To ask for some advice? ANY advice?

[NC101010]

I've NC'd for this.

I just don't know what to do.

For a good 18 months now I've been completely and utterly miserable in my job. I've tried and tried and tried to find a new one and have applied for around 30, I'd say. Nothing has ever come of the applications, not even an "we'll keep your CV on file". I've had help tweaking my CV and updating it but still, nothing.

A friend of mine has recently forwarded me an application for a job at her firm and I've been offered an interview. It would be more fast paced, interaction with lots more people, potential for promotion into various different areas of the firm and, most attractive of all, I'd be finally getting out of the horrendous employment situation I'm in now!

The problem is it would mean me taking a £12k salary drop. I am aware that the salary I am on at the moment is well above average and was more than prepared to take a hit on my salary with the next job I took/was offered.

But, as I've said previously, I'm utterly miserable where I am now, I see the same 2 faces every day and, for the most part of my day, I sit and stare at my screens with nothing to do.

It's starting to affect my home life and my DH and children and noticed a change in my moods. I'm off for 2 days this week and the thought of going back in on Wednesday is filling me with dread!

WWYD?

I think it depends upon the figures you are talking about (eg are you on 42k and dropping to 30k or is it 24k dropping to 12k)?
Can you and your family afford the drop in salary? Will you still be able to afford the essentials? How would your DH feel about the drop?

In my case I did do as you described as my job was starting to become incompatible with my life with 2 small children, I dropped from about 36k to 29k and tbh have never recovered that level. But I was def happier when I did it!

If you can afford it, do it. Life's too short

Work out if you can afford the 12k drop in salary, and if so, take the job if you're offered it.
Like another pp said, life is too short to be miserable. I presume your dh would support your decision?

Sorry for disappearing yesterday. School holidays keeping me busy!

@Paperthin @covetingthepreciousthings DH has just said he "wants what's best for me". He hates to see me so unhappy and unmotivated.

The drop in salary would be from £30k to £18k meaning there would be a drop in monthly household income of approx. £570.

It's a huge amount for us to lose but we'd have to cut our cloth, reduce bills like Sky TV, mobile phone bills etc. Our car costs us a lot of money a month too but it's on finance and I don't know how, if possible, we could get "out" of that kind of agreement, I dunno?! Sorry I'm babbling now.

I'm just so torn because I want desperately to be happy in my job but I also don't want to be the reason why we struggle as a family!

Go for the interview, see what happens, you might not like the job/people etc, or you might love it. If it's the latter, negotiate the salary upwards. You have nothing to lose by asking for more money. Good luck 🤞🏻

I'd suggest drawing up a budget, and seeing your monthly outgoings, there's some good links on Money Saving Expert. So you can see what you'd be left with, after the drop in income.