20% Paycut??

[Flash Gordon]

Greetings....I have a job opportunity that has presented itself. Smaller market, making the transition to management. The major drawback is the title of this thread....a 20% pay cut. Seems like a good place with good people. Cost of living would be similar, maybe a bit less. Thoughts? Ideas? Opinons?

[D.St.]

I suggest thinking in the long term.

Is managment what you ultimately want to do? How long do you plan on being in this job? How is it going to affect your expenses? Are you going to go into debt if you take it?

I took a pay cut once, but it resulted in me being where I want to be today (and I'm in fact making more money!). If it's not going to be a huge finanical strain, and it's going to lead to you being where you want eventually, I would say go for it. Sometimes loss in cash is made up in the money you'll save in Maalox.

[David R. Busse]

Years ago I was courted by a company that wanted me to be a news manager.

As I did the dance with them, I had dinner with a neighbor (non-TV) who has jumped to and from a variety of engineering and management jobs in heavy industry.

He gave me his "rules" for considering a job offer.

1. Money. Will you make more or less than you are now? Is your cost of living going to change?

2. The team. By taking this job, will you be a part of a corporate team or culture that will teach you/mentor you/improve your professional standing? Will your boss(es) be people you want to emulate?

3. The title. By taking this job, will it put you into another rung on the career ladder necessary to achieve your ultimate career goal(s)? A strong "yes" here might mitigate less pay in question #1.

He told me that jobs were worth considering if they met any TWO of the above criteria. He also said that the importance of #1 increases and #3 diminshes as you get older.

I never forgot this advice.

And using this advice was one of the reasons I turned down further inquiries from this organization. Under this test, the answer to #1 was "less money" answer to #2 was "maybe and maybe not" and the answer to #3 was yes. Within six months, the company changed hands and #2 became a resounding "no." Years later, my career goals changed to the point where #3 was also a solid "no." Glad I stayed put.

Just my .02 worth.

[bassetf5]

Don't look at what the job is now... look at what it could turn into and your general quality of life. best-paying job I ever had was so stressful that my doctor told me to quit every time I saw him... there's a lot more to consider than money.

[shade]

1) set your goals
2) look at the big picture (finances)
3) look inside (family)

I took a major paycut a few years ago for personal (family) reasons and have never looked back. My wife makes great money so that helped, workwise it has led me in a different direction and I'm satisfied. In management now and happy for the most part. Its all in yourself. If all the ingredients fall for you then go for it. Good luck.

[LoomisP2]

Perhaps you can "shadow" a person for a day or just spend a bit of time in the environment of this new place. That would provide some good insight into what the people are really like. Of course, most people are nice when you are on the outside looking in. Take your time.

I went to a small market to be Chief and turned down a shot at a top 30 photog position. Thought I could change the culture and style as well as lead the rookies to steady sequenced video. Less then a year later and multitude of excuses from upper management of why we could not hire that extra shooter or reprimand the guy who continued to not use sticks (he had been there too long and knew the archiving system like no other), I moved on. Better for having the experience but, wonder how much I set myself back?

[svp]

Look at it this way, you are sacrificing now to get ahead later. I personally would do it. You're not taking a cut to go do the same job. This is a great opportunity to make the leap into management and, if you're any good, it will pay off ten fold down the road. If you can afford to do it, go for it.

[Baltimore Shooter]

Look at it this way, you are sacrificing now to get ahead later. I personally would do it. You're not taking a cut to go do the same job. This is a great opportunity to make the leap into management and, if you're any good, it will pay off ten fold down the road. If you can afford to do it, go for it.
I guess that wouldn't be unlike a reporter in a large market moving to a medium or small market to anchor so that they could then move back to a large market to anchor.

Warren

[Freddie Mercury]

I'm another that took a step back pay-wise a few years back. I could have held out for more money and maybe still gotten the job, but I wasn't willing to pass on the offer which was certainly livable but about $5k/yr less than I was making.

My motivation was a much higher quality of product and much more professional way of doing business. I have been extremely happy with the move, and my employers have been happy enough with me that they have accelerated my annual pay bumps to try to catch up with where I would have been. I'm making more than I was, but I'm still not quite where I would have been now.

It is a decision that can affect more than just you if you have a family, and luckily my wife is understanding. Sometime you just have to decide life is too short and make the move that feels right.