Would you take a pay cut...

[OceanPrincess]

...if it meant a new career direction, something to get excited about?

My current position is boring me to tears. Its time for a change and I think I want a big change but it'd mean, effectively, starting at the bottom again. And that means a big pay cut.

I am hoping that if I love it, I will be good at it and rise up again quickly, but there would still be a period (maybe a year, maybe two, maybe more if I have another bubba ) where I'd be on a pretty basic wage again. And I'm on a pretty good one right now.

DH and I have existed on his wage plus my part time around having maternity leave for the last three years or so... but we were looking forward to me being back at work to ease some of the financial pressure. But I'm miserable and want a change.

What would you do??

[RhiChiChi]

If I could afford it financially, then I would do it. GL

[Nai]

I have done it and worked my way back up again - it was before kids though. Since kids I have taken a big cut just because of the hours that I have worked. I made sure I did a full budget and worked out if we could afford it. At the end of the day a happy mummy = a happy family so if you are really miserable doing what you are doing then I don't think the money is worth it.

[Kazzo]

100% agree with Nai. Like you said it may only take a year or two to work your way up and if your happy in the new job then it is more then just how much money you are making. I am in a very low paying job but I love it so we make things work with what I get pay wise. Goodluck making your choice.

[Mak]

OP I have spent some time investigating career change as well. I think it is important to step back from your current dissatisfaction and work out what your issues are in your current career and whether or not this will possibly be transferred to your new occupation.
Will any change impact your family time so negatively it will make you unhappy.
How will the financial changes impact your and DH's need to work more hours, are you happy/able to support this?
Will you be able to complete you family plans?
Have you flexibility to return to your current work place/occupation if you choose?
What entitlements will you give up/gain that may be of benefit?

I guess really it is a pros and cons list. I decided against change when I realised I would have to work fulltime at least initially and the ground work would severely eat into our family time with me studying etc. It sounds like a cop out but I didn't want to do that at the age and stages my kids are and the way DH and I are with the little support we have from others. I am lucky enough that I also have heaps of sick leave/holidays/LSL that I would be leaving and this was a big indicator for me too. The main thing was I was unhappy with the way PT staff are treated and a lot of the politics of my workplace - not the actual job. So as a result I have made a big change in the way I deal with it all. I also have tried to find other challenges in the workplace in terms of learning some new skills and in the way I deal with my colleagues.
Good luck - I hope you find some alternatives!

[MistyFying]

I had a fairly high paying job and I took a very big cut to do what I'm currently doing. Be who you're created to be

[peanutter]

Short answer: yes.

If you can afford it, the tightening of the pursestrings and the added stress of the financials will be for a short while, compared to the ongoing pressure of not enjoying your work.

and on the assumption that kidlets cost more and more as they get older, there will never be a better time to take a paycut than now ... might be much harder to learn a new trade and do any necessary study and have less money later on, ITMS.

and that you and your DH can talk and pray about this, and make a good joint decision

[Miss E]

I must admit, I often wonder the same the thing... I would love to become an interior designer, but for me it would mean studying again and then probably working as a consultant where there are no garuntees in terms of income. On the flip side I'm lucky to work for a company where I'm valued, enjoy what I do (most/some of the time), earn good money and have been given lots of flexibility in terms of maternity leave and working part time. Yes there are things that **** me in my current job, but I'm pretty sure if I made the leap and became an interior designer there would be a host of other things to **** me, along with some financial insecurities.

So I guess what I'm saying is that if you are really unhappy doing what you're doing then the trade offs are probably worth it. In my case, I'm not convinced that the trade offs are worth it, or at least haven't reached that conclusion at this point of time.

I think the most important thing when you have a family and are working is for you to get something out of your work as an individual (and not just money). After all, it is time away from your family and as a mother it can be hard to have an identity outside of being mum, I think if you're working then it is ideal if you can get some personal fulfillment out of what you do. Not sure if that makes sense....

[NaeNae]

Before kids I have always had a work motto "sometimes you need to move backwards, in order to move forwards"

If you can do it, then go for it, i have never regretted taking a paycut to change careers best of luck sweets x

[DaintreeDream]

Most definately I would

[Olive]

yep!! i did, though it was prior to having kids...
went from retail to a dental nurse...worked my way up in 2 years from the very bottom..to opening a brand new surgery as the only nurse in the practice for a few years..
was so worth it.

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks for all the replies ladies. Definitely lots of things to think about...

I think a main constraint for me would be remaining with my current employer. They are a large corporation and there are lots of opportunities to move sideways, its just that the sideways move I'm thinking of would involve a pay cut.

So I'd still have my annual leave, sick leave, LSL accruing... and I'd still have access to the great flexible work policies and support for part time work that my employer has.

If I do decide to do some study in this new field I am looking at (HR) then I would probably do that part-time, while continuing to work in my current job. But at the same time, if I can obtain an entry-level (or higher) position in HR within my current organisation, then I'd like to just apply for it and see how I go.

There are a lot of secondments being offered at the moment - that'd be ideal I think, as I could try the area out and then if I decide its not for me, I can come back to this position after 6 or 12 months.

This rang so true too...

I think the most important thing when you have a family and are working is for you to get something out of your work as an individual (and not just money). After all, it is time away from your family and as a mother it can be hard to have an identity outside of being mum, I think if you're working then it is ideal if you can get some personal fulfillment out of what you do.

I just don't feel excited and happy about being here. I want something that I'm excited about getting out of bed at o-dark-thirty as DH calls it for... something that motivates me to be here and to contribute.

The only annoying thing is that I can't get my hands on how much of a pay cut it will be until I actually apply for a role and find out what the pay is from the hiring manager. I know my job grade and what my salary is, but I can only imagine what the salary for the lower job grades would be, as it isn't published anywhere... so its a bit hard to work out a budget or anything like that.

I guess one way to do it would be to work out what the absolute MINIMUM wage that I need would be and take it from there. If the role doesn't pay enough to meet our budget, then I don't accept it.

[Miss E]

I guess one way to do it would be to work out what the absolute MINIMUM wage that I need would be and take it from there. If the role doesn't pay enough to meet our budget, then I don't accept it.

Good idea. It sound to me like you know what you need to do. At the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with applying for a position and then declining the offer if it doesn't suit you. Interviews aren't just about the employer checking you out for the position, they're also about you checking out the position and accessing it's suitability for you - it's a two way street. I know it's probably a bit different when you already work for the company, but I tend to think this still applies.

A secondment would be a great way of dipping your foot in the water and seeing if it is for you. GL whichever way you decide to go.

[diva det]

truthfully i wouldnt- at the moment
i would sit tight and rake in the bucks and after you know your family is finished, then i would think about starting again. at the moment you know what you job is about, no stress, no hassles and although it bores you to tears, its guaranteed $$$ and you can do you job and it works with your family
a new job is the unknown and although that is the exciting part of it, at the moment i would be hesitant to start a new career path until your baby making days are done. that way you have more chance to move up quicker as there is no stop and start with Mat leave. also your job has all your entitlements accured and with a young family there are also so handy to have up your sleeve!!

i would seriously just bide your time where you are at the moment!
your time to shine will come!!!
bucks are the goal at the moment

[peanutter]

any clarity or decisions made, lovely?

I pray that you're feeling a peace either about staying or moving ...

[cindyb]

I have just recently done exactly that. I am now earning a third p/hour of what i was in my previous job but I am no longer bored out of my brain. Instead I am learning something new each day and can see so many options opening up!

I have to say though that I studied for 2 years for thsi new career and while I did that we paid off as much debt as we could possibly pay off with my earnings from the higher earning job. Good luck whatever you end up doing!

[ladybird11]

Yup - I highly recommend it!

I took a 50% drop in my income when I went from salesperson to police officer, but now with working my way back up the ranks I'm almost back to where I used to be $$$ wise - and I absolutely LOVE the role which I do now. Geez, I'd actually do my job for free!

[OceanPrincess]

Thank you for checking in on me!

I am keeping an eye on the job postings... But I think that it would have to be an absolutely perfect position to consider moving at the moment. Until I am sure there's no more babies on the horizon, I think I should just stay put.

But I also have the added complication that all the positions that are coming up are full time and I'm not ready for that... My babies are too little. I could apply and negotiate but like I said, it would really need to be perfect to be worth fighting for.

Thank you for caring.