Would you take a lower paying job

[Tiggeroo]

in this economy if you are out of work? It would probably pay twice as much as the max unemployment but be a pay cut. If you interviewed for a job like that and they asked if you will leave if a better paying job comes along would you lie?
Then if you are offered a higher paying job in the near future how would you handle it?
DH has been laid off for 5 weeks. His line of work while not seasonal is definitely more likely to hire in the late spring/summer. We are not starving and can pay our bills. I would not want to try to get thru the winter like this which means he would typically want to find a job as early in the summer as possible. He has recently begun getting interest in his resume and applications. He has an interview this morning with a small local company that will most likely hire him but not pay too well. I would like him to take it because I am so stressed and panicked over the economy and jobs. Normally I'd say he would have no problem finding a good paying job in his field at this time of year. If he gets an offer here I'd like him to take it but to continue looking for a better job in his pay range and to accept one if he gets it, after giving notice.
He thinks this is dishonest. I think I have gotten so disillusioned with employers. If they have an opportunity to make more profits by letting you go they don't think twice about it. It's so unstable. He could get a very good offer in a week or he might find himself out for the winter, who knows.

 

[gina2000]

I'd tell him to take it. Jobs really aren't plentiful in NJ and after Christie gets done with the public sector, I think NJ will go through another round of foreclosures and layoffs. This will negatively affect local industry.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

 

[Tiggeroo]

is it possible that if he takes the lower paying job that other companies will be unwilling to offer him what he normally makes?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Did they directly ask him, "If a better job comes along would you leave?" or is this a moral dilemma he is creating himself? There is no 'better job', it's a mistake to make a decision based on hopes and assumptions rather than facts. What if that better job doesn't come along?

I happen to think that there are so many people out of work you should take any job you can get. Also, there are so many people in line for each and every job that comes along that if a person should decide to leave (as in your case) he/she would be easily replaced. I wouldn't worry about the issue at all.... the new employer wouldn't have a hard time finding a replacement and you are 100% right to be worried. Gas prices are on the rise and I keep hearing about new rumors of layoffs from big companies. I wouldn't hold out, it has 'bad decision' written all over it IMHO.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Oh and I'm in education so my feelings for Christie are oh so loving.

 

[Tiggeroo]

One of my concerns is that if the unemployment rate drops here in the summer which it usually does do to the great number of tourism/seasonal jobs, we will be uneligible for any unemployment extensions and he could find himself without any benefits and out of work in the winter. Then we couldn't cover our bills. If we are able to continue collecting unemployement we would be ok.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Several lower paying companies have asked or said if we hire you at this lower pay just when you get settled you will leave for a better offer. It's not necesarrily true. He would weigh job security and treating employees well as part of his decision.
I like what you said about how easily he could be replaced right now so it wouldn't really hurt his employer if he left. Also, dh is very highly skilled in his field. Most companies run nearly the same. He really doesn't require training to get started. They typically put him in a truck and send him out.

 

[disney1990]

I have been out of work for over a year now. I would take ANY job that came along to be able to work -- no matter what the salary.

What if you husband doesn't take the job (after being unemployed for 5 months)? Then down the road, say a year from now, how is he going to feel when he is still out of work, knowing that he turned down that job offer?

Face it, there are people (right here on the DIS board) that have now been out of work for over 2 years.

 

[Colleen27]

Yes, I would take the job.

I'd answer honestly if asked if I'd leave for a higher-paying offer - it would depend on factors beyond pay, like benefits, work environment, hours, flexibility, etc.

And if a better offer came along, I'd give proper notice but I'd take it. The reality of the economy/job market is that we each need to look out for ourselves because most employees are basically nothing to their employers, just a replacable cog in a profit-making machine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Take the job and if the employer asks the question if he will leave for a better paying job then he can honestly say he does not know the answer to that question, because the reality is that is the truth.

 

[crz4mm2]

I changed jobs last year to a much lower paying one.
AND I have to drive farther.
And is it the BEST thing I have ever done wish I would have done it sooner.

 

[j's m]

One of my concerns is that if the unemployment rate drops here in the summer which it usually does do to the great number of tourism/seasonal jobs, we will be uneligible for any unemployment extensions and he could find himself without any benefits and out of work in the winter. Then we couldn't cover our bills. If we are able to continue collecting unemployement we would be ok.

If you turn down a job, you should be ineligible for unemployment compensation.

 

[minniecarousel]

DH took a job paying 2/3 what his previous job paid - he had been out of work for a year. During interviews, he let them know what his bottom line was....interviews progressed and he was offered the job. He was so dissapointed that the pay they offered was below his "bottom line". But he took it. The upside is the commute is the shortest he's ever had, and he wroks from home on Fridays.

I say take it! DH is content with this job, but if something better dropped on his lap, he'd leave.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I have been out of work for over a year now. I would take ANY job that came along to be able to work -- no matter what the salary.

What if you husband doesn't take the job (after being unemployed for 5 months)? Then down the road, say a year from now, how is he going to feel when he is still out of work, knowing that he turned down that job offer?

Face it, there are people (right here on the DIS board) that have now been out of work for over 2 years.

Amen to that! I have been unemployed since last August...I would take ANYTHING!

 

[JimmyPicker]

He'd be making more at this job than he'd be collecting on unemployment (twice the max unemployment, you said), so financially, it's stupid not to take it.

He could spend years waiting for that "perfect" job to come along and still never land it, no matter how good he is in his field.

Not taking a job because a better one may come along is silly. Every person here would leave their current job if a better one came along. Duh.

I know that you said you'd like for him to take it, and I agree with you. Holding off to see what happens just does not sound like a good idea right now. He should do exactly what you said, take this job and keep circulating his resume. That does not make him dishonest. That makes him someone who is doing what's best for him and his family, which should be his main concern.

 

[Redpepperflakes14]

Amen to that! I have been unemployed since last August...I would take ANYTHING!

Raising hand in agreement here!

I'm thinking that one of my problems is that employers see my resume, see my previous employer and experience and they get scared off. If I'm lucky enough to get an interview, when I list my previous salary on their application or tell them what I made, that too scares them off. I can't leave off my previous employer, because either a) a simple background check will bring that employer up or b) I'll get questions about what I did during that gap in time or c)If I leave it on the resume, the interviewer will automatically assume that if they offer a position, I'll work it for a little while and move on to something 'better.' (Little do they know, 'something better' in my field could be years off. Years they could be using my time and talents!)

It's like I can't win .

Oh well. I will continue to attend continuing ed classes, do a little freelance to keep my skills up, and pray something eventually works itself out. I do count myself lucky that my husband makes pretty decent money, but it would be nice to feel productive.

I vote for him to take the job. Five weeks can easily turn into 1, 2, 3+ years despite the best efforts to become re-employed.

 

[mom2d&b]

As someone who has been unemployeed since November, I would take the job. I have lowered my salary expectations to half of my previous salary. I am still unemoloyeed. I took a temp job that was for a month. It was only $100 a week more than unemployment (before commuting and lunch cost) but it was nice to have a place to go each day. I could have stayed longer at the temp job but another temp opportunity came up that pays a good deal more and the hours are more flexible. The location I was temping with expressed their disapointment with me leaving but they were not willing to match the new wages. The nice thing is they want me to come back once I am again available. It is making less than I really need to survive but it is more than unemployement, and it provides me some networking opprotunitues. If am employeer directly asked me if I would leave for a better paying job I would probaly dance around the question. Pay is not the only important issue for me, the schedule, location and enviorment are also extremly important. As well as opportunity for growth.

 

[manning]

If you turn down a job, you should be ineligible for unemployment compensation.

That's what happens here in Illinois. While on unemployment you have to submit to them all the companies you have sent resumes to. And you are required to send resumes to a certain number of companies each week.

Also, companies tend to hire those who are working, so he will have a better chance to get that other job in the future.

 

[hereyago]

I would do what I need to support my family. I would take a lower paying job then no job, i would leave that job for a better opportunity.

 

[Micca]

There are too many unknown variables when considering "the future", I think he should take the job. If something better comes along and he wants that job, he should take it. If a prospective employer asked if he'd leave if something better came along he could answer with something like this:
"I'd like to show you what I can do in this job so you would consider giving me more responsibility. I think there are many opportunties here once I prove myself." That's a way of cagey way of saying he'd give the current employer a chance to promote him if something better came along.