Under what circumstances would you take a pay cut

[Chuck_Finley]

What was the decision? How are things?

[SMKR]

Under what circumstances would you take a pay cut when changing jobs?

I'm in IT, and I am not happy with the career path opportunities at my current job and am bored with what I am working on and hate the long commute.

I got offered a job from a local government entity and I am thinking about taking it. It is a huge paycut but it would be a way shorter commute, pension, 12 paid holidays, 12 sick days per year.

I am getting to the age I really need to think about retirment (48) plus my health is ok right now but I have some issues.

Cliff notes
Got offered a government job for less money.

Well you be happier?
Will you have less stress?


Fuck a bunch of big salary for high stress, long commute, bullshit, etc. Quality of life is more important to me at this point and even though I'm going to a higher paying job soon I realized recently all the bullshit isn't worth costing you your health, quality of life, etc.

[SMKR]

I would/will take a paycut if and when I have the opportunity to run a small business in the mountains, like a t-shirt shop or something that's laid back and just allows me to break even and put food on the table with very little stress. I figure that's something I can do all the way until I croak and won't have to count on retirement to get me all the way to the end.

I'd drink to that.... I was talking to the owner of Kips in Creede, CO recently and I'd kill to be in his position...

[SMKR]

I am looking at being laid off after the first of the year. I have been doing this work for 8yrs that pays several times more than what it translates into back in the states. So to stay in the same field, I am resigned to the fact I will take a HUGE cut in yearly income. Large enough that I have been strongly considering not even thinking about staying in this field.

I think the oil field is calling my name but only after I spend some time on unemployment holding out for that right job.

Go get that oilfield money. Big bucks to be made if you can handle that lifestyle, I've never seen another industry like it....

[SMKR]

If you're currently in one of the retail businesses listed, get out at the first fucking opportunity.

F#$& all kinds of retail

[jefehbk]

Under what circumstances would I take a pay cut?

•porn star
dear god i hope this never happens
•dairy farmer
you have to milk the cows...not moleste them
•pro bass angler
what does last place pay?
•working at a gun store again
that would be worrisome
• research and development at Ford SVT.

you have to be smart i believe...but hey got to have that unattainable dream. So far mine has not come true, still waiting on jennifer aniston to call.

[KBScobravert]

Go get that oilfield money. Big bucks to be made if you can handle that lifestyle, I've never seen another industry like it....

Well, my post was sort of prophetic. I am NOW unemployed and just left a dinner with a friend of mine who is a superintendent with Stallion Oilfield Services. I have been home since the 15th of August and not REALLY looking for a job but he is trying to talk me into a Safety position with Stallion. I come from a Security Management and Investigations background. Reports, audits and enforcing company policy would transition to Safety and all the safety that was pushed onto us by KBR and then Fluor has given me more confidence. Plus I routinely had to work with Safety on situations.

I can handle the lifestyle but maybe not the adolescent bullshit that some of the grown men exhibit from what my buddy tells me. Safety or Super would suit me well I think. Not the big money that being a hand would garner but I am nearing 40.

I need to revamp my resume and reinforce safety throughout it. Hopefully I can get it to my buddy in a day or two but I really don't even want to work until November 1st.

If I can hold them off until November, I want to refresh myself and get certified in OSHA 30/40, renew CPR, etc to make me a stronger candidate at the interview.

[Musbrad2]

Well, my post was sort of prophetic. I am NOW unemployed and just left a dinner with a friend of mine who is a superintendent with Stallion Oilfield Services. I have been home since the 15th of August and not REALLY looking for a job but he is trying to talk me into a Safety position with Stallion. I come from a Security Management and Investigations background. Reports, audits and enforcing company policy would transition to Safety and all the safety that was pushed onto us by KBR and then Fluor has given me more confidence. Plus I routinely had to work with Safety on situations.

I can handle the lifestyle but maybe not the adolescent bullshit that some of the grown men exhibit from what my buddy tells me. Safety or Super would suit me well I think. Not the big money that being a hand would garner but I am nearing 40.

I need to revamp my resume and reinforce safety throughout it. Hopefully I can get it to my buddy in a day or two but I really don't even want to work until November 1st.

If I can hold them off until November, I want to refresh myself and get certified in OSHA 30/40, renew CPR, etc to make me a stronger candidate at the interview.

Also find someone to get a safeland certification and h2s cert, get that out of the way as well. Oil and gas is regulated under OSHA general industry if your going to take the 30 hour course.

[IHaveAMustang]

Nothing wrong with working at local municipalities or even County level. Yes, we have a mandatory 7% retirement, but after 30 or so years, you start losing money by working, which ain't bad by me.

Plus, it is incredibly stable. During the 2008ish "recession", I knew a lot of people/companies just dumping employees, we had to do three mandatory furlough days. That was it.

Sure, we don't make the best money, but the job's are good and the retirement is awesome.

[Ruffdaddy]

Getting your foot in the oilfield is the first step. It's not as easy to just start field working and stacking paper anymore. I know a lot of our operators are degreed in some sort of technical field, and that was never the case before.

[GhostTX]

If by this you mean you still have to build up your fund, then now is not the time to take a pay cut. Less pay also means less going into your retirement account. Ideally, you take a suck job that pays well, bank a lot of cash, then retire early.

This! In fact, I'd say take a pay cut with your current salary and dump it into 401k/IRA now if you haven't started building your retirement yet.

Well, my post was sort of prophetic. I am NOW unemployed and just left a dinner with a friend of mine who is a superintendent with Stallion Oilfield Services. I have been home since the 15th of August and not REALLY looking for a job but he is trying to talk me into a Safety position with Stallion. I come from a Security Management and Investigations background. Reports, audits and enforcing company policy would transition to Safety and all the safety that was pushed onto us by KBR and then Fluor has given me more confidence. Plus I routinely had to work with Safety on situations.

I can handle the lifestyle but maybe not the adolescent bullshit that some of the grown men exhibit from what my buddy tells me. Safety or Super would suit me well I think. Not the big money that being a hand would garner but I am nearing 40.

I need to revamp my resume and reinforce safety throughout it. Hopefully I can get it to my buddy in a day or two but I really don't even want to work until November 1st.

If I can hold them off until November, I want to refresh myself and get certified in OSHA 30/40, renew CPR, etc to make me a stronger candidate at the interview.

Nearly every manufacturing plant has Safety Manager's these days. You definitely have lots of options. I'm sure you land a job doing that easily. To your point, though, you do have grown men doing horseplay and practical jokes in a manufacturing environment where people can get maimed or killed that you have to corral.



As far as the OP though. I've thought long and hard about it myself. I'm quite bored in my current role. Pay is decent enough, I've got a 10 minute commute and hardly any OT. So, my trade off is life-style versus my boredom. I've already turned down one job that was interesting, as the commute would have been 1-1.5 hours...that was just taking away too much family time.

[txstangnut]

What was the decision? How are things?

I decided to take the job. The benefits seemed good, closer to home and hopefully lower stress. 12 sick days a year (they rollover and accrue unlimited) 12 holidays, 10 days of vacation per year that also rollover with no limit on how much I can accrue pension with 2 for 1 match. It was a tough to decide but I took the hit so I could work with some things I did not get to work with in my last job and not have to worry about stability or getting laid off anymore.

[txstangnut]

Well you be happier?
Will you have less stress?


Fuck a bunch of big salary for high stress, long commute, bullshit, etc. Quality of life is more important to me at this point and even though I'm going to a higher paying job soon I realized recently all the bullshit isn't worth costing you your health, quality of life, etc.

kind of my thoughts. I hated were I was and knew I did not want to stay there long term. I wanted something stable after getting my fourth manager in 18months. Commute time was anywhere between 45min and 1.5hrs depending on traffic. Pay wise it will be a struggle but I am thinking it will pay off in the long run at retirement.

[txstangnut]

Well, my post was sort of prophetic. I am NOW unemployed and just left a dinner with a friend of mine who is a superintendent with Stallion Oilfield Services. I have been home since the 15th of August and not REALLY looking for a job but he is trying to talk me into a Safety position with Stallion. I come from a Security Management and Investigations background. Reports, audits and enforcing company policy would transition to Safety and all the safety that was pushed onto us by KBR and then Fluor has given me more confidence. Plus I routinely had to work with Safety on situations.

I can handle the lifestyle but maybe not the adolescent bullshit that some of the grown men exhibit from what my buddy tells me. Safety or Super would suit me well I think. Not the big money that being a hand would garner but I am nearing 40.

I need to revamp my resume and reinforce safety throughout it. Hopefully I can get it to my buddy in a day or two but I really don't even want to work until November 1st.

If I can hold them off until November, I want to refresh myself and get certified in OSHA 30/40, renew CPR, etc to make me a stronger candidate at the interview.

Sorry to hear that. Things are picking up so good luck.

[txstangnut]

Nothing wrong with working at local municipalities or even County level. Yes, we have a mandatory 7% retirement, but after 30 or so years, you start losing money by working, which ain't bad by me.

Plus, it is incredibly stable. During the 2008ish "recession", I knew a lot of people/companies just dumping employees, we had to do three mandatory furlough days. That was it.

Sure, we don't make the best money, but the job's are good and the retirement is awesome.

My thinking also. I wont make as much as I did but I will not have someone threating to fire me all the time either. We have a mandatory 7% retirement withdrawn, 2 for 1 match and 7% interest to your retirement account.