Does a big salary put you off?

[kloresg]

Stupid sounding question, but if you see a really high salary do you assume you couldn't do that job? I am a civil servant earning £70k, I've seen a job in the private sector with a salary of £120,000 that I fit the job spec for and want to apply for, but really struggling to get past the feeling that it is out of my league, talking myself down, and worry how stressful it must be to garner that salary and would I even be capable etc etc.

Anyone made this jump successfully and it has been within their ability?!

but I'm raring to go, I think I can do more, but scared of rocking what is a very stable boat

There are three type of people in this world.

1. The people that make things happen
2. The people that watch others making things happen
3. The people that wonder what the hell just happened

Obviously, I'm being flippant as only you know your circumstances, but time waits for no one and I've always found there are a million reasons not to do something, and yet we generally have the biggest regrets about the things we didn't do.

Besides, you don't actually have to make a decision until you are offered the job.

Someone has to get them. Usually, the only difference between you and the person who IS earning that salary is the courage to apply in the first place.

No harm applying and fake it til you make it! Xx

Just came on here to say do it!!

Also you can always go back to CS later - nobody holds grudges 😊

No, quite the opposite.

I came into my current role which had a 21% higher base than my previous role, and have had a 6% pay rise 16 months later.

Next role I'm aiming to secure a 40% pay rise; the only trouble is that at my level hardly any roles get advertised with the actual salary, or even a range, so it's difficult to pinpoint whether a role which looks interesting will be pitched at the right level, bearing in mind what I'm looking for.

I'll have to go through the executive search route, which is not ideal as they really are the gatekeepers and people like me can find it difficult to breakthrough.

To everyone who says they keep seeing jobs with more money but they don't think they should...DO IT.

Leave it to the interviewers to decide if they want you. I would even say apply if you're just a couple of things away from fitting all the criteria. Men oversell and under deliver themselves in jobs all the time! No harm in trying. Good luck all!!

A couple of jobs ago I went from £83k to £125k in one move. I'd have been happy with £100k, but nobody ever asked they just said that's the salary and I agreed!

The lower salary job was much more stressful as it was at an SME which on the face of it was successful (circa £20m turnover), but lived hand to mouth in cash terms. I spent most of the month focussed on whether we'd be able to make payroll for the 200 employees at the end of the month

As long the role seems to be in a stable organisation, I'd go for it if I were you.

Secondary school only a year a way? They're old enough to be somewhat independent.
OP you've been on the back foot long enough, now's the time to go for it. If you wait you'll just end up finding more reasons not to.
Also your kids will thank you when you have a nice uni fund for them.
Good luck.

Go for it OP, you have nothing to lose meeting them and going through the interview process.

That's a starting salary for a Director level role in a typical global FS firm.l in the city. At that level you would likely manage a team but could be a small team. You'd be able to WFH quite freely and set your own diary so a fair bit of flexibility from that perspective but you would also be expected to work long hours at times, as needed, not clock off at 5. You need to be fairly tough and confident and have plenty of corporate bullshit and positive, proactive thinking going on. There is always a risk of redundancy or being pushed out.

All the best.

@Chewbecca

There is always a risk of redundancy or being pushed out.

Even with those situations, at least you generally leave with some good money behind you.

If I want to leave my job, I'd have to give 6 months notice. We have a high staff turnover, and when people are pushed out, they get paid their notice (first £30k tax free) without having to work through it.

I enjoy my role, but if they offered me 6 months salary to go, I'd leave tomorrow!

Go for it OP

Stop thinking that because the salary is higher, you need to be somehow better to do it. We live in a market economy. Jobs aren't paid according to worth, they are simply paid according to what some one is willing to pay you.

What is the worst that can happen,?

You would be crazy not to apply, especially when you meet the criteria.

Go for it.

It's called imposter syndrome OP. Lots of women suffer from it.
If you're qualified and they give you an interview then you deserve to be there. Go for it!!!

So true 😊

Glad you've decided to throw your hat in the ring OP, what do you have to lose?

Best wishes on your application and of course apply and no big money doesn't put me off at all I love money and I love big money end of

Yes. Until I met DH, I had no confidence and thought I deserved little more than minimum wage.

I am looking for work at the moment and I sort results by wage and apply for the lowest..... I've got very low self esteem :(
Also I feel like the lower paid will be less taxing, however I'm realising that some want blood for their money and it's a pittance.

I’ve worked for public and private. A lot of people don’t cope with the private sector because you have to be at the top of your game and it’s very unforgiving. If you are smart, level headed and up for a challenge I’d say give it a go. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to take the initiative and be rewarded for it. It can be an exciting exhilarating experience.

On the other hand people will quickly lose patience with you if you have an off week, or you have family commitments. Time is money and people will be relying on you. Nobody gets to hide behind their desk or drop off the radar. They might be flexible and allow you to reduce your hours but you’ll still be trying to deliver in a fast paced environment. I would certainly go for the position but I would also be trying to keep my return to govt options open.

Thanks everyone, I had already decided to give it a shot but your support and enthusiasm has motivated me to do it properly, not a lazy half arsed attempt to self sabotage myself!

"There are three type of people in this world.
• The people that make things happen
• The people that watch others making things happen
• The people that wonder what the hell just happened"

Thanks for this, this was interesting. I was SO motivated in my 20s, having kids young I was determined to progress, I was commuting 2 hour round trips with toddlers and studying a masters, I drove 90+ miles a day on another commute to earn the equivalent of £200 a month after childcare etc. I've gotten too comfortable since Covid I think. Need to find my mojo again.

It's well known that public sector jobs are less well paid in salary terms than private sector but usually have far better pension schemes. Have you compared the overall package? Comparing base salaries is unlikely to give a true picture when moving from public to private sector.

@Elektra1 roughly, but it's obviously difficult to compare defined benefit, but using the 2.32% calculation I was advised my package with pension can roughly be described as being worth £90-something k, the other job has a package calculator and assuming you don't negotiate higher, the pension and bonus makes the package worth £153k (it's a pretty generous pension with a contribution rate of 7% and they put in 16%).

The holidays are the same too, it's the loss of flexitime that would impact me most, especially with another year of primary school to go.

A man would apply in a heart beat.

Sounds like a good uplift then! I'd go for it, and if you get to a final stage of the recruitment process, ask them about wfh policy (a lot of big companies have a policy of 3 days in office 2 wfh if you want). Or perhaps you could negotiate a 0.8 contract and use the day off to build in some flexibility.