To take a pay decrease. WWYD?

[Littlebrownshoes]

Went for an interview back in July for a G7 role with Civil Service. Good scores but just pipped to the post and was put on reserve list.
I was recently contacted about a SEO role, approx 10k less and also 6k less than what I'm on currently private sector.

I really like the look of the role and project but have said no due to salary. They don't have any other G7 posts in the dept or anything upcoming that they're aware of.

I'm really not enjoying my current place of work and have not been for approx 6 months now. Have been keeping my eye on the market but its fairly quiet.

It would mean a drop in about 300/400 £ per month and things sre already tight with cost of living.

Do I wait it out and keep my eye on other roles I think are more at my level? Or, do I make sacrifices and try yo make it work knowing that long term, benefits and career ops might be better?

Help.

I wouldn't take a pay cut. There are other roles in the CS, I'd hold out for another G7 vacancy especially if you were popped at the post.

I'd be tempted to take it of you can afford it. Once you're in you can apply for promotion pretty fast in the civil service.

If things are already tight, can you actually afford to take that much of a pay cut even if you want to?

Have you taken the pension into account? I though the civil service pension was defined benefit and very good, and would therefore blow most company pensions out of the water.

It largely depends on if you can afford it, if you have dependents, what your long term career and financial goals are. I wouldn’t take a pay cut personally but it depends entirely on your circumstances.

I’d take it and use it as a foot in the door

Is it a CS department where you still work up the points on the band? If so, even if you didn't get a promotion to G7 you'd be at the top of the band (so close to G7 starting wage) within 4 years.

You'd be able to apply for internal vacancies after you passed probation.

Is it a CS department you want to work in?
Some CS jobs are advertised internally only or on TDA so once you're in you may have more chance of getting those opportunities.
There are lots of pluses of working in CS - good holiday, sick pay, pension etc but £300-£400 is a lot which only you can determine whether it's worth the significant sacrifice.

It's tricky but you don't always have to go in on payband minima.

You could ask them to either match your existing salary, or meet you halfway. There's all sorts of hoops to jump through though so don't get your hopes up.

But as you met the G7 competencies they're actually getting a G7 calibre individual for a bit of a bargain. Plus there's loads more opportunity once you're in and you'd only need to stay in the current role for 18 months to 2 years before you could reasonably look to move.

You can only ask!

Thank you everyone for your input. Yes I have childcare costs etc and we live comfortably, just. I have decided to stick to my original feeling and reject, I just cannot justify dropping £400 per month, and stepping back career wise isn't something I would be comfortable with right now.