Job search dilemmas
August 12, 2020 6:01 AM Subscribe
I don't feel that secure at my current job, and it looks like I'm about to be offered a new job... at a 17k pay cut. Also some yellow flags? I shouldn't take it, right? Or should I?
Oookay. I am super miserable at my current toxic job, and I also think I am likely to be laid off in September when PPP ends-- but I'm not sure (probably dependent on some funding coming through via a public school department which looks likely but obviously isn't the most sure thing right now).
I'm currently WFH and I don't have to deal with my boss too much, so that's actually been great for my work stress level-- but it's hard to have anxiety about job security and feeling at loose ends right now.
I have been job hunting since March, gone on 5 interviews so far. I currently make $57k, and would like to make at least $50k if I need to take a pay cut. I have enough savings that I would be able to weather over a year of unemployment.
It looks like I'm about to be offered a job with a $40k salary and I'm strongly considering withdrawing from the process/turning it down. The work itself sounds interesting, but beyond the pay not being what I want, there are some other cons:
-The funding is only guaranteed for a year.
-I didn't really like my immediate manager in the interview, I felt like he was condescending and we just didn't "click."
-There are a number of negative reviews on Glassdoor.
-I would need to work in person in a large office instead of WFH, so potential exposure to COVID.
-I was called in for an interview with less than 24 hours notice and then they called me looking for a new reference after playing phone tag with one of my references for only 24 hours, on a state holiday, a week and a half after my interview. Which just seems kind of pushy/indicative of a hurry up and wait culture?
My gut is telling me I should pass on this one. What do y'all think?
Oookay. I am super miserable at my current toxic job, and I also think I am likely to be laid off in September when PPP ends-- but I'm not sure (probably dependent on some funding coming through via a public school department which looks likely but obviously isn't the most sure thing right now).
I'm currently WFH and I don't have to deal with my boss too much, so that's actually been great for my work stress level-- but it's hard to have anxiety about job security and feeling at loose ends right now.
I have been job hunting since March, gone on 5 interviews so far. I currently make $57k, and would like to make at least $50k if I need to take a pay cut. I have enough savings that I would be able to weather over a year of unemployment.
It looks like I'm about to be offered a job with a $40k salary and I'm strongly considering withdrawing from the process/turning it down. The work itself sounds interesting, but beyond the pay not being what I want, there are some other cons:
-The funding is only guaranteed for a year.
-I didn't really like my immediate manager in the interview, I felt like he was condescending and we just didn't "click."
-There are a number of negative reviews on Glassdoor.
-I would need to work in person in a large office instead of WFH, so potential exposure to COVID.
-I was called in for an interview with less than 24 hours notice and then they called me looking for a new reference after playing phone tag with one of my references for only 24 hours, on a state holiday, a week and a half after my interview. Which just seems kind of pushy/indicative of a hurry up and wait culture?
My gut is telling me I should pass on this one. What do y'all think?
Every time I've decided to ignore red flags and also ignore my gut I've regretted it (sometimes severely).
posted by Ampersand692 at 6:20 AM on August 12, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by Ampersand692 at 6:20 AM on August 12, 2020 [10 favorites]
What are the reasons to take the job? It sounds like the main reason is, it's a job. I think you need and can find more than that.
posted by theora55 at 6:24 AM on August 12, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 6:24 AM on August 12, 2020 [4 favorites]
The red flags have grown arms and are waving their own red flags. Pass.
posted by notsnot at 6:30 AM on August 12, 2020 [26 favorites]
posted by notsnot at 6:30 AM on August 12, 2020 [26 favorites]
- I didn't really like my immediate manager in the interview, I felt like he was condescending
Imagine having to deal with this every day for the rest of your life. People don't leave jobs; they leave managers.
I was called in for an interview with less than 24 hours notice and then they called me looking for a new reference after playing phone tag with one of my references for only 24 hours, on a state holiday, a week and a half after my interview
Ditto. They're messing you around, and messing your contacts around - and you don't even work there yet.
Run away as fast as you can in the opposite direction, screaming and waving your arms around.
posted by Cardinal Fang at 6:45 AM on August 12, 2020 [3 favorites]
Imagine having to deal with this every day for the rest of your life. People don't leave jobs; they leave managers.
I was called in for an interview with less than 24 hours notice and then they called me looking for a new reference after playing phone tag with one of my references for only 24 hours, on a state holiday, a week and a half after my interview
Ditto. They're messing you around, and messing your contacts around - and you don't even work there yet.
Run away as fast as you can in the opposite direction, screaming and waving your arms around.
posted by Cardinal Fang at 6:45 AM on August 12, 2020 [3 favorites]
That's more red flags than a beach during a hurricane. Hard pass.
posted by jacobian at 6:49 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jacobian at 6:49 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'm a big believer that you never take yourself out of consideration for a job. Companies are all too willing to screen you out, and I don't feel bad if I waste their time on a job I'm not interested in. There are some benefits to you from going through the interview process (gaining experience interviewing, learning to read company culture, etc.), and you're in a strong-ish position to negotiate if they do give you an offer - since you're probably going to walk away anyway, why not make some borderline absurd requests? If you've discussed your salary history, they know they're offering less than you make now. Ask them to close that gap. And ask for seven weeks of vacation, and part-time WFH. To be clear, I'm not saying you should take the job. But it's like one of those claw vending machines. You can't win if you don't play, and it doesn't cost you much to play, so why not?
To answer my own rhetorical question, $40k is why not. I made $40k in the not-too-distant past, but that was in a low-cost-of-living city when I was single and more or less restarting my career. A lot has changed since then, specifically the Fight for $15. There are a lot of places where you can work at a fast food restaurant or big box store and make $30k now. How much is that marginal $10k really worth to you? Depending on where you live, that's important. If you live in a coastal city, that will make it almost impossible for you to live on your own. I live in a small town on the outer edge of a metro area, and I don't think I could afford an apartment on $40k. Even somewhere with a lower cost of living, like a mid-sized town in the midwest, there's a massive difference between $40k and $57k.
If it were me, I'd still go through the process, but make it clear that I couldn't accept an offer that low, and let them reject me.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:08 AM on August 12, 2020 [3 favorites]
To answer my own rhetorical question, $40k is why not. I made $40k in the not-too-distant past, but that was in a low-cost-of-living city when I was single and more or less restarting my career. A lot has changed since then, specifically the Fight for $15. There are a lot of places where you can work at a fast food restaurant or big box store and make $30k now. How much is that marginal $10k really worth to you? Depending on where you live, that's important. If you live in a coastal city, that will make it almost impossible for you to live on your own. I live in a small town on the outer edge of a metro area, and I don't think I could afford an apartment on $40k. Even somewhere with a lower cost of living, like a mid-sized town in the midwest, there's a massive difference between $40k and $57k.
If it were me, I'd still go through the process, but make it clear that I couldn't accept an offer that low, and let them reject me.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:08 AM on August 12, 2020 [3 favorites]
I would ask for $60K.
posted by bbqturtle at 7:10 AM on August 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by bbqturtle at 7:10 AM on August 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
Why take a risky bad job for much less pay when you haven't even lost the current bad job with more pay yet? What?
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:55 AM on August 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:55 AM on August 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
This sounds like hazardous duty is involved. $60K doesn’t feel like it has that aspect fully incorporated. $70K?
posted by childofTethys at 8:04 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by childofTethys at 8:04 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Without the last con, I would probably wait until I got the offer and attempting to negotiate/doing some research before turning it down. Cons number two and three are things I’d strongly consider but would not hinge a decision on without validating via other sources if possible. You might be able to negotiate a higher pay but I’d be really quite thoughtful about the minimum you would be comfortable with. I’m not sure if wfh is a dealbreaker for you.
The last bit gives me pause. I’ve gone through some really fast hiring processes twice before and in both cases, the speed was indicative of a lack of planning causing urgency, which ultimately did not bode well for my long term prospects. Given that this position is only funded for a year that may be a moot point especially if you could leverage the experience into something better.
I guess I am less “run screaming” but the fact that you don’t have an actual offer yet means you don’t have to decide right now anyway.
posted by sm1tten at 8:14 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
The last bit gives me pause. I’ve gone through some really fast hiring processes twice before and in both cases, the speed was indicative of a lack of planning causing urgency, which ultimately did not bode well for my long term prospects. Given that this position is only funded for a year that may be a moot point especially if you could leverage the experience into something better.
I guess I am less “run screaming” but the fact that you don’t have an actual offer yet means you don’t have to decide right now anyway.
posted by sm1tten at 8:14 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
What sm1tten said!
Your last bullet sure took me down memory lane. Every time that sort of thing has happened with me, things went south and there was no offer.
For you, it could mean and offer, you take it, and then things go way bad, way fast.
posted by jgirl at 8:19 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Your last bullet sure took me down memory lane. Every time that sort of thing has happened with me, things went south and there was no offer.
For you, it could mean and offer, you take it, and then things go way bad, way fast.
posted by jgirl at 8:19 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
If they know you're making 57k and are offering 40k, that's a huge red flag. I would think accepting at that salary would indicate to them that you won't demand respect, which would be a poor foundation.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:44 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:44 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Hey all, I have since learned that someone I listed as a reference is in the final stages with them as well for a different position. I'm going to go ahead and withdraw my app as professionally as possible just in case moving forward and then backing out would end up reflecting more poorly on her. Thanks!
posted by sockypuppeteer at 8:46 AM on August 12, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by sockypuppeteer at 8:46 AM on August 12, 2020 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Also, she confirmed that she hasn't gotten a great feeling from them so far either so it was good to have a second person confirming my gut.
posted by sockypuppeteer at 8:47 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by sockypuppeteer at 8:47 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yes, definitely do not do this. Good decision.
posted by knownfossils at 11:04 PM on August 12, 2020
posted by knownfossils at 11:04 PM on August 12, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hazel79 at 6:18 AM on August 12, 2020 [10 favorites]