Son's dilemma

King_Nothing

I'd go to the interview, and try make a good impression, good enough that they hopefully contact him back and offer him the job, and then he can either take it, or tell them he'll have to reject their offer because looking at his finances and the cost of living he would need for the area, the job doesn't offer enough wages. Then depending on how much they want him, they could try negotiate with him, or just say ok.

ViolaLass

ceridwen wrote: »

Of course theres also the fact that £15k probably wont be enough for him to live on anyway - not with rent to pay. He needs to check out the rent levels in the area he is considering moving to for the job - but I expect he would only be able to rent a bedsit or a share in a shared house for that. In other words - the salary is too low to live on if so.

I lived in Central London until a year ago, in a shared house and needed a minimum of £8k per year after tax to live (excluding holidays but including entertainment, clothes etc). I had a great time on a salary of £16k.

Why shouldn't he be in a shared house at only 24?

The idea of not going to an interview for a 'dream job' because the pay is 'only' £15k at 24 seems utterly bizarre to me. Sure, higher would be nice, who wouldn't want to earn more? But at least it's not minimum wage.

Katharine

Sounds like he should at least go to the interview. Personally I am very suspicious of 'dream jobs' now, they rarely live up to the rose tinted hue put on them. Just make sure he has his eyes wide open and if possible speak to other empolyees there. Also it should be a careful considered decision given the current climate. If it doesn't work out will he be able to get back into a 20k job?

I used to earn £11ph doing something I mostly enjoyed. I followed a dream which was false and now wash dishes for minimum wage with little hope of finding anything more suitable/better paid, and am entirely miserable doing so. Food for thought.

Pink.

I left a highly paid job that bored me to tears and took a 40% paycut to do the job of my dreams. It was scary at the time but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

If it were my son, I'd encourage him to go for the interview and if he's offered the job and thinks he can live on the salary take it. I'm guessing that there will be the chance to progress if he's good at it, and he's more likely to be good at it if he enjoys it. Life's too short to spend hours every week doing something you don't enjoy.

Pink

DCFC79

Go for the interview and see what happens

ceridwen

ViolaLass wrote: »

Why shouldn't he be in a shared house at only 24?

.

We have no way of knowing what sort of person the guy is. He may be someone who would be fine living in a shared house (ie very sociable/not that bothered about housework etc). On the other hand he may be someone who "needs his own space"/for the housework to be done properly and promptly. Without knowing what sort of person he is - its simply not possible to tell how well (or otherwise) he would fare in a shared house situation.

I had to spend years in inadequate accommodation when I was younger, for instance, but knew myself well enough to know that a shared house simply wouldnt have worked. I also knew myself well enough to know I would be (and was) deeply dissatisfied with having to try and live in a bedsit either.

I think its unacceptable to expect anyone to have to live in either a shared house or a bedsit if they dont wish to/have the wrong personality to do so. Everyone needs/has the right to at least a one bedroom flat if that is what their needs/personality dictate.

ka7e

He has been living at home and paying for his keep. He has saved a fair amount of money and has been contemplating buying a small house locally. Either that or sharing with friends he knows well. The thought of sharing with strangers fills him with trepidation!

He is just used to having savings AND spending money for his hobbies, clothes, meals out etc. So I can understand he feels that, financially at least, this job would be a retrograde step.

Still, he had a particularly frustrating day on Friday and is quite looking forward to the interview now!

Probably the job will go to a new graduate that thinks £15k is a great "first job" salary, and his dilemma will be moot .

nearlyrich

Go for the dream, these jobs lead to better jobs and working for the council is no longer the job for life it once was. If you can't take a chance at 24 when can you?

themull1

What if he hated the new job? its not guaranteed that he will love it, and five grand is a lot of money to lose. I don't know of anyone who likes their job these days!! if it was me i would say better the devil you know{and hate!} i've hated my job for 26 years now, and i intend to hate it for another 18 years.!!

UnderPressure

What you all seem to be forgetting is this young man has a degree, he is an educated graduate that has put a lot of hard slog into getting his degree in the first place now his "dream" job is a low paid 15k a year job probably with not much hope of advancement.

Kind of makes all the work he put into getting his degree a bit pointless, with a bit of planning he could get into a specialised IT area WITH chances of career progress where in the end after a few years of experience he could and SHOULD easily be earning 35-50 k a year!

The only thing that matters in these dark days is a well paid job, I would much rather be miserable in comfort than poor in what essentially could well turn out to be a bit of a dead end dream, yes life is too short so why not maximise the things you can do when you are NOT working this needs money, no matter what anybody says money does not buy happiness but it dam well buys security.

If he has no plan on doing anything with the degree he has earnt then shame on him and shame on you as his parent for encouraging to be so silly in these dark dark times.

Thats my opinion dreams change life very rarely does.......................