Career advice: Be Wary of Settling for Less Than What You're Worth

Stacycity withheld

I've been unemployed for several months. Recently, I received a job offer; however, the pay proposal is $12,000 less than my previous salary. I can't decide whether I should decline the offer due to the cut in pay or if I should accept it in light of the present economic situation. My background is in accounting and I've been aggressively looking for a job since May. This is the first close offer that I've had, although I have two others pending. These jobs include higher pay but require up to 30% travel and I'm not sure that I want to do that.

Is a decrease in salary a valid reason to refuse a job? I'm afraid that if I accept the offer, I'll be unhappy and it will take me at least five years to earn the kind of salary I was previously making. I still could live comfortably without the additional $12,000 and the company benefits are decent. Still, I think I'd regret my decision because I'd have to reassess my financial goals such as purchasing a house and a vehicle.

Frances's advice

Sometimes people ask questions when they know the answer but want someone else to confirm what they already know. You know that you'll be unhappy if you take this job for a $12,000 pay decrease â€” you stated so in your letter.

Having received two other offers shows that you're desirable in the job market. So you'll be able to secure others with better salaries that won't require you to travel more than you want.

The longer a job hunt lasts, the easier it is to feel that any offer, even unattractive ones, are worth considering. Instead of settling, redouble your efforts and keep looking for the right job. Even in hard economic times, there are good jobs that need to be filled.

People define job happiness by many criteria, and money is usually not high on the list. However, if you start a job feeling that you're undervalued and will have to spend five years to regain lost ground, you can't realistically think you'll be satisfied. Be fair to yourself and any future employer by accepting only a job you feel good about right from the start.

Topics: Salary · All topics