Good job with poor salary

Silversudz

Help,

I'm in bit of a predicament. I've just been offered job-yippeee (maternity leave cover). But salary is 266€ net a week for full time work- 45 hour week - (job in north).

I would have to buy a car to get to and from work (sold my old one when made redundant) and petrol / work expenses would cost approx €100 a week. Renting beside job is not an option as this place in the middle of nowhere and no public transport available.

I have another interview lined up for this weekend in the north as well and its a permanent job with similar salary, but I would prefer the type of job I've just been offered.

My family and friends are advising me that a job is a job but I still have rent / bills to pay.

How should I go about making a decision on this?

LizardKing

Works out well below the minimum wage for ireland

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/employment/employment-rights-and-conditions/pay-and-employment/pay_inc_min_wage

And below the UK rate too (assuming you're over 22)

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/

Perhaps you can get them to increase there offer or provide travel expenses .....

rockonron

Hello Silversudz

I think this all depends on your current situation, 266 is not a lot more than the dole in the south (200) and what with the travel and expense of getting a car you will be operating at a loss compared to what you are on now.

Hope this helps

eth0_

Buying and car, petrol expenses and long commute aside - I would say NO WAY on the basis of a 45 hour week for a measy 266 euro! You would be better off staying on the dole.

kmick

Well its easier to pay rent and bills with a job than without no? Take it until something better comes along?

thebiglad

Silversudz wrote: »

Help,

I'm in bit of a predicament. I've just been offered job-yippeee (maternity leave cover). But salary is 266€ net a week for full time work- 45 hour week - (job in north).

I would have to buy a car to get to and from work (sold my old one when made redundant) and petrol / work expenses would cost approx €100 a week. Renting beside job is not an option as this place in the middle of nowhere and no public transport available.

I have another interview lined up for this weekend in the north as well and its a permanent job with similar salary, but I would prefer the type of job I've just been offered.

My family and friends are advising me that a job is a job but I still have rent / bills to pay.

How should I go about making a decision on this?

1st question is can you live on the salary being offered, if not then forget it.

2nd is, how long have you been out of work and how confident are you that other 'suitable' roles will turn up.

Having addressed those questions...

If this role is going to increase your skills (and therefore benefit your CV) then it is like a vocational FAS course and worth taking on for what I assume will be 6 months.

You haven't told us why the role interests you, is for professional, future career benefit etc

There is no law that you cannot leave the role if you do get a better offer, of course it will not be popular but what the hell.

Ultimately only you can make the decision but it is unlikely there is going to be too many new employment opportunities between December and January as everyone preparing for 2010 budgets - you could be 1/2 way through this contract before another interview (let alone job) comes your way.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Stark

kmick wrote: »

Well its easier to pay rent and bills with a job than without no? Take it until something better comes along?

Unfortunately not. I'm loathe to say it, but with the generous social welfare setup in the republic, the dole is the best option for you. You'll get €204 a week and the state will more than likely pay for your rent and medical expenses (need to double check this as there may be a waiting period). You'll get child benefit as well when the baby is born. Even if you were offered Irish minimum wage, it's still a tough call.

mood

I would take it but they will have to pay you at least the UK minimum wage. They are breaking the law if they don't. Try also to get them to provide a company car or at least petrol expenses. It only for six months or so and is better then a blank space on the cv.

With the wages being so low you should still be entitled to your medical card in the Republic.

Silversudz

Hi Op here,

Thanks for replies so far. Reason I would like this job is because I have been out of work for 10 months now. It's a sales admin role, exactly the same type of work I was doing 5 years ago, so I already have this type of experience on my cv. In saying that though I really enjoy this type of work.

In terms of other roles turning up in the area of work I did before recession I can forget about it! I was a project manager for a gov funded project - eyes up to heaven everyone ha ha.

Silversudz

Oh and they are paying me min wage I've just taken the income tax off to get net figure. Full wage is 14k GBP or €15530.0546 on todays rate of exchange.

mood

I would see it as filling a gap. It would look better on the cv than nothing!

How far is the commute? Could you move up north for the duration of the job? The cost of living is much lower.

eth0_

mood wrote: »

How far is the commute? Could you move up north for the duration of the job? The cost of living is much lower.

Not if you're being paid in sterling. There are also additional costs associated with living in the North, e.g. rates to be paid to local council.

Silversudz

Ok so taking everyones advice on board I just rang employer now.

I said I couldn't afford to put a car on the road for 14k GBP.

They said they'd talk to director and get back to me this evening ...

eth0_

I would still be hesitant even if they up their offer as it's probably quite a commute if you're going to be spending 100 euro on petrol every week. Especially in the winter!

Silversudz

Hi OP here they've come back with an increase of £3k GBP to bring it to 17k GBP. Which works out at about 19,000€.

I've decided now to take it and move north - hopefully it will turn into a longterm contract as the career progression in this company is good.

Just goes to show if you don't ask you won't get, I'm off now to celebrate!

mood

Silversudz wrote: »

Hi OP here they've come back with an increase of £3k GBP to bring it to 17k GBP. Which works out at about 19,000€.

I've decided now to take it and move north - hopefully it will turn into a longterm contract as the career progression in this company is good.

Just goes to show if you don't ask you won't get, I'm off now to celebrate!

That's great. It is nice to hear how peoples situations turn out when they post here.

Well done Best of luck with it. Buy an old Corolla or something along those lines for cheap transport.

eth0_

Good news, OP. Hope it all works out for you

thebiglad

Congratulations, good decision and great negotiating;)

stepbar

Silversudz wrote: »

Hi OP here they've come back with an increase of £3k GBP to bring it to 17k GBP. Which works out at about 19,000€.

I've decided now to take it and move north - hopefully it will turn into a longterm contract as the career progression in this company is good.

Just goes to show if you don't ask you won't get, I'm off now to celebrate!

Fair play to you for going out and getting a job. I wish a lot more had the same mindset.

mood

stepbar wrote: »

Fair play to you for going out and getting a job. I wish a lot more had the same mindset.

A lot of us are trying very hard and DO have the same mind set. Just because some of us are out of work in the mist of a major recession doesn't mean we are not doing all we can to get a job.

stepbar

mood wrote: »

A lot of us are trying very hard and DO have the same mind set. Just because some of us are out of work in the mist of a major recession doesn't mean we are not doing all we can to get a job.

There's no point feeling sorry for yourself. The question has to be asked are you prepared to work for minimum wage? This girl has clearly illustrated that she's prepared to move away to secure employment and for not much more gain vs the dole. For that she has to be commended.

mood

stepbar wrote: »

There's no point feeling sorry for yourself. The question has to be asked are you prepared to work for minimum wage? This girl has clearly illustrated that she's prepared to move away to secure employment and for not much more gain vs the dole. For that she has to be commended.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I am simply pointing out that when someone is out of work in a recession it is wrong to assume it is because they are just sitting around doing nothing about it. There are not enough jobs to go around.

Yes, I am prepared to work for any amount of money. I applied for a minimum wage job yesterday for example. I have had interviews all over the country. I have applied for job in other countries. I have done courses. I have applied for all kinds of work. Still not job. Is it my fault - no. I am doing all I an to get a job, any job. And I am looking a lot harder than others I know who are out of work.

the_dark_side

you made the right choice for sure... if you picked up a bargain car, youd have half of it paid off in the first six months of this maternity leave, plus if could be the foot in the door to further work with the same employer. Plus you have an opportunity to upgrade your skills, plus your keeping your mind active, meeting new people and making new friends in a new work environment, it could be a stepping stone to god knows where, where as the dole is a ball and chain

mood

the_dark_side wrote: »

you made the right choice for sure... if you picked up a bargain car, youd have half of it paid off in the first six months of this maternity leave, plus if could be the foot in the door to further work with the same employer. Plus you have an opportunity to upgrade your skills, plus your keeping your mind active, meeting new people and making new friends in a new work environment, it could be a stepping stone to god knows where, where as the dole is a ball and chain

I agree. It's not just about the money. I hope I works out well for you.

experiMental

maybe there is a reason for low salary and a 45 hour week? Maye Ireland is set to position itself as an "offshore" location for cheap and efficient sales administration work? Or maybe the wages have been reduced to avoid these kinds of jobs being outsourced to cheaper economies?

if the OP will stick at the job for 5 years, she can progress to higher roles such as Marketing or Sales Executive, etc, not necessarily within the current company but another one.

DubTony

Silversudz wrote: »

Oh and they are paying me min wage I've just taken the income tax off to get net figure. Full wage is 14k GBP or €15530.0546 on todays rate of exchange.

This has me slightly confused. Full wage is £14K. Is this pro-rata or is it the salary for the period of maternity leave? That's usually about 6 months. So if she's being paid £14K for 6 months, all's well.

Just an observation.

Shaneod21

Good to see you didn't accept their initial wage offer. Even though its an employer's market their is still room for negotiation, after all they are human.