Pay cut for experience?

Elessar

Would you take a pay cut (and a longer commute) to get experience? I'm working in IT but have the opportunity to apply for a junior development position that I would be a very good fit for, and would give me great experience. It's a ~3k pay cut though and a fixed term contract of 2 years (whereas I am permanent) so no chance of an increase before that. Also it's much farther away than my current job.

Is it worth it? I'm leaning towards no, as my current pay level really bothers me (have been on it several years without an increase) and I believe I provide a lot more value than my pay reflects. But then opportunities like this don't come along very often.

Faith

Elessar wrote: »

my current pay level really bothers me (have been on it several years without an increase) and I believe I provide a lot more value than my pay reflects. But then opportunities like this don't come along very often.

I think you've answered your own question. Your current position isn't paying you enough, and no increase in several years inspires no confidence that you'll get one in the next few years. I assume you've also stayed at the same level without promotion? It sounds dead-end to me, tbh.

The new position is a great opportunity, as you say. You could attempt to negotiate a higher starting salary to bring you equal to what you're on now, and getting your foot on a new ladder means you can jump to a higher paid opportunity when it comes up.

If the new job comes with better promotion and pay increases in time, then I'd definitely make the jump. But just try to negotiate the starting salary, if you're offered it.

aine92

I'm on the brink of taking a €10k pay cut to get into a job which I would enjoy much more. Sometimes you've got to take a leap of faith (if you have no dependants, that is). For me, I sat down and worked out could I still pay all my bills etc and I could, so I decided to go for it and have faith that a)I will be happier and b)it will benefit me in the long run.

Good luck!:D

connundrum

I'm in the same boat.

Considering a €5k + vehicle cut in order to move into a job which will hopefully (ultimately) make me happier/less stressed.

I'll keep an eye on this thread and update as/when I move.

Mc Love

I'm considering commuting/staying the week for a job that pays well as opposed to getting peanuts and staying closer to home

godtabh

Must be something in the water.

I;ve been offered a job with better prospects/experience but with a possible €5-10k pay cut. Still negotiating. Not sure if I can afford it tbh

godtabh

godtabh wrote: »

Must be something in the water.

I;ve been offered a job with better prospects/experience but with a possible €5-10k pay cut. Still negotiating. Not sure if I can afford it tbh

I've been offered and accepted the position. Negotiated a better deal but still taking the bones for €4K when you consider the whole package

connundrum

Update: Just signed a contract for what I hope to be the dream job in the industry I wanted to break into for years.

After negotiation I managed to move across on nearly the identical package I'm currently on, minus a company car. But, the new job is a single location, approx 30 mins cycle each way.

So new job, new life, new (healthier) habits!

Roll on 2016!!

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Thargor

Congrat, what sort of field is the dream job in? Looking for suggestions myself...

aine92

My update is I didn't get my job, but I've since handed in my notice to take some time off to find something I enjoy more. I have no mortgage or children so just myself to look after which I know makes a big difference but I think sometimes you need to take a leap of faith, life is too short to be unhappy.

connundrum

aine92 wrote: »

My update is I didn't get my job, but I've since handed in my notice to take some time off to find something I enjoy more. I have no mortgage or children so just myself to look after which I know makes a big difference but I think sometimes you need to take a leap of faith, life is too short to be unhappy.

This! I came to that way of thinking in the last year, decided to pursue a part time MSc in Event Mgt - thinking that I was going to try and a) distract myself from my not so good current job with a masters which is very interesting and b) set myself up for a pipeline job waaaay down the road.

Thargor wrote: »

Congrat, what sort of field is the dream job in? Looking for suggestions myself...

Sure so its in sports, operations and event management.

I literally included the cheesy line in a slide of my presentation to my new employers - "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." And I meant it, and I guess they believed it.

islander222

Elessar wrote: »

Would you take a pay cut (and a longer commute) to get experience? I'm working in IT but have the opportunity to apply for a junior development position that I would be a very good fit for, and would give me great experience. It's a ~3k pay cut though and a fixed term contract of 2 years (whereas I am permanent) so no chance of an increase before that. Also it's much farther away than my current job.

Is it worth it? I'm leaning towards no, as my current pay level really bothers me (have been on it several years without an increase) and I believe I provide a lot more value than my pay reflects. But then opportunities like this don't come along very often.

I actually did this earlier in the year. Working in Large IT company for 8+ years but left to get better\different experience and to be happier in my job... Including benefits I took approx 7% pay cut... 4 months in and never been happier - no regrets so far!