and understood what the role entails it was a no brainer!

You have to understand what you want out of life. Do you want to just be able to leave 10 mins early, or do you want a challenge and to be excited? Writing down an old school list of pro’s and con’s really helped me. Good luck.

Is there a chance for your pay to rise in the new job? 70k is one of those shitty numbers where it gets taxed to an extent you may as well stay in the 50k. But if it had the potential to rise towards 90k then I would take it.

NOT unreasonable at all. It's incredible pressure the more you earn and you and your children are only young once. I wouldn't do it.

I'd stay put tbh.

It will be about £850 per month after tax/lost child benefit. Do you think it’s worth it for that amount?

I'm guessing it's planning? My exh is a QS at director level and bitterly regrets moving to workdirect for a client. Developers in private sector will definitely want their pound of flesh.

I wouldn't. I think a lot of developers will go pop in the next few years. 20k after tax and pension isn't a massive lift, particularly if that's pro rata over your PT hours and £50k with a decent pension and flexible working far more sensible.

Ignore the digs Op, I really don't know why nobody in MN is allowed to be comfortable without apologizing for their existence .

I've had 3 job offers in the last 7 months which I've declined (I wasn't looking but former managers who'd moved to other companies in the industry were finding themselves in need of experienced people). Like you I earn a good salary now, have flexible start/leave times, am established in my role and wouldn't want to start over and have reasonable job security. Not as secure as civil service but if I was made redundant it would be with the equivalent of a years take home pay which would be a pretty decent nest egg.

After tax and presumably pension contributions the increase would probably be halved. You'd have less flexibility so possibly paying more in childcare? For me the increase in and of itself wouldn't be worth the loss of flexibility, the stress of starting somewhere new and the lack of security. It's different if the increase would make a difference to your quality of life but when it actually wouldn't make a big difference and especially considering giving up job security then I think you'd be mad.

If you don't want it on the terms they've offered, think about what would make you take it, then give them a list and see if they can meet it - what have you got to lose? For example, you might ask for:
£85k, 4 days a week of which 3 in the office and 1 at home, office days will be within school hours only, company car and phone and whatever else you can think of. However, if you write the list and think actually, even if they accept all these terms I'll still say no, then at least you've made a solid, considered decision.

I would go for an interview anyway . It’s always interesting to see what else is out there and get ideas should your role be made redundant
But the corporate long hours culture is no joke and I would LOVE a more flex civil service role !!
So agree with PP to be honest

I wouldn't say you're mad for turning it down - flexibility with young dc is such a bonus. Private property developer may not be so flexible - you'll have to put the work in to show you're worth it. Unless you have a partner who can step up. I'm sure they'll be other opportunities when the dc are older.

YANBU to turn it down, for the reasons you've said.

You’ve been offered £70k for a 4 day a week job? I do think you’d be mad not to go for the interview. If you did it for 2 years, and then wanted more flexibility you’d be in a better bargaining position.

If it is a solid firm, they’re not terribly likely to go bust, plus if they’re offering you 4 days pw now, you could negotiate another day late start or early finish I expect.

If you don't want it on the terms they've offered, think about what would make you take it, then give them a list and see if they can meet it - what have you got to lose? For example, you might ask for:

Absolutely this - and go for the interview, just because it's good to keep your hand in I find...

You're in a strong position - they've approached you, you're not obliged to take it, you can ask for what you'd like to make it work, and then make the decision.

I've accepted jobs like this, and rejected them - you are allowed to do either (I remember an agent being incensed that I'd turned down a job I'd been offered, and really getting rude and condescending - he didn't know I'd been offered 2 other roles through other agents, with better benefits, salaries, and reputations, and after his performance, I'd have had to really want his job to give him the commission anyway)

OP if you come back we can be of more help. Do you live in London?

The jealousy on here! Congrats on the job offer op. In your shoes I would probably stick with the current job - the flexibility to pick up young DC is a huge perk. Unless the extra money is life changing for you I wouldn't bother - if you are good you would get offered a similar job in a few years probably.

If your in planning (as I am) getting senior and principal level planners is near impossible at the moment. There was an article in the planner today about it. Should give you negotiating room (if that’s what you choose to do).

Personally I’ve been in LA too long (12 years) and probably am institutionalised so would have such a culture shock moving into the private sector. What was your inspiration for starting this career in the first place?

If they have head hunted you, you can be in more control in terms of flexible working, leave etc. whilst you negotiate - remember there is no national or local pay agreements and generally no salary scales so you have lots of flexibility in making the request.

For £70k in a LA your probably looking at head of service level is that something your headed towards?

At the end of the day you can always go back to LA as there are so many opportunities right now.

Good luck with your decision

God some people are so bitter about money on here 🙄 I hope some of you realise that there will always be someone earning more than you so there's no need to be a bitter Betty. OP I think you should at least go for an interview

If you are in the local government pension I think that is worth about £15k a year. If you like your job, I'd be very tempted to see my time out with a final salary pension. It's a golden goose and it still giving.

You will lose your child benefit too, gross that up and your 20k had gone.

Nowhere near same figures but I was recently considering moving from pt to ft with an increase in wage by £12k but with extra tax, pension, student loan and childcare costs it worked out an extra £150 take home per month which I felt wasn’t worth it for losing my current work life balance.

50k is a good salary, for a job that is still relatively 'normal'.

For 70k the employer would be expecting 24/7 committment, presenteeism, cancelling other plans in their favour etc.