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Original poster

I shouldn't take this job, should I? Please talk me down!

51 replies

Waferbiscuit · 18/08/2019 12:33

Please help me decide what to do about a job offer that I've been waffling about!

I've been at my current role for 6 years and ready to move on. Applied for and have been offered a really interesting role but it involves a lot of upheaval and I'm not sure whether to accept. I'm flattered and would love to do the job itself but so many things 'around' the role aren't ideal - and I don't know if it's too much of a compromise. Would be grateful for objective input.

PROS

  • Really interesting and move into sector I want to work in (that I dabble in now but not 100% involved in) so good for career trajectory
  • Great team and think I could get on with them
  • They are small and entrepreneurial with huge ambition; would be exciting and I feel I could make a difference in the role
  • Able to make good contacts in the role for future opportunities
  • Really wanting a move so it could satisfy need
  • Would involve move to nice area of the country
  • Could be an exciting adventure for my family

CONS

  • Would be a drop in pay of 11k and reduced pension contribution - so drop of 500pds/month --- but I also accept that pay is less in this sector
  • Would be top of my scale so little opportunities for increase
  • Reduced management team from 10 to 2
  • Would involve a house move (house sale/rental) as its 3 hours away - I am happy to move for the right role, but do appreciate that it's expensive to move and a hassle. So there would be quite a significant cost associated with house sale, rental etc.
  • Not crazy about location of work/specific town it's in so would have to commute in and live 30mins-1hr away depending on schools
  • Local schools not great for DCs and most schools full so would struggle to get into ideal schools half way through term year; schools where I am are v good and DCs quite settled
  • If it doesn't work out I'd probably have to move for another role and it may be hard for me to claw my way back to a more senior role
  • I'm single so would be moving to a new area where I know no one and have no help/assistance (I currently have friends about who can help).

It feels like the role would be good for me but worried it may not be right for my family as a whole. ExDH thinks I'd be crazy to make a move for a role that pays less (although he understands making a move for a more senior role).

Grateful for any thoughts!

OP posts:
Oblomov19 · 18/08/2019 13:56

Re the schooling: What stage are your DC? GCSE's?

mistermagpie · 18/08/2019 14:23

No way should you take it. I dropped about that much in salary when I went part time and it's a big adjustment. Factor in the costs associated with moving and it just makes no sense.

Original poster
Waferbiscuit · 18/08/2019 14:25

Oblomov. Dcs are in yr 2 and yr 8 so pre gcse.

OP posts:
LatteLove · 18/08/2019 14:28

I would only move for more money. Certainly not a for cut of that magnitude.

Original poster
Waferbiscuit · 18/08/2019 14:39

For context it would be a drop from 50 to 40

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 19/08/2019 11:44

From the information given, there is very little that would attract me to taking the job.

If you are a home owner, you would be incurring significant costs to move house, with stamp duty, removals, estate agents fees.

Added to the £000s you would need to expend to finance the move, you'd be moving into a role that is valued at £11K less than your current job. That is a message in itself. If you currently earn £40K, that's a >25% drop in salary.

Plus you're moving further away from your DCs father. If you had said you would be moving closer, then that would at least be a bonus for those DC to have easier access to their other parent.

I'm partly scared to turn it down as worried I won't get an opportunity/offer again - it's quite a small sector and very desirable, with lots of competition for roles that get snapped up

Don't be taken in by the illusion that you must compromise so significantly because you'll never get an offer like this again. Just look at your list of 'Cons' - it isn't a good deal you're getting!!

daisychain01 · 19/08/2019 11:49

ExDH thinks I'd be crazy to make a move for a role that pays less (although he understands making a move for a more senior role)

I would have to agree with your Ex on this one - a more senior role would be one in which the recruiters are so keen to on-board you, they would be offering some sort of a relocation or assistance package as it's 3 hours away from your current location.

HollowTalk · 19/08/2019 11:54

You'd be mad to take this job! The future's looking bleak financially - you would be crazy to drop £11K with its knock on impact on your pension. The cost of moving would be very high, too - for the first year you'd be paying to work there.

Stay put and keep looking for work locally.

BBBear · 19/08/2019 11:55

Too many cons:

Drop in pay
You don’t like the area
Kids have to move schools
You might never get up to your current level of pay

Keep looking, there is always something else out there.

Piffpaffpoff · 19/08/2019 12:00

I would say house more OR drop in salary would still make it worth considering for the possible longer term benefits but definitely not both. Even more so since you say you are going in at the top of scale so no real chance of pay progression. Sorry!

Original poster
Waferbiscuit · 19/08/2019 14:04

Thanks all for your comments.

@daisychain01 - really appreciate your insightful comments. And you're right about the cost of a move. I am a homeowner so I could always rent out my house and rent there but again costs associated with downpayment etc and fees for a rental agency on my side. If I bought it would def be a cost of c.10k for agency fees, stamp duty etc.

@Piffpaffpoff - I would definitely take the risk/leap of a lower salary if it didn't involve a move but move + lower salary + shit schools + town I'm not excited to live in = feels like a big hassle.

OP posts:
Piffpaffpoff · 19/08/2019 14:39

@Waferbiscuit, when I read what you’ve written to me in your post I think you can see you know what the answer to your question is.

Original poster
Waferbiscuit · 19/08/2019 15:09

@Piffpaffpoff - yes, thanks!

OP posts:
catlady3 · 23/08/2019 23:38

Yes, that's what I meant. Not an easy decision then, I'd think twice about turning it down if I was really passionate about it tbh. All the rest can probably be sorted out, and sounds like your kids are OK with it.

daisychain01 · 24/08/2019 07:39

The way I view job moves of this nature is a basic cost/ benefit equation - if all the investment in ££ and time/effort/disruption falls on the employee, with the employer not having to shoulder any of the impact, then you have to consider how long in months or years it will take the regain your position as the employee before you're in profit.

A house move, with £000 needed (say, £15K++) could take >5-7 years just to break even!

Plus what happens, worst case scenario, if it doesn't work out? The employer has no qualms in parting company even if they did invest in an employee, to the bean counters it's sunk cost, so imagine if no investment was made.

Loopytiles · 24/08/2019 07:42

This should not be a dilemma: the cons clearly far outweigh the pros. Don’t prioritise your fears about your career/other options over much more important factors!

Angelf1sh · 24/08/2019 07:48

Is an £11k a big drop? If your current salary is £31k then I think it would be madness to take it, but if you’re on £87k then it’s perfectly manageable. If it’s not going to leave you struggling then I’d say go for it. You spend most of your waking hours at work and it’s a job you’d enjoy.

Javagrey · 24/08/2019 07:58

The cons far outweigh the pros here. Do not take the job.

Perunatop · 24/08/2019 08:04

I would not even consider taking that big a pay cut, never mind all the other potential disadvantages. And don't underestimate the stress of moving with DCs.

Loopytiles · 24/08/2019 08:12

At your eldest DC’s age a move would probably be detrimental to their educational qualifications, which could affect them long term.

OneKeyAtATime · 24/08/2019 08:21

How likely will you be to find another role in this sector? ( Is this the charity sector?) Could this post be a good springboard for another post further down the line? I would consider accepting the post of I were you assuming you can still live on the wage. £30k is fine in the North. Depends where you are really. To me I read: new sector, new career trajectory, new geographical area and new smaller town for the kids to experience, different type of schools for them to experience, etc.

We moved regularly when I was a kid, went to some really good schools and some really bad ones and ended up mixing with lots of different people. It broadens your horizons I guess.
My current line manager came from another sector and took a pay cut like yours. He doesn't regret it as he was really bored with his previous job. I know he s keeping an eye out for other jobs as there is no scope for promotion but he is not actively for another post .
Good luck whatever decision you make!

HearMeSnore · 24/08/2019 08:32

I had to make a similar decision once but it was the other way round: more money, would have been lovely for my family - seaside location, relatives nearby... but I really didn't think I'd enjoy the work. It was horrible having to make that choice.

If you're not dancing with excitement at the whole prospect, I'd say it's not worth the upheaval.

CashewNut11 · 24/08/2019 09:16

I have a slightly different way of looking at it but no opinion whether to go or stay...

When you look at the sector as a whole how does this new job, location etc 'fit' with it? Is it quite typical? Would you be facing the same situation and circumstances if other vacancies became available? Rather than comparing the current situation with the possible future, could you just look at the range of roles and conditions within this sector? It could be that working in this sector may just not be right for you at this time, or that the conditions to work in this sector will never really suit you, OR that this is the best it will get...

Hope that makes sense - ignore the present. Focus more on the overall pros and cons of work in this sector and see where this position fits.

Figgygal · 24/08/2019 09:19

Are there really no other jobs like that ? are you just jumping at the first opportunity let's come along ? If it was just you I would say maybe take the risk with children as well and the amount of upheaval involved I certainly wouldn't be doing it

Mother87 · 24/08/2019 09:48

Too many of the CONS have far too much stress/weary-making potential. I wouldn't do it...