Would you take less money?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
November 26, 2012 1:32pm CST
I had a job interview today. It seemed to go well. I was told what the job entails, what my duties would be, etc. At the end of the interview I was told to think it over and let them know. So it sounds like the job is mine if I want it..
Unfortunately, to take the job I'd get less hours, less pay, and less benefits than I'm currently getting.
I'm currently working 20 hours. They want to hire me for 16, with the option of picking up extra hours if someone calls in sick or whatever.
They pay $1.30 less than I'm currently making (plus I currently get reimbursed for half of my child care, and I wouldn't get that anymore).
I won't get paid holidays, sick time, vacation.. or any of those things I'm currently getting.
The positives.. well, I don't like my current job anymore.. and it would be in the field that I've been studying for. It would help me gain the experience I need so that in time I could move on to better things if I wanted.
I'm just not really sure if I should take it or not. Would you take a job for less money if you thought you'd like it better than your current job?
11 people like this
36 responses
@jazzsue58 (2666)
•
26 Nov 12
Payday comes but once a month, but job satisfaction lasts a lifetime.
Will the post be more interesting, more challenging, inspire you to greater things? If so, then taking a pay cut now will pay dividends in the future, as you'll push yourself higher and (maybe) eventually, get promoted way past the level you're paid now.
I did exactly this - took a paycut of several thou, plus had to commute far further. But the satisfaction I got from landing the job of my dreams drove me to achieve far more than I ever would have done at my previous post. Unfortunately, the firm got sucked up by a monster conglomerate but it was fun while it lasted ... 
2 people like this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
26 Nov 12
In a heartbeat! I am currently making a LOT less than I was at my last job. It is not a wonderful job. It is hard work most days, but it is way less stressful than my last job. When this temp job is up I have another temp job that will be a little more stressful than this one, and still pays less than my previous job. It is making things harder financially for me, but at the same time I am less stressed than I was before. That makes it worth it to me.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
26 Nov 12
Right now I am just working a seasonal job at Big Lots. I am doing cashier, stocking, and recovery. It is less money and less hours, but it works for now. Starting the second week of January I have a job working for Jackson Hewitt doing taxes. I have 2 weeks of paid training in December before I officially start in January though. ( That helps on the money front.)
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 Nov 12
So what is your new job?
I can't say forsure if it's going to be less stress or not.. but I think it will be. It seems so much more laid back and less structured than my current job.
I'm gonna need to seriously think it over, figure out my daycare situation, and talk w/ hubby (who's pretty money hungry).
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
27 Nov 12
@ lilybug,
I had worked retail during the holidays before and I am almost certain that once it gets closer to the holidays your hours will pick up. I remember one year I was putting in 12 hour days 6 days a week and most of the time I was not getting any breaks because we were so busy. Now I am a graduate student and it would have been stressful for me to work and attend school so Randy and I decided together to allow me to do my school work and not work. I make money online and I am very frugal so I can still afford Christmas.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
26 Nov 12
in my case, i am already making less money than probably many of my counter parts but i love my job and the people i work with and the mission we have. i work at a not for profit organization so we don't have a lot of money to go around.
regarding your decision, i think it is all about job satisfaction and if you don't like your current job, what is making you stay?
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 Nov 12
My bills and kids are making me stay, unfortunately. Gotta survive somehow.
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
28 Nov 12
I've decided right now I can't afford to take less hours and less money.. not while I'm still paying for daycare. After this school year I should be done with daycare, so at that time I can follow my heart and go with whatever job I want.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 Nov 12
No, they both have the same hours, and I need open availability. With the job I interviewed for there are specific days of the week I will work, but if someone calls in sick or whatever they might want me to cover so I could get more hours. I could try to pick up an evening job to make up the extra money.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
26 Nov 12
This is a hard one but yes, I would if I was young like you are and needed the experience.The experience would help you to obtain a better job later on hopefully. Really a tough call Kat. What does your husband think about it? The extra benefits that you are currently getting sound so good but you have to think long term on the advantages of leaving your current job. Not an easy decision to make.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 Nov 12
I don't know.. it's a hard decision. I don't like my job.. but I also have to think about what's best for the family.
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
27 Nov 12
The decision is finally yours to make, but there are few points that I would consider. First of all I am not clear about the 20 hours angle, I assume you are talking about working 20 hours a week. In that sense, it is already around 50% capacity utilization and further drop to 16 would mean even less utilization.
On the other hand, if you are doing a job which is not in your line of study, then probably longer term you might not grow fast and neither would you be able to have the job satisfaction. So in such a scenario, the new job might suit you better.
Here is one other thing that I would think about. Now that I still have the job security of the first job, I will continue to look out for other opportunities and if I find one then take that instead the current one. But again it is for you to judge whether there are other opportunities available.
Cheers!
Ram
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
Can you survive with the earnings in the new job? If si, then I guess you should take it considering that experience is very important and this will provide you with more opportunities later on for a better job. Moreover, you said that you are not happy with your current job. It is really difficult to work on something that you do not like and it is very easy to work on something you love to do right? But the bottom line is, can you handle the decrease in pay. It all ends up to financial matters most especially if you are the one supporting yourself and perhaps your family. Sometimes we have to do sacrifices to live thru life. But if you see this as an opportunity for a better future, then go for it.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Nov 12
hi katsmeow I w a in a rehab hospital a year ago and one of the aides thenworked part time then went home slept for a few hours and went on to another
part time job. could you find something to piece out the new job so you would not suffer financially? you would have hours left for a second job if you did want to try this for the extra money. 16 hours leaves you with a lot more hours to find another part time job.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 Nov 12
I can't live off what I'm bringing home now! Over the summer I was getting more hours and we just scraped by.. but since October my hours dropped and we've fallen behind on everything.. and we've been killing ourselves trying to find where we can cut back.
I'm trying to work something out with a friend of mine to watch my youngest son so I can pull him out of daycare and save myself about $100 a week..
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
27 Nov 12
i DON'T THINK I WOULD TAKE IT BUT TO EACH HIS OWN. Think i'd wait & see what else turned up.
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Nov 12
Have you talked to anyone else that works there or did in the past? I would try to do that and see if the job might be better than where you are now. I think that the half paid child care is nothig to take lightly. Can you find any cheaper child care? I would think about that. It sounds like your present job is a good one. I would definitely think twice before leaving there.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
27 Nov 12
Hi Kats. I think you should follow your heart. There are more important things than a few bucks that won't ever make you or break you. A job in your chosen field will look good on a resume when you apply for that permanent job.
1 person likes this
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
26 Nov 12
Hi friend, we are going to job for our financial needs, if the salary is reasonable and it is a fair one then i will take the job, if the employer requires more work and pay a little salary, then i don;t take this kind of jobs. Lot of jobs are available now and most of the employers will give the correct salary for our work, i will go for this job. I am not interested in giving my utter most work for a less salary, i will take the job from the employer who give importance to my skills and talents and give the proper salary and incentives for it
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93739)
• United States
27 Nov 12
If I absolutely hated my current job and couldn't see one reason why that feeling wouldn't change, I'd take the job. Otherwise, I'd stick with the one I had. With that amount of money at stake it just seems too much to give up. But I'm also thinking about your discussion about Christmas gifts for your kids. It sounds like you need the money right now. If you think however that you can get by without that money or help from daycare, then I'd take it.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 Nov 12
It's a really hard decision. My husband wants me to take the job because he thinks I'll be happier. I'm trying to talk to a friend of mine about my daycare situation. If she'll watch my son when I work, I could save money on daycare and probably even out, but it's been difficult to try to talk to her. She wants to talk about it in person but our schedules keep colliding.
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
30 Nov 12
Kats, as for me it is depending on my family financial situation. If my hubby's salary able to cover-up for the less earned income, then i would go for the job which is suit to the course that i had been studied. Another thing you would need to look into is your interest. Since you had mentioned that you don't like your current job anymore, then you should go for your new job. Is there any other option for you to cover-up your less earned income by arranging your expenses? Hope you will discuss well this matter with your hubby before you take any decision to accept the new job.
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
21 Jan 13
I think it was 4 years ago when I got hired at a job which paid twice what I was making. It was a big company so the benefits were also better. The only problem was that work was 200 miles away.
I took a few weeks off at my job that time so I could try out the new one. Although it was financially better, I felt more miserable as the weeks went by because of the travel and the less time I had for family.
In the end, I chose the job with less money. So maybe I'd take less money if it meant I'd be miserable with the travel and it affected my family.
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
26 Nov 12
Perhaps you could work both jobs? That would give you benefits and nearly full time work. There are a lot of cons to this new job...it seems you will lose quite a bit in wages and benefits, so why don't you see if you can work out a way to do both?
1 person likes this
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
26 Nov 12
Thanks a ton for sharing this discussion. Well i think working for 20 hours is very much stressful ans straining for a human body and i would definitely like to suggest u to go for the new job.
Now doubt your pay scale is less but u wont have to compromise with your health. Health comes first. Now u should work and gain more experience. Money will follow u automatically if u work harder. So go for the second job.
What say?
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
26 Nov 12
At least its a job.. and maybe after they see you work later on they will give you more hours. never know. Id say take it.
