Anyone else turn down their dream job?

[gentlesea]

... because it didn't pay enough? I recently got offered what would have been my dream job. I was so excited but then they lowballed me with the salary (meaning I'd have to take a hefty pay cut) and refused to budge. I did the sums and while it was just enough to cover my costs every month, not being able to have any money left over/be able to save left me very uncomfortable. I'm in my mid 40s and don't want to be living pay cheque to pay cheque. But I'm so sad that I had to turn it down and keep thinking I should have just gone for it.

Anyway, anyone else have to do something similar? Did it work out in the end? Did you still end up doing your dream job at another place?

Good for you, I think a lot of people have lost the ability to pay attention to instinct, but you were spot on. Brave move and so glad it paid off.

I worked abroad for four years - the first two made sense and were the best thing I ever did, but then I had the relationship go wrong and went back to the same place (not for the person, he had long gone) but to try and erase some memories of him. DID.NOT.WORK! But it was COVID and we were all a bit nuts then weren’t we?

Did you know the salary was going to be so low from the outset or did you draw you in with a suggested figure and then beat you down? Not respectable behaviour from your future employers if so which might be some consolation as could be an indication of future shenanigans!

No, I only found out at the offer stage. Tried to negotiate but they wouldn't budge. It's weird because they're a massive company so it's not like they don't have the budget. I think it's because it's a very cool job that many people would do for peanuts. Still feeling sad about it.

Not because of pay, but had a feeling at the interview that it had gone well, but that I only had a rapport with one of the panel (and that wasn't my boss). Accepted it anyway. I was right, and about 8 months later the initial need for the dream things on the JD had shifted so that I had to work mainly on one big and cumbersome thing that needed a lot of work week on week, and only in small doses on what I had wanted most of all. I don't miss it.

I think it depends. If you can afford to live on a lower salary, then you have the luxury of choice in this situation. Personally, I would choose the more enjoyable job over a higher salary anytime if life was still affordable. But I put a much higher value on job satisfaction and relationships with colleagues than salary. Not everyone does.