Better Salary or Job Happiness?`

Beancounter

soupdragon10 wrote: »

I think being able to wake up in the morning and not dreak going into a situation that you find both misery making and stressful would be worth the 4K a year. Plus when you take into account differences in NI etc how much worse off will you be?

I'd chose happiness every time myself.

Done the sums thanks to the Salary calculator website, I am currently paying 10% into a pension, taking that out because I won't be eligible for the new job pension for 6 months I will be *only* £122 down.

Pete111 wrote: »

+1

If the chance of promotion is a genuine one then that's the key. If in doubt, explore this aspect of the new job further with the other company before committing. You may also want to see if they might offer a little more given the large % pay disparity. We have done this in the past to secure our preferred candidate. If you don't ask (politely) you wont get.

Go back to them on both counts perhaps. Letting them know you are keen as mustard and excited by the long term opportunity for development, but at the same time finding the pay cut a little daunting, should not be held against you.

I was intending doing that if I am offered the post. To be honest I will take it anyway but nothing to lose asking for another grand or so.


I had the second interview this afternoon, went well until the guy asked about money, I told him my current salary and he said that was his only concern with me. I did emphasise that the job and the company was more important for me. He was impressed by my long service in anther job I had so maybe that will work in my favour.

Thanks for all the comments folks.:)

Claytone

I'd say you want to think long term on this one. You want a company where you can grow in terms of relevant experience to your field. Somewhere that will help you grow your skills, especially by trying new things/projects; that's where the investment is. You might also want to take a look at their financial records as well. You don't want to get stuck in a company that has periodic cash flow problems; you always look good working for a company that's making money. Plus you don't want to be the one jettisoned when the ship's too heavy.

purcel

I would think twice about it, I've done this last year, accepted a promotion but took a pay cut in a different company, further from home, just because i have been told there are more opportunities.

The company i work in at the moment is doing very well, but still no sign of any training for me and I starting hating the job as the management is bad!
So i am not better off, as I went from a job i didn't like to a job I hate...

gettingready

Hope you hear some good news from the second interview, fingers crossed.

Till 1st December I was in a 43k per year job and clearing nearly 2500 per month from that, felt sick waking up every morning, had massive back problems (both GP and OH diagnosed those as stress related), loved my job but absolutely hated people I had to "report to" etc etc

From 1st December I have £65 per week, my back problems are gone and althugh I worry a lot about money situation (got a dog and 4 cats and they are going nowhere) I am somehow much happier.

When I was going for interviews while still employed - jobs with much lower salaries etc.. I was often told they were worried I would not stay as my then salary was quite good. And only I know how much I wanted to change that job.

So - pay cut always rather than ever again being misearable as I was in my last job....

Thatchapdean

gettingready wrote: »

Hope you hear some good news from the second interview, fingers crossed.

Till 1st December I was in a 43k per year job and clearing nearly 2500 per month from that, felt sick waking up every morning, had massive back problems (both GP and OH diagnosed those as stress related), loved my job but absolutely hated people I had to "report to" etc etc

From 1st December I have £65 per week, my back problems are gone and althugh I worry a lot about money situation (got a dog and 4 cats and they are going nowhere) I am somehow much happier.

When I was going for interviews while still employed - jobs with much lower salaries etc.. I was often told they were worried I would not stay as my then salary was quite good. And only I know how much I wanted to change that job.

So - pay cut always rather than ever again being misearable as I was in my last job....

Reading that has helped me appease my fears. Two years ago I was earning 26k a year, for a single person with no real responsibilities it allowed me to live a relatively fruitful life inc travelling, gadgets etc.

Having been on a Carers allowance for 2 years and leaving my old job I often have waves of 'you were stupid of leaving that job' and 'you will never have that again' I soon realised that being happy and better health is more important.

Hearing you mention a somewhat similar scenario has eased my fears and feel like I am not the only one to have ever taken a cut.

OP I would always say go with the happiness, money can only bring you so much.

sujman

Beancounter wrote: »

I am going for a second interview for a job which I really want to do. Trouble is the salary is about 4K less than I am on now so I would only be on about 14K per year.

Now, I hate my current job, I don't get on with the boss and dread going in every day. Is the extra money I am making worth the unhappiness I feel?

I have done the sums and after the bills etc are paid we will still have about £500 spare per month so we won't exactly be penniless. Another plus point for the other job is that I will stand a reasonable chance of promotion, something I have no chance of in the current role.

Interested in hearing other peoples thoughts.

Can you be really sure that the new job has a better boss / working envirnoment? You might end up taking a salary cut and finding nothing has really changed. Bit like jumping out the frying pan and into the fire..

Almost a year ago, I left a job as I wasn't enjoying it. I didnt have any professional respect for my boss at the time and didnt want to work for them any more. I didnt have another one lined up to go to, thats how bad it was.

Still, I managed to pick up a contract job and then landed a perm job, both of which paid better than my original job.

Thing is, where I am now, the issues with my new boss are similar, I dont have professional respect for him either (maybe I am the problem?)!

Now I spend my energies "managing upwards" as in reality, all work places are about the same!

gettingready

Thatchapdean wrote: »

I often have waves of 'you were stupid of leaving that job' and 'you will never have that again' I soon realised that being happy and better health is more important.

Oh, I hear that too - just avoid people who may say that as they have absolutely no idea what it means to have to go in every day to a job you love but having to watch out for what "managers" try to accuse you off and how much they get away with - all at YOUR cost - and you have absolutely nowhere to turn to (yes, it does happen - before anyone starts jumping up with Union, ACAS etc etc) Never again.

All the best

bristol_pilot

If as a result of taking a lower salary you are struggling to pay bills, can't afford a social life, are constantly worrying about money, where the next penny is coming from, getting into debt, being chased by your creditors....then this will far outweigh any extra happiness you derive from a supposedly more enjoyable job.

I think I read somewhere that having more money does make you happier up to a certain point, about £35k, then after that job satisfaction becomes more important. In other words, on £14k/£18k job satisfaction is a bit of a luxury I'm afraid.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Definitely happiness! Definitely! I should know! Too experienced! Went through it so many times. Stayed in a job that was well paid. Completely hated the company and people. Just did not fit in the crowd. Went for a major salary drop but love the other.

Rule of thumb. You tend to progress up the ladder much quicker in a job you love. A job which you hate! People can see it written on your forehead!

londoner1998

Beancounter wrote: »

I am going for a second interview for a job which I really want to do. Trouble is the salary is about 4K less than I am on now so I would only be on about 14K per year.

Now, I hate my current job, I don't get on with the boss and dread going in every day. Is the extra money I am making worth the unhappiness I feel?

I have done the sums and after the bills etc are paid we will still have about £500 spare per month so we won't exactly be penniless. Another plus point for the other job is that I will stand a reasonable chance of promotion, something I have no chance of in the current role.

Interested in hearing other peoples thoughts.

Happiness, every time. If you do what you enjoy, you will be good at it and it is my belife that moeny will follow, sooner or later. If you have 500 left after bills are paid, well, i think there is no dilema there. The possibility of promotion is anoher big plus- I know what is like to dread goign in every day (I'm there too) and that is a thing that you can't buy in the shops.
I also think that feelign appreciated it is very important- not necessarily to be rewarded financiallty, but to have your contribution acknowledged is really important- one f our directors let it slip the other day in a meeting with the Unions (of which I am part) that one more highly paid position was worth 10 of the more humble foot soldiers (who are on a tenth of his salary)- needless to say it didn't go well and that if one of the reasons people are running out of the door as the first opportunity- some of them to jobs with a significantly lower pay packet.
Nobody wants to work for him, me included.
Concentrate on tha job interview and go in there to get it- good luck!