Would you take a job for less pay?

[vhoffman]

One problem I didn't mention with job 2(staying in Texas work for a university) is that the job won't start until next January. DH is really uneasy about being unemployed for 2 months. He's getting a severance package that is about 4 months pay, we can live a lot longer than 4 months on 4 months pay! Plus, we do have savings (we really did take the advice to have 6 months living expenses in the bank!), and our debts are low, including our house payment. I said he should relax and consider it a 2 month vacation. He needs a break from work! We won't wind up on the streets.

I think its just a man thing to have a paycheck coming in. He's never gone more than 2 weeks since he was 18 without earning a paycheck. Well, in my opinion, he's earned a little break. Job 1 will be there for him next year, when he's rested and raring to go!

 

[NotUrsula]

Ask the HR depts of both jobs to make up a statement of total compensation, which is a list of the dollar value of both the salary AND the employer-paid benefits. Your DH may well find that when the academic benefits are given a dollar value, job B may end up paying just as well as job A. If he takes B and later moves on, he can use that total compensation figure as his basis. Benefits have a fair market value; they count as part of your compensation.

That said, when it comes down to it, he will be the one doing the job day in and day out, and if he isn't comfortable in the working atmosphere, then he should not take the job (especially as it seems that he is not having any problems with marketability.)

BTW, I worked for over a decade for an IT contractor that served academic institutions. As this is a travel board, you should be aware that it is fairly likely that as an academic IT employee, he might not be able to vacation during intersessions and/or academic breaks -- the times when your children are normally out of school any time other than midsummer. Those periods are typically when academic institutions do their major systems maintenance work, such as upgrades, etc. You might also find that he might sometimes have to work on major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and the 4th of July, because, again, those typically are the only times when a research university can take the network fully off line for more than a few hours.

PS: If he takes the job that doesn't start until next semester, he won't be "unemployed" for 2 months. You are not unemployed if you have a position with a definite starting date. Do be aware, though, that most academic institutions pay monthly rather than biweekly, and there may be no paycheck until he has been there at least 6 weeks, and possibly 8. (That is always what I have experienced with academic jobs; where I worked the payroll had to be submitted a full period before the actual pay date, so there is usually a delay before the first paycheck is cut. Sometimes the university will have a no-interest short-term loan program to cover that delay period if you really need money before your first scheduled pay date.)

 

[ilovejack02]

I'd take job 2. I think what the 10k takes away, the benefits for college makes it up.

My dad is going through a similar situation... Although he refuses to take a job that paid even slightly less then his old job.

Thank goodness, my DH was ok taking a job for less. He took a 45% pay cut when he started his job. He was told if he didnt like the pay he could go elsewhere and they were right, people were in line for the job. We knew in the long run it would be the best for us. We sweated it out for a cpl of years and made it through. He has been with his company for 5 yrs and now making 25,000 more a yr and MUCH better benefits.

 

[Redbudlover]

Well, I am going to play devil's advocate here because all the other dissers say you should stay... I am a recruiter and help people make these decisions all the time. First of all your husband is totally right when he says job 2 will deeply affect his future earnings - and not just because he would be taking a deep cut but also because other possible future employers will see that cut as a red flag - what was wrong with him that he had to take a pay cut they will wonder - and they will wonder - I hear it all the time...

I know you really really want to stay in Texas, but you want to so badly that it seems you are slanting your thinking to give yourself the strongest argument possible to stay. Which I totally understand! But for the sake of just for a second looking at it differently look at this as well. You are not actually going to just gain $10K by going to Maryland - you are going to gain $18K - because the job in TX is $8K less than what you have now - not less than what you would be making there.... Eighteen thousand dollars difference between the two jobs - that is a lot! So if the job in Maryland leads to something better it would be on top on $18K so could easily be in the range of $25K. Also if he takes the better job in terms of his career he will most likely be able to change to a university job sometime in the future if he wants one. Could he go the other way? Perhaps not.

And Maryland is a lot warmer than Ohio, girl! I say it is important to make your decision without blinders or bias. I know you don't want to leave, but before you get all upset you might look at the neat things MD has to offer. I have all kinds of candidates who would dearly love to move to Maryland. They tell me that every week! There are lots of people who stay put all their lives and they are very happy. And there are lots of people who work hard to build their careers and they often have to move. Both ways have a lot of good to them. I am sorry you are in this position. It is tough I know. Good luck to you!

 

[runner26.2]

7 years ago I worked 6 days a week, 60-70 hours per week, high stress, never took more than 1 week off at a time and took 2 maybe 3 weeks a year off as holidays. I woke up one morning and decided that this was not how I wanted to spend the rest of my professional career. DW was very understanding and I left one position for another which meant a $40,000 cut in salary ...

7 years later I can say it was the best thing I ever did. I don't work quite as much, the stress level is substantially reduced and I get to spend time with DW and our three children.

Money isn't everything. Do what is best for your family. Not what is best financially for your family but what is BEST for your family. If everyone will be happier in Maryland move there and deal with the financial consequences, if on the other hand everyone will be happier in Texas with a few less $$$ then do that. Just don't let a higher salary in isolation drive your decision.

Life is too short to be driven entirely by money.

 

[NotUrsula]

... what was wrong with him that he had to take a pay cut they will wonder - and they will wonder - I hear it all the time...

Your point is well-taken in regard to the business world, but I'm guessing that you don't often deal with academic institutions or government agencies. In the academic world, it is not standard to give a prospective employer a pay history -- in fact, it would be very unusual for anyone to do so. In 24 years, I have never revealed my previous compensation to a prospective employer, and quite frankly, if one asked me, I wouldn't do it. They offer what they are authorized to pay (the pay grade is normally based on credentials and years of experience), and you can either take it or leave it; usually there isn't a whole lot of wiggle room in salary terms at a state school. If he stays in the academy but decides to change jobs to work at another school, his previous pay won't matter at all.

 

[Nanu57v]

Can you fish for more money at Job 2? DH just got offered a job and after considering it, we decided it would not be best for our family to take a financial loss of the 5K less(no pressing layoffs here). He told exactly that to the job and they came back and offered him 5k more. Now we don't know what to do since everything is exactly equal now.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I'd stay where you are. As others have posted $10,000 is not enough money to pack up the family & belongings, sell your dream house and move a thousand miles away. No one knows what the future holds - he may find another job down the road in Texas that has the $ you want. I'd stay put! Good luck!

 

[laceemouse]

We have lived all over and I kinda enjoy moving but I have to say STAY IN TEXAS!!! It is cheaper than just about anyplace else in the country!

 

[vhoffman]

Hey, Redbudlover

Interesting that you're a recuriter in Texas. You say you have candidates who would love to move to Maryland. Are they from Texas? What are some of the reasons they find Maryland attractive, both job and lifestyle considerations?

Do employers typically offer increases in salary to compensate for the higher cost of living up there? If we were to maintain our current salary up there we'd essentially be taking a cut with the cost of living factored in. What type of employers do you work with--technical? Your input sounds interesting, thanks!

 

[PlutoPony]

I'm not a recruiter (nor do I play one on TV ) but one big plus to this area is the sheer number of opportunities available at any given time for many professionals - especially IT. The jobs market here is VERY strong with no signs of abating, as so much is tied to government and consulting. And between DC and Baltimore you essentially have access to two metropolitan markets, both of which are likely larger than the area you are currently in. Plus most of these jobs are using state of the art technology which gives people a lot of opportunity to keep up skill sets (very important to older workers IMHO).
On the family side, living in this area puts you in close proximity to so many wonderful family adventures without having to hop on a plane (something you truthfully can't say about your current location). From the Mall, museums, and memorials in DC, to the Aquarium and waterfront in Baltimore to Mt. Vernon, Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Monticello, Antietam, geez the list is ENDLESS. Philly's a couple hours north, and you're less than 8 hours to Boston. We feel very fortunate to live here for our son's sake if nothing else, and after 8 years still haven't run out of day trips! The cost of housing and traffic are definitely downsides, but if you can adjust to that AND the job is a good fit this area certainly has a lot to offer a family such as yours.
Good luck deciding!

 

[vhoffman]

nice to know there's so much to do in the Maryland area. We sometimes feel we're straining to find new, interesting things to do around here. There's only so many times you can visit the Alamo (Yes, we will remember the Alamo!). Also, the weather here is really not the greatest. I just came in from grocery shopping and I'm so sweaty I have to change clothes. Its soooo hot here in central Texas, about 3/4 the year. There's days when you do need coats, etc., but usually it starts off cool in the morning, then it gets warmer in the afternoon and you're miserable in your warmer clothes. I don't actually miss winter and all the hassles of snow and ice, but I would like to go somewhere I'm not constantly sweating. The humidity here is quite high, and even in October it reaches around 80-90 degrees.

Well, the whole decision revolves around what's best for our family in all regards, not just financial. A lot to think about! We definitely need to negoiate a higher salary if dh goes to Maryland, at least enough to break even with our lifestyle here.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I would take offer #2 and stay in Texas.

 

[PlutoPony]

Has your husband been to Columbia yet to interview? If not, when they do make arrangements for that ask for him to spend a day or so with a realtor looking at houses in the area - that will give you an idea of what the market is like. Companies looking at a potential relo will often hook you up with someone before the visit so you can give them an idea of what you're looking for and how much you want to spend. If job 1 looks like a position you want to seriously consider, you might want to consider making a trip up yourself on your nickel to get a feel for it, before you have a make a decision. Hopefully you won't have a decide without at least one of you getting a first hand look at things...