Job Offer OPW but huge salary drop

grangegorman

Hi All,

I've been offered a job in the OPW in the Engineering department. My issue is I'm currently working in the private sector and receiving a salary of 45K but its a 6 month rolling contract (I've been in this job for approx 4 years and its reasonably safe for the next couple of years). The OPW is approx 30K but is full time pensionable etc and is located close to where we would like to buy a house in a couple of years. The qualifications for the position were a level 6 but specific experience was required in the hydrometric/Engineering area which I had. I have a level 8 honours degree and have commenced a masters in Engineering which some people think taking this job is well below my experience/qualifications and for my age (35).

I'v have been through the recession and had to travel to Oz and do internships when I first came home in 2010 just to get a job. I'm getting married in 12 months and a drop of at least 15K would be a struggle with the cost of the wedding and paying significantly high rents.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Tigger99

Are there any annual increments with the salary? If not why not ask the opw if they can up the offer based on your experience. Worst they can say is no.

4odh4n

that must be how the opw operate, i remember looking at a job with them before, at that time i worked with local council and had thought i would get onto a similar point/increment that i was on at the time, but further investigation confirmed I would be starting at the bottom regardless of previous experience (even though, as you say, it was needed to get the position). i thought at the time they were just making the most of the recession!

Kev_2012

At 35 with a degree? No way man. 30k is a terrible salary. Also, if it's anywhere near Dublin, then definitely no.

Ask for a higher starting salary, if they say no then I'd be looking elsewhere. 30k is good for a graduate, no more.

Inconspicuous

Hi,

I'd just like to offer a little bit of advice when weighing up your options. Firstly, the 15k difference. Due to the different tax bands etc. it's not exactly a direct 15k drop in salary. Because of our so called "progressive" tax system you would be surprised at how the take home pay of somebody who appears to be on a higher salary is actually a lot closer to somebody on a lower salary. Remember though, when calculating out the take home pay of the public service job you have to factor in a 6.5% pension deduction and then another few % of your salary will be taken as the pension levy. There are circulars online that should help you calculate this out.

One of the big things that is always touted about the public service is the generous pensions. These are no longer there however. As a new entrant you will be entitled to an "average career earnings" pension. What this means is that if you spent most of your career at a lower grade (which is quite likely and promotions are hard to get) but in the end ended up getting promoted a couple of times your pension will be mostly based on the salary you earned at the lower grade. While you will still get a reasonably good pension, they are no longer as good as people make them out to be. This is worth bearing in mind.

You should also inquire with the OPW about starting at a higher point on the scale due to your qualifications and experience. I know that there has been leeway towards this in the past. But, before asking, check over the job advertisement again to see if this has been specifically ruled out. As I've seen this mentioned in a number of recent adverts.

Finally, you mention that you've been on a 6 month rolling contract and that you are coming up to being nearly 4 years on this type of contract. Someone else may have better knowledge of this, but I thought that after 4 years on a temp. contract the company are obliged to offer you a permanent position as this conveys better employment rights. Again, you would need to ask somebody more qualified than me to answer that.

Hope this helps a little...I know its a tough decision to make.

Outkast_IRE

30K in engineering is where I would expect a good graduate with 1-2 years experience to be.

The sort of salary drop you are talking about is far too high.

grangegorman

Job is based in Trim and does go up in small increments yearly or in line with Government policy. My thinking was once I'm in there maybe I could move up or even to another Engineering department. Salary is a killer alright when I have about 8-10years exp and better quals.

Inconspicuous

grangegorman wrote: »

Job is based in Trim and does go up in small increments yearly or in line with Government policy. My thinking was once I'm in there maybe I could move up or even to another Engineering department. Salary is a killer alright when I have about 8-10years exp and better quals.

Being honest with you...the likelihood of being promoted quickly in the public service is slim to none! On top of that, if you do manage to get the opportunity to apply for promotion it will likely be in another area altogether which would take you away from Trim and add a longer commute into your working life.

I'm not sure how the OPW operates, but I do know in the rest of the public service they only have 3 engineering grades. Grade 3 is considered entry level, Grade 2 is middle management and Grade 1 is senior management. It is very difficult to jump quickly (if at all) between these grades.

gifted

I was offered a job with the HSE, salary was ranging from 31k to 36k depending on qualifications, experience etc. They put me on the 31k lowest point even though I have 25 years experience and completely different contract to what the existing staff have. Bear in mind I'm on over 50k in my current job. I phoned them and inquired and I was bluntly told that that's the salary...I bluntly told them no thank you. No regrets whatsoever. Permanency in a job is not all what it' cracked up to be.

Mrs OBumble

On 30k, you not going to be able to get very much of a mortgage at all. 45k to 30k is indeed approx only a 7k drop in take home salary, but it's a 57k drop in the amount you are allowed to borrow.

What are your chances of getting more money as you get more experience in the private sector?

The ONLY reason I could see for taking this job is if they will pay for your study and give you experience that you would not get in the private sector. And then you should only stay for as long as it takes to get that experience.

TOEJOE

The position in all areas of public services is the same people entering the service are placed on the lowest point on the scale .Its not a good situation for people with experience.

beauf

The problem will be the slow rate of increments, promotion in the public sector, unless you jump around. So it may take a long time to recover that salary. If the location, and quality of life is more important then that would balance it out.

PhoenixParker

You say you're planning to get married in the next 12 months and to buy a house nearby.

What are your plans with respect to having a family?

Having one of you in a permanent pensionable job with the sort of flexibility and benefits many government jobs offer may well be worth the lower salary once kids arrive. Close to home, the ability to leave at a predictable time, flexi-time, paid maternity leave (?), possibly term time working, longer holidays etc. If you're planning kids and some or all of those are available with this job, then bear in mind that having one parent nearby and available to do the parental heavily lifting can be invaluable.

That's doubly true if the other parent has a long commute (e.g. Trim - Dublin) or is more ambitious.
On the other hand if there are no kids on the horizon, or you're the more ambitious one, then I'd stick with where you are.

pc7

The pension levy is also something to factor that's a huge chunk out of a wage packet since 'the emergency'

ceekay74

The final point of the salary scale is what you should be thinking of, along with the pension lump sum and annual payments.

And job security. How much is peace of mind worth?

Also, the possible increase in pay for public servants over the next few years.

Short term thinking says it's a bad deal. Long term thinking, that's up to you.

AlanG

A lot of people retired early in the Public service recently so a lot of younger people moved up. This cohort will not be retiring for a while so moving up will be very difficult for the next 10 years. The pension levy, new pension payments and longer hours in the PS have really diminished its attractiveness to skilled people recently. Unless the increments are pretty good I would avoid this job.

beauf

PhoenixParker wrote: »

You say you're planning to get married in the next 12 months and to buy a house nearby.

What are your plans with respect to having a family?

Having one of you in a permanent pensionable job with the sort of flexibility and benefits many government jobs offer may well be worth the lower salary once kids arrive. Close to home, the ability to leave at a predictable time, flexi-time, paid maternity leave (?), possibly term time working, longer holidays etc. If you're planning kids and some or all of those are available with this job, then bear in mind that having one parent nearby and available to do the parental heavily lifting can be invaluable.

That's doubly true if the other parent has a long commute (e.g. Trim - Dublin) or is more ambitious.
On the other hand if there are no kids on the horizon, or you're the more ambitious one, then I'd stick with where you are.

This is all true.

But equally having a family and buying a house, means a lot of increased expense. A drop in salary which may be for a long time, could be a problem.

Hazydays123

Personally I like being in the Public Service. There are lots of great perks, money not being one of them though!
I know that in the civil service you'd get extra leave when you're getting married. Also is there flexi time in operation? Most likely you'll end up on over 50k when you reach the top point of your salary scale in 10yrs or so.
I just got mortgage approved recently and I know we had a far easier time than most because we're both public sector workers. Banks like that kind of stability.

Addle

pc7 wrote: »

The pension levy is also something to factor that's a huge chunk out of a wage packet since 'the emergency'

As above. 30k gross less tax, usc and compulsory pension contributions.

If I thought my private sector job was safe, I'd stick with it.