Moving to lower paying/part qualified role

M Androgynous

Hi everyone,

I am a qualified accountant with two years post qualification experience. I want in a small financial services company. Like all workplaces there are good and bad aspects. But for me the bad is beginning to outway the good and I am thinking of moving on.

I would like to know if anyone out there has moved/downgraded to a lower paid/lower stress job. How did you go about it, as in did you approach recruitment agencies and tell them you wanted to find a less demanding role? How did they take that?

Please let me know how you got on, was it a wise move on reflection?

whachawanna

Hello,

I don't mean to disapoint you but lower pay does not necessarily equal less responsibility!!!! Speaking from experience, I work for a small firm for low pay and have an awfull lot of responsibility!!!!

Perhaps working in industry would be a little less pressure and the pay is normally good........

It's a tough career which ever path you decide to take but best of luck with it, we're probably lucky to have jobs right now

P.S. Recruitment agencies may not recommend you if they feel you want less stress, they need to believe you can handle the job you're currently in to recommend you for another, up to you of course but I'd keep that point to myself!

Pauvre Con

All jobs and companies are different. So try another. Although they may be difficult to find particularly at the moment, regardless of level there are always positions around that are an extremely handy, cushy little number.

sky2424

M Androgynous wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I am a qualified accountant with two years post qualification experience. I want in a small financial services company. Like all workplaces there are good and bad aspects. But for me the bad is beginning to outway the good and I am thinking of moving on.

I would like to know if anyone out there has moved/downgraded to a lower paid/lower stress job. How did you go about it, as in did you approach recruitment agencies and tell them you wanted to find a less demanding role? How did they take that?

Please let me know how you got on, was it a wise move on reflection?

Alot of accountants move from practise to industry and recruitment agencies expect it (I appreciate your in FS). They may question you on it but they know themselves by now that certain areas are far more cut throat with more stress for money thats just not worth it. TBH any recruitment agents I met didnt have an issue with it. I obviously wouldnt mention the stress part. TBH your worrying over nothing- if your leaving a job its usually because for some reason your not happy. It happens every day. You just need to be careful how you word it.

Sell it like your looking to gain broader experience or a new challenge and feel you have learnt as much as you can in your current role etc. Or you'd like to work in an bigger more diversified company where you can gain new skills.

Dont mention cash outright. The recruitment agent will prob ask you your current salary. Let them comment on it- ie they may mention that market rates for the role your looking for is lower. Then just pass comment along the lines of if its the right role, then your willing to accomodate this. If queried about your willingness to accept a lower salary/role in an interview, you could mention that you consider it a side step in your career and worthwhile in the long term.

Personally, and Im sure others wont agree, I think in some situations its worth taking less pay for a job youd enjoy more. Have done so myself and not looked back.

Jim2007

M Androgynous wrote: »

I would like to know if anyone out there has moved/downgraded to a lower paid/lower stress job. How did you go about it, as in did you approach recruitment agencies and tell them you wanted to find a less demanding role? How did they take that?

Here is the thing, all professional level jobs involve some levels of stress, regardless of what the pay grade is. Before doing anything else, I'd suggest you try and learn some techniques for dealing with stress, such as learning to turn off when you leave the office. For example I have two mobile phones, one for business, one private and when I'm off the business phone is too.

Being flippant I could suggest you do as I did and move to mainland Europe, where the work-life balance is more respected than in Ireland and the UK, but that is another story.