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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I accept this job offer?

31 replies

Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 19:51

I was made redundant a year ago. Was in a reasonably well paid job (£40k) then the company went bust.

Had to downsize and so lived on savings and temp work, meanwhile furiously applying for permanent jobs until - hurrah, I got one!!!!

The thing is, it’s exactly half of what I used to earn. If I accept this job, it’s at least 2 years before I get any kind of reasonable jab at a promotion. And even then there is a ceiling for how much you can earn. Maximum it would be roughly what I was earning before I was made redundant.

AIBU to consider turning the offer down so that I can find something with more potential? Or should I suck it up and accept that I’ll only ever make a c£30k salary? If it helps, I’m in my 40s.

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 14/08/2019 19:53

Can you live on the salary?
Surely it’s better to take the job to get money in (and NI contributions etc) and looking for something better, rather than eating more into your savings?

tequilasunrises · 14/08/2019 19:54

Take it, but keep looking for something better?

Original poster
Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 19:56

Yes, I can live on the salary. It’s a pretty basic living but definitely could be worse.

The dilemma is that it’s a position which requires considerable commitment and I’d be very unlikely to get a positive reference if I decided to swan off after a year or so.

OP posts:
MsRosewater · 14/08/2019 19:56

Like PP said, take it & keep looking- what do you have to lose?

Flerkin · 14/08/2019 19:56

Depends on your finances and how doing temp work is going.

FWIW I took a break from a few years ago. Went back in a post lower than what I was used to. I very much regret it.

It was very hard. Especially in a new company where many people were in the queue for the next promotion, who had been there longer. Could have just been the company.

But I left after a year and went back to my same level in a other company. Much happier.

Queenie8 · 14/08/2019 20:00

Negotiate the salary up, if you don't ask etc.

Original poster
Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 20:05

@Queenie8

Believe it or not, this is the negotiated salary! It was originally 5 grand less

OP posts:
gearandloathing · 14/08/2019 20:59

Temping is your friend in this situation

AquaPris · 14/08/2019 21:02

It was originally £15k?!? That's lower than my apprentice wage was...

GreyGardens88 · 14/08/2019 21:07

Maybe you were just overpaid in your last job

Merryoldgoat · 14/08/2019 21:20

What do you do?

Original poster
Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 21:21

@AquaPris

I know right? The trouble is, it’s a very niche arts based role and they are so hard to come by to begin with let alone at the level I was being paid for in my old company. Pretty much everyone who is lucky enough to get a permanent position stats there until they pop their clogs!

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 14/08/2019 21:23

It seems odd to go from £40k to minimum wage... I earn nearly £50k pro rata and my job just wouldn’t exist at £20k.

Original poster
Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 21:25

@Merrygoat

It’s really a niche job. I don’t want to say what it is but it’s a bit like being a ballerina in a dance company.

OP posts:
LisaSimpsonsbff · 14/08/2019 21:28

I'm a bit confused - is the job considerably more junior (as you'd expect with that paycut)? Or is it at the same level, but just far worse paid? If the former then it feels like something more senior might realistically come up. If the latter, and if you're finding it to be the going rate (no wonder your old company went bust if they paid twice what all their competitors did!) then holding out for another job seems less wise - your options seem to be to take this one, or to try and change into a generally better remunerated field.

Merryoldgoat · 14/08/2019 21:32

Well it sounds like you ‘priced out’ - I’ve seen it happen before. Your worth to your employer increases as ones your salary but your core role is such that you are overpaid do can’t move. I’d look at career change myself.

parietal · 14/08/2019 21:36

If it is a niche area where is is hard to get work, then I guess your options are

a) take it if this is your dream role and you are prepared to live on beans&toast for the next 10 years in order to stay in the ballet / orchestra / theatre / whatever
b) look further afield for a job that pays better but might be more dull. are you qualified for other areas, e.g. office or admin work?

So when in 10 years time you look back on one of those 2 decisions, which do you think will make you happier?

Ithinkmycatisevil · 14/08/2019 21:36

Accept the job, but keep looking. It’d be better than no job, but you don’t have to stay for ever.

wobbegong · 14/08/2019 21:37

Accept it and keep applying for things, networking like crazy, raising your profile in the industry etc
Does anyone even give references any more, positive or negative? I wouldn't worry about a bad reference if you don't stay long. In a lot of companies now references are just confirming you worked there during defined dates.

Neverender · 14/08/2019 21:40

I wouldn't but it depends how much you value money. That might sound stupid but there may be other more important considerations, like:

  • The name of the company
  • The reputation of the company
  • Flexibility

Etc etc

Original poster
Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 21:45

Does anyone even give references any more, positive or negative? I wouldn't worry about a bad reference if you don't stay long.

It’s exactly a bad reference as such that I’m concerned about as much as it’s a really small industry where everyone knows everyone and reputation is everything.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hopefullyendsmeet · 14/08/2019 21:46

its not* exactly

OP posts:
Iggly · 14/08/2019 21:48

They can’t give a bad reference only a factual one. You’re allowed to change your mind about a place and leave!

I’d take the job and also keep hunting.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 14/08/2019 22:16

It’s exactly a bad reference as such that I’m concerned about as much as it’s a really small industry where everyone knows everyone and reputation is everything.

But if you got another job and so were going to leave after a year, say, then you'd already have the other job? They're not going to withdraw the offer because your employer says 'well, she didn't stay with us for long' - they know that from your CV. Even if there were some whispers by the time you're looking for a next job after that it's not going to feel very relevant.

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 15/08/2019 14:55

IME you can get away with one short lived job on your CV particularly if you have a good excuse such as redundancy to explain it.

I left a long term job for another role a year ago and it was a massive mistake, I left the new job after a few months. I was worried it would put people off but it didn't seem to, once I explained the reasons why it was not right for me.

I think if you keep active on the market and find a higher paying job in, say 6 months time you could easily explain that you'd had to take a salary cut due to redundancy. If it's a deal breaker for the new employer then they won't offer and you'll be no worse off.