WWYD - Potential job offer but with a huge pay cut and in-office requirement

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My commute is 2 hours.

Walk the dog then leave at 6:15. Walk to train station. Get on 6:45 train. Get into Penn station (nyc) at 7:45. Walk to subway. Get on subway 7:55. Get off subway 8:10, walk to work. Get to building 8:15.

So I guess 2 hour commute isn’t a deal breaker for me since I’m doing it every day

Public transit makes a big difference. For the OP they would be doing it with their only car of the household with toll costs, gas costs, traffic in the car, maintenance on the car, etc

Places like NYC (which there are only a few in the U.S. where this makes the most sense) a longer commute but via trains and buses is the norm. My husband's uncle lives in West New York, NJ and works on Broadway and off Broadway, his commute is norm not something someone would agonize over whether to take a job or not most especially with the laws, fines and whatnot to actually drive into NYC.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

No! No! No!
I commute 90 minutes one way 3 days a week. I loathe my in office work days. My manager is really flexible and allows me to leave early to get ahead of the traffic.

Don't do it. I'm 4 years in and it's brutal. Traffic is worse and I swear every freeway is under construction.

I'm always tired.

Are you in Houston also?

 

[TwoMisfits]

So this might be a bit of a stretch on a Disney board, but here goes. I was part of a mass layoff a few years ago and haven't worked since. My former employer posted a role I'm uniquely qualified for in a different department and I've been invited for 3rd round interviews. Here's the catch: even though the role is at the same level as my old job (with 10 times the direct reports too), the salary is considerably less than what I was earning back then AND they want me in the office 3 days a week (I worked remotely the last dozen years). Though I don't live far, it can take almost 2 hours to drive each way plus the extra costs in terms of gas, tolls, maintenance & probably insurance too, because of the increased mileage. There's a big project with an upcoming deadline that will make for long days so I'm guessing those in office days will be about 14 hours, including the commute. I normally start my day with a 5-mile walk which has been great for my physical and mental health - I would have to give those up on in-office days. We only have 1 car so DH would be stuck at home those office days, impacting his mental health as well. I'm surprised that in this environment, I'm even considering saying no and continuing to live off my retirement savings, but I'm not sure why I would want the added stress of working more for less. I realize I sound spoiled to even have that opportunity but I was taken advantage of for years (my peers were paid more) and I want to at least be kept whole financially to make these sacrifices. Do I wait to see if I get the offer and try to play hardball? There's close to a 20% gap between my number and their max. Do I walk? WWYD?

Here's the thing. If you have not worked (or gone to school) in "a few years", your resume is stale. No one will hire you at the pay/benefits/level before b/c there's just now a stigma to your resume.

So, if you need to work before true retirement, and you get the job, TAKE IT. You can ask if there's any flexibility in their offer when it's made in either salary or onsite needs. And whatever their response, take it.

Once your resume "restarts", you can look at moving to another job/company in 12-18 months.