Would you take less money?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
November 2, 2017 7:21pm CST
3 months ago I accepted a slight paycut to start working for a different company. The new company is much larger, and I hoped would offer more opportunity for growth.
However, I don't like this job very much. I've been fairly miserable since starting. The people are meaner than I'm used to, the manager is stricter. There are so many rules to follow and new rules are being added every day.. it's enough to make your head spin.
So I've been applying other places hoping to find something else.
I did get a call about an interview for a similar position with another company, however they start much lower than I'm currently making. They said pay is based on experience, and they offer incentives as well. So they may offer me more and I have the potential to earn bonuses. However, bonuses are not guaranteed, and I can't afford too much of a pay cut.
I will go to the interview and see what they offer me, but I don't think I can accept the job if the pay is lower than what I'm currently getting. I already took one paycut!
Would you take less to possibly have a better job that you like more?
12 people like this
18 responses
@much2say (56057)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Nov 17
It's hard to weigh these things out sometimes, isn't it? I guess for me, first it would depend on how it works out financially . . . it's gotta meet what the family needs to stay comfortable. But then again sometimes a pay cut for a happier job is a peace of mind kind of thing. The bonus part is hard - I remember my boss' idea of a bonus went from nice cash to frozen turkeys . But it's always good to keep your options open . . . maybe during the interview you'll discover more about the job/company that will help to make your decision!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
7 Nov 17
My interview is tomorrow morning.. I guess we'll see. I'm starting to feel like the current job is growing on me. I don't hate it as much as I did when I first started. If I set my mind to the fact that I'm going to work there for awhile then I can do well.. but right now my future is sort of up in the air so I'm not putting much effort into the job.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Nov 17
@much2say Yes.. I had my interview Tuesday. I actually just posted the results.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56057)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Nov 17
@katsmeow1213 Ohhhh, well good luck! After the interview, you'll probably know which would be the better thing for you .
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Nov 17
Well a shorter commute would be worth a bit of a pay decrease. That's what I thought when I took my current job.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93898)
• United States
3 Nov 17
That's tough. Because if you don't like the next one it might be hard to find another one if you don't stay long. It's so risky since you don't know the environment of the new place. I guess if I knew the pay cut wouldn't hurt me terribly I would switch. But if there were any doubt I might wait until something else that sounds better comes along.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Nov 17
Yeah, exactly. I thought this would be better than my last job and it turns out it's worse. I think the new place will be better, but one never knows.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93898)
• United States
3 Nov 17
@katsmeow1213 And it's so much harder since you have kids. When it's just you then there isn't as much on the line.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
4 Nov 17
@AmbiePam Thankfully my money doesn't really support the family. It allows us to live more comfortably.. but it's not like I have to have my job in order to keep our home. So that's a lot of pressure I don't have on my shoulders. However, I do make the car payments and credit card payments.. so losing my job or taking a huge paycut would set us back pretty far where our credit is concerned.
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
9 Nov 17
The grass is not always greener on the other side. Did you not like the job you quit? Is there any way you could get that job back? I guess it really depends on the situation for me. When I was out working in the brick and mortar world, I could not afford to take a pay cut at all. I probably would have stayed where I was until something with more pay came along.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
9 Nov 17
At my last job I was doing the work of my supervisor without getting the pay or promotions for it. There wasn't much room for growth.. so I switched jobs to a much larger company where I'd have more opportunities.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
14 Nov 17
@katsmeow1213 Oh, I don't blame you for leaving them. Hang in there, perhaps the new job will get better.
@JudyEv (342099)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Nov 17
I would if I could afford it. It's pretty important to be happy at your workplace if possible. You spend a lot of hours there.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
4 Nov 17
I wish we could test drive jobs like we do with cars to see how we feel about it. I mean, I thought this move would be a good one, and it turns out that it's not. So I'm leary about taking a big paycut only to find that I don't like the next job much either.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342099)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 17
@katsmeow1213 I hear what you're saying. It is a big gamble changing jobs. A 'test-drive' would be great.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
3 Nov 17
Only if I could still pay my bills. My husband is working a job he doesn't care for much, he loves being outside but this is a shop job. However he wont look elsewhere now because he wont make what he does now. With him thou age is also a factor. However if he was younger and we could pay bills with a lower paying job that he liked I think he would go for it.
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
3 Nov 17
@katsmeow1213 Hate how money makes the world go around, and that is about what does too. Once in debt I'm finding is very hard to get out of too.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Nov 17
My hubby is the same way. Been stuck 13 years at a job he hates because he can't find something paying close to what he makes because he also gets 10 hours of overtime every week.
1 person likes this
@cttolledo (5454)
• Legaspi, Philippines
3 Nov 17
Why not! For me, it's okay to accept lower salary that what I am currently have if that job is my dream job. a job that will make my heart satisfy and happy. Anyway, that lower salary is just a starting salary, if your have the potential you will be quickly promoted and get a salary you want.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Nov 17
Well it's definitely not my dream job.. the hope is that it's better than the job I have.
@Belligerentkj (145)
• United States
3 Nov 17
Less pay is not always a bad thing. Keep in mind there are many different factors to take into account before taking the offer. If you drive 30 minutes or more one way to work then factor in the amount of gas you have to buy to make the commute. Deduct that from your take home pay and taking a job that is closer to home that pays less may just give you the same if not more money over all at the end of the week. Depending on where you live and if you live close enough to your job, you may consider alternate means of transportation in order to bypass using gas altogether. Walking, riding a bicycle or getting a moped just to name a few.
Take a closer look at your long term goals over all. Study the people that are in the positions you think you would like to be in. Are they just as miserable as you are in your current position. If so then are you certain you want to pursue a career in this type of environment. Is the pay worth your sanity? Do you due diligence when considering a company. Ask for a formal interview with a company, you believe you may like. Interview the company on your terms. I know this may sound odd but try it. Be prepared to ask questions about concerns you have and what their companies policies are when addressing such matters. In the interview be enthusiastic and show your focused and goal oriented.
Make the questions work in your favor, ask purpose driven questions. show that you know and have the skills for the position you are inquiring about. This is an opportunity for you to make a great impression. This is just a starting point to consider. Best wishes in your journey ahead....
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
4 Nov 17
Perhaps if you hated your job you would have considered the paycut? I'm setting up an interview for next week, I'll see what they say. If what they offer is too low I will not take it.
1 person likes this
@saulgoodman (2643)
• Dundee, Scotland
3 Nov 17
I think that the answer to this might be determined by how much money you need to live on and maintain a decent quality of life.
If taking a pay cut is going to leave you short and scraping by from week to week then maybe better the devil you know. Just until something comes your way which you enjoy doing and are paid reasonably well for doing.
Be patient.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
4 Nov 17
That's a tough question. All in all, I'd have to say we already don't make enough to maintain a decent quality of life. We can pay our bills.. but all other "extras" like hair cuts, clothes and shoes, and other things that pop up from time to time have to be carefully planned out and sometimes put off when other things are going on. The past few months have been Marching Band season for the kids, with band shows every weekend that require money... so we haven't had the extra for hair cuts, or winter clothes...
@youless (112586)
• Guangzhou, China
3 Nov 17
If the pay is lower so much, perhaps you will lose the drive to work there, too. I know sometimes it is miserable to work in a big company as situations will be much more complicated due to more employees. It is too hard to find a perfect company and job. Every company has its own advantages and disadvantages. If the salary is fine and the work is acceptable, perhaps this is already good enough.
@wongchoiyee (7413)
• Malaysia
3 Nov 17
yes I would, money doesn't mean anything when you are unhappy.
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
3 Nov 17
There is nothing wrong in accepting a low pay if the organization is good and working on sound lines.