Fantastic new job opportunity but very uncomfortable with pay WWYD?

[Exemochick]

This week I have interviewed for a fantastic new role that I am really excited about. It is a job that is relevant to my field but in a different area that requires my specific expertise so really a bit of a career change. I have met the team, everything seems great apart from the salary. I am expecting to take a bit of a paycut as I am new to this area but I will be paid 14k less per year than I was getting in my old role, the same amount I was making as a new graduate years ago. I have tried to negotiate the salary but with little leniency as apparently it wouldn't be fair to others who previously have started on the same amount. I am absolutely torn about what to do because on one hand I don't want to let this opportunity go but I'm very concerned about getting into debt and not being able to afford the lifestyle I am accustomed to every month. What would you do?

If you are working as a contractor I would be tempted to take it for short term. However, I'd look for something else. I took a 3k pay cut and lost a company car, to move to a more local job (its 15 minutes away and previous job was an hour and a quarter commute), its also public sector and flexible working hours. No regrets, but 14k is significantly more of a drop than I took.

I'm not sure about the 14k drop, given that you've been contracting. What does worry me though, is their attitude to you asking for a higher salary.

I would try and negotiate a higher wage after the probationary period. If they don't put something in writing about an increase after 6 months, I wouldn't take it.

You are not comparing apples with apples if the job you are comparing it to was in a high cost area. the reason jobs in high cost areas is accommodation and travel etc higher. So compare your accomodation and travel etc costs for the higher area to what you have now.
Also compare what benefits they have like medical insurance or investment in study etc
If you don't have a permanent job now which you seem to suggest you would be mad to turn this down even if you do leave in 6 months. Its different if you had a permanent job now.

That’s quite a small cut to go from a contractor to a permanent member of staff.. I would be looking at 20-30k to move from contracting

The day rate for a contractor is always higher than the day rate for a permie. You need to compare the total packages including the permie benefits, not the day rates.

Then compare what they are offering to the industry standard for the job and your location.

After that it depends on your preference for permie vs contract. You may simply want the experience for 6-12 months to expand your CV. You can then leave for more money if they are low payers.

I would also agree with this point:

They're likely to have the same attitude towards progression as well, so it's unlikely the pay reduction is a short term thing you can work your way up from

Organisations which work on buggins turn for promotions and pay rises are unlikely to give you good long term career progression, that doesn't mean a stint in the job to gain experience is wasted.

If you haven't got a job at the moment you don't have anything to lose.
How easy will it be to find another job that pays better ?

There is a world of difference between contract/freelance pay and salaries. If you have been contracting for a while, in a high cost area, I echo what PP posters have said about checking your current local costs of living and salaries.
To give you a really extreme example:
A freelancer, in my area of expertise, working in a large financial centre could expect to earn up to €280k per annum. Working as a senior-level employee you would be looking at €130 - €150k max. although obviously with the "benefits" of paid leave, sick pay etc.

Some questions that might help you work this out.

Without moving house, could you go back to the same/equivalent job in the old location and earn what you were on before contracting?
What would your commute cost be if you were to do that?
Does the equivalent to your old job exist in your new area?
If yes, what does it pay?
What are the actual costs of the lifestyle that you are accustomed to, taking into account that your rent or mortgage are probably lower?
Does this slight change in direction offered by the 14k pay cut job open up better opportunities to earn more in 5 or 10 years than the old job did? (Ie take less now in return for additional skills and better prospects, maybe back as a contractor or in another organisation)

Unfair to others is an unprofessional reason which makes me question their business skills.

It doesn’t matter what they’ve paid people in the past for the role - only the going rate now; if these are contemporary hirings - they may be underpaying everyone.

If they want your expertise they need to pay for it, make that clear.

Bottom line is it depends how desperate you are for the work.

OP has made it clear that she was in a permanent role prior to contracting, so she is comparing the salary with her previous permanent salary not with her contracting pay.

@TatianaBis

Unfair to others is an unprofessional reason which makes me question their business skills.

It doesn’t matter what they’ve paid people in the past for the role - only the going rate now; if these are contemporary hirings - they may be underpaying everyone.

If they want your expertise they need to pay for it, make that clear.

Bottom line is it depends how desperate you are for the work.

I read it as them saying they can’t pay OP more than market rate because others are on market rate. We have no idea how much they need her expertise, what other candidates re out there and whether it is worth their while to pay a premium to get her. If there are equally capable others out there willing to accept lower, that is the market rate and OP is pricing herself out.

I would not accept such a pay cut. If they want your experience then they should pay for it. What they gave to other starters is not relevent.

I had a similar experience with an organization which advertised a full time post but offered me a job share. They sprung the job share on me at the interview. I told them that as a single person I needed a full time post/salary to meet my expenses as I had no partners income to fall back upon.

I also had negative feelings about job share because of the need to co-ordinate with another person. I felt that by advertising a full time post and then bringing in mention of a job share was very unethical. It should have been offered as full time/possible job share. Then applicants could state their preference in their covering letter.

In the end I was still offered the post but as a job share. I refused it.

I later heard from a colleague that they had an internal applicant who wanted to drop down to part time hours because of child rearing responsibilities. So her job share partner would have been lumbered with all the shitty hours and jobs. It makes me really angry when single people take up the slack for those with children.

Its NOT A paycut.

Op doesn't have a job at the moment.

Of course she shouldn't quit a job for a £14 k pay cut.

But she doesn't have a job, and this is what jobs in the area she is in pay for her skills

I read it as them saying they can’t pay OP more than market rate because others are on market rate.

It's not entirely clear. OP's words were: it wouldn't be fair to others who previously have started on the same amount.

ie. in the past. As I said, it's the current market rate at issue. Past starting salaries are not relevant.

The fact that OP was in a permanent role on a higher salary suggests their offer is not the going rate at lease in her old location.

But you're right we don't know how much they need her skills or how many others are in line. But I'd say it's worth another shot at negotiating the salary in case they don't have anyone else suitable.

As you have no job just now, I'd take this and still look around.

Ive just taken a job with a similar pay cut. My reasons were its in a different field to my current role but one that I want to be and they offered me education that promotes me further in the new field with a pay increase after the education has been completed. It was that, or limping on in my current role being miserable.

I say go for it.

It makes me really angry when single people take up the slack for those with children

You must spend an awful lot of time being angry.

The new job, does it include
Paid holiday
Paid sickness
Paid maternity
Pension contributions
Any other benefits

You could work there & look for a better job

It makes me really angry when single people take up the slack for those with children

😂😂😂 ok

I got offered a contract in May for half the salary than my usual. My thinking process was:

• I will have a bank on my cv, so will open financial roles (huge pay later)
• full online and travel to another country only when it's possible and 2 jabs
• not so interesting job, meaning that I can churn out what is needed
• from above point: probs not 8 hours per day, but less

Based on this I accepted. I think it's personal decision. To me flexibility, wfh and new industry are important, salary only to the extent that it should not be under a set amount that I need to live off. Above that the first 3 are more important. But it differs from person to person.

Take the job and get some money coming in.
You might like,love or hate it but you won't know until you try,what else are you going to do?wait for a dream job that may never arise?
Take it.

I would take it if you are contracting and work is scarce but keep looking. And at 6 months see what the rise is. If it’s not enough then I would definitely start to look elsewhere

No. Don't take it. Unless you are prepared for a total downgrade due to your personal circumstances.

Sorry I misunderstood. You are not leaving a job to take on a job which pays 14k a year less. Just weigh up the pros and conx. Stay in your contracting role, hold out for a job that pays better or take this job. Three choices I'd say.

agree with others to check the overall value of the package (annual leave, pension etc)

But also, your graduate salary - was that in the more expensive area as a FT position, not a contractor?
If so I would argue for more, based on the fact they want your experience but they aren't willing to pay more than you were getting as a graduate with no experience.

The fact that its not fair to others is irrelevant to you. Sounds like the market has risen since then