what do you think about dropping salary for less stressful job?

[sparklyshoos]

Would appreciate opinions, I know I have to make the decision, but am interested in what other MN-ers think.

I went back to work in Jan, the future of my job is uncertain at the moment, so I've applied for a job that really interests me, that is less money than I'm on now (top of the payscale is £1000 less than current salary, but would mean no increments). There is another post that doesn't interest me as much, but is more money, which would be ideal for my skills and experience (prob why it doesn't interest me!) but obv would mean more responsiblity.

Do you think it's a bad move to go down the ladder rather than up? DS is 12mo, we're hoping to TTC this year. DH has changed career and is studying one night a week, so my focus is on my family and building DH's career now - if I go for the higher paid job, he's going to have to have the odd day off work if DS is poorly and can't go to nursery if I have to be at work.

I'm not overly ambitious at work anymore as I've done well so far and don't feel the need to prove myself - I just want a job I enjoy and am good at, but can leave behind at the end of the day. Money will be fairly tight, but it won't be forever as DH will be moving upwards soon hopefully.

thanks for getting to the end of this long and rambling post. opinions grateful

Do it ! Job satisfaction far more important if you can afford to take a cut in salary. Frees up the mind to explore other things

I think you have answered your post yourself sparklyshoes. No, I do not think it bad to move down the ladder. You could always mov eback up later. I did 3 day week when I had dd1. Now I have 3 dcs I have left my job altogether. I am happy - what care I what the world makes of it?

thanks, yes i think my mind is made up, it's just i'm trying to keep my decision separate from the fact that the girl who covered my maternity leave has been given a £12k promotion now that I'm back, and whilst i know in my heart i don't want that for myself, everybody is so work focused and looking down on me for considering this. We'r hoping DH will climb up so that we can eventually afford for me not to work next time.

not only did I move down the ladder, I completely got off it!

Money has been tight, we are cash poor and extremely stressed in that respect, but I am absolutely loving being a SAHM with my daughter and taking the time to educate myself and work towards my chosen life path. Managed to stop biting my nails again, no longer have insomnia at 3 am....

I'd say listen to your heart.

There's more to life than money and "a good job". Happiness is a good one, and bringing up children without a stressful job is good too. I'm learnign that the hard way. If you work with a bunch of money driven idiots, get away from them. Not worth knowing.

as my dcs have reached school age, i have found that a low stress job is essential. you need to be able to go to concerts, sports days, pick up for playdates etc without worrying too much. my team leader talked at length about not being able to promote me recently but i just thought hell no i'm just fine!

I can see what you want to do from your post.

The issue is complicated - I couldn't possibly do what you want to do - I live on adrenaline. I hope it's right for you. Good luck.

It's about getting the balance right isn't it. And one woman's balance is another woman's chaos. it's just when you say "hey I wanna do this" and then discover that you've bittne off more than you can chew. I don't want to sound like you should never be ambitious but... Can you tell I'm feeling a bit stressed about work

Sorry to sound like your mother, but ultimately, you can only do what you think is right at the time. And do it wholeheartedly. Good luck to you.

i got off the ladder too,i gave up hairdressing to have my family,and now i am studying towards becoming a midwife,something i have always wanted to do,but will be less money. go for it!

Just one note of caution. I've worked with lots of 'corporate types' who have made a decision to take a pay cut to come and work in a different environment, but then found the financial transition difficult and felt that they could use the fact that they'd taken a pay cut as a reason to push for salary increases outside the normal structure, as they made a 'big sacrifice' and were 'worth more'. Needless to say, that attitude doesn't go down massively well so be sure that you are realistic about the salary issue and don't think it's a temporary thing that can be sorted out once you are there.

It's not clear whether the lower salary is because you want to move sectors or take a lower paid job in the same sector. If it's a drop in responsibility, be very sure you won't be frustrated. It can be a tempting thought to rid yourself of some of the responsibilities you have in a stressful job, but think about scenarios where you have a boss who isn't as 'good' as you are, you feel you could be doing the job better, you don't like the decisions being made, you have more knowledge or experience.

I think it's a good decision to make for lots of people, but having seen it made by lots of different people, I feel it's important that you think carefully and realistically about the potential issues so that you make a decision with eyes open and don't regret it - it's can be a hard one to reverse.

Good luck!

Sparklyshoos one thing in your post concerned me.
You said that if your DS is off sick if you go for the lower paid job it will always be you who takes the time off but if its the higher paid one then you will take turns.

Fine in theory and makes some financial sense, but very very hard on you if you go for the more junior job. Your colleagues and managers will still expect reasonable attendance and will probably not be sympathetic to the fact that 100% of any child related days off fall to you.

Personally I'd be more bothered about the hours required. If they are both f/t jobs and can be done in the hours paid then I'd go for the more interesting one. If however you'd have to work overtime, or with the lower paid one you would have more opportunity to go p/t if required then that would sway me the other way.

In any case its good to have choices.

I earn less than I used to.

I'm much happier.

I think you have weigh up the practicalities against what makes you happy, and try to consider the long term as well.

Hmm - its a tricky one.

I think that it very much depends on your personality type. Just to add a note the other way, TBH, I've found that, counter-intuitively, actually working harder and becoming more senior is a good option. The more senior you become, the more valued you are, the more you can call the shots. But for me, like sprogger, I couldn't bear having to report into someone who I thought was a muppet!

The only other thing I would counsel is not to take a long term decision based on what is actually quite a short term problem. My DCs are both now at school pretty much full time - life is a whole lot more predictable and less stressful making full time work hugely more acheivable with much less "missing out on precious time with them" guilt. And, sadly, they actually don't need you around anywhere near as much as they did when they were toddlers.