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 Q.
I have finally been offered the position I have been looking for! It allows me to use some of the great skills I learned in my degree program. The only thing is, it pays $10,000 less than what I earn now -- which is a huge pay cut for me. Should I take the position?
A. That is a great question which so many people face in their career search. "Is this the best offer I can get?" Before I can recommend yes or no, there is a very important question you should ask yourself: What are my deal breakers? A deal breaker is something you can't live without and if it is not in your compensation package when offered a position, you may want to pass that opportunity by.
In any career change, it should be expected to begin your new career at "entry level." If you are a Purchasing Manager for a business, and looking to enter the IT field, naturally you will not enter your new industry at management level. Whether you are changing careers or not, however, you should evaluate salary averages in your area to take into consideration if what you are being offered is among the averages for that position. After getting to know the averages, it is important to take a look at what your situation is and what is the lowest possible salary you will accept that will still allow you to live comfortably.
Additionally, something else that may play into effect is your commute and travel for the position. Is this new position right around the corner from where you live so that you can go home for lunch? Or will you only see your kids 30 minutes before bedtime each night due to a devastatingly long commute? It may be worth it for you to take a lower salary if you are able to run errands on a lunch hour or to be close to your children's school, home, doctors' offices, mechanic, etc. If you enjoy travel and it will be a regular part of the position, that might be great exposure for you, or if you have a family and do not wish to travel, that may be one of your deal breakers.
It is possible a benefits package or flexible schedule may be something you need in a new position. If your spouse already has benefits, that may be something that is less important for you, whereas if you have no other source of benefits and have dependants, then it may be extremely important. You may need a flexible schedule to balance children or appointments and that may be one of your deal breakers.
There are many positions out there, and one of them is perfect for you. To properly evaluate your job offers, you must first evaluate potential aspects of a position and company to see what you could accept while not affecting the requirements of your life. What are your deal breakers?
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