Would you take a pay cut...

[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!

[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.