Accepting a job where the pay is far from perfect

[UK345]

Bit of a sticky situation here but i have been offered a job which sounds okay but the pay is absolutely horrendous. The job is a full time permanent position working 40 hours a week for a local company. They are paying a smidgen under £16000 per year which in all honestly is making me think twice. The reality is there are not alot of jobs out there - i currently work but only have a zero hour contract. I have been actively looking and applying but i barely hear anything back. I personally think i can get a better paid role but there is nothing on the horizon at the moment.

Any advice would be much appreciated guys. What would you do ?

[MrsMiggins]

if the new job pays better than the current one then take it. But don't stop looking for something better.

[Jasandjules]

MrsMiggins said:

if the new job pays better than the current one then take it. But don't stop looking for something better.

Can't disagree with this logic.

[Gargamel]

Based on you previous posts about not being able to find something'. I would say take the job.

You need attack record of sticking with something before you can access the better jobs.

[edc]

This may sound harsh but what are the prospects of you being offered a better paying role in the next 48 hours? A job that pays more than you are currently on is better than no job! Take it, get some experience under your belt. There may be further opportunities at the company.

[Jasandjules]

Gargamel said:

You need attack record of sticking with something before you can access the better jobs.

Not just that, but it is easier to get a job when you have a job.......... For some reason...

[eatcustard]

Take it, use it as a stepping stone for a better job later

[Kermit power]

Totally agree with everyone else.

The better your employment history, the easier it is to get better jobs, and it's always far easier to get a better job when you're currently in a job.

Assuming you think you'll be able to enjoy the job and stick with it, then take it. Keep looking for a new job by all means, but unless that hypothetical new job offers you a fortune more, I'd also be wary of moving on too quickly. Going from £16k to £20k after a few months might seem worthwhile now, but when you're looking for your next job but one, a couple of years in each job will look fat better than a couple of months.

[R2T2]

OP.

If you take this job, stick it out for a year on the poor money, you get experience in whatever field it is, so you can move onto another job that pays higher.

I went from 16k a year, to 17k, to 23, to 25 in 3 years. It works, but it does mean effort.

[airweaz]

Take it run with it and keep looking.

All experience in a job is good and it wont hurt over a zero hours job.

[Willeh85]

Having been in a similar position to yourself nearly three years ago I would take the job and stay in it for a year unless a significantly better job comes up so it doesn't look like you're just chasing the cash. As it turns out I've ended up doing a permanent role that pays just shy of 17k but during nearly three years I've done two different secondments one of which I've just finished that paid two levels above me (so around 25k). I'll be using that experience to apply for the permanent roles that come up in future.

Also is it possible to carry on doing some of the zero hours work alongside the full time work to bump your pay a bit, or do the hours clash? Now im back in my original role and salary, I do around 12-18 hours over three days around the weekend evenings at another job which is zero hours. I can basically put in however many hours I want if there is work (which there generally is), but those evenings suit me and fit nicely around playing sport at weekends and coaching on week nights.

[UK345]

Went for the interview today and it went quite well. One of the interviewers also said I done well. They have some more to interview but should know by Wednesday. If I get offered it I will be accepting.

[UK345]

Well looks like they don't like getting back to candidates. I chased them up on Thursday and was told they would phone me later that day - they never. I went down yesterday to ask and they said they would phone me today which has not happened. Really annoys me when company's make promises and don't deliver them. Needless to say i am putting this experience behind me and moving on. All i will say is thank god i never bought a car off of them .

[Martin_M]

MrsMiggins said:

if the new job pays better than the current one then take it. But don't stop looking for something better.

Exactly, take the extra money whilst looking for something else.

[UK345]

I have taken the advice given to me in this thread and have been opening up my job search to positions which don't really pay well. I have stopped working at the car auction company due to the work drying up and have accepted a job with a big trade warehouse company which sells everything from tyres to cakes. It is only 24 hours a week which pays £7 per hour but I can kind of tolerate it until I get something better. Basically I will be based at the till area serving and helping customers pack their bags. It is not really the position I seen myself in at this age but going to need to go with the flow and take it on since I have nothing else.

I am adamant to get better employment and have not given up applying to other roles. I had two other interviews and I am continuing to put in many application forms. I suppose in a way I am relieved to have a source of income again but I really want to improve my situation and gain better employment.

[russ_a]

Get into IT Testing!!!

[MrHargreaves]

OP what has raised your expectations about the level of remuneration you think you deserve?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Some good advice from others on this thread

[Foliage]

How old are you?
What are your outgoings like?

Think of your life like a business, your goal is profit (amongst all the intangible stuff but spare money pays for fun stuff)

So will 10k a year pay (after tax), pay your bills? will the job after a short time lead to a better paid role? will the role give you skills and knowledge that can then be used to get a higher paid position?

Be realistic, don't work out your finances too tightly, better under estimate your pay and over estimate your out goings and have a little left over.

[UK345]

Foliage said:

How old are you?
What are your outgoings like?

Think of your life like a business, your goal is profit (amongst all the intangible stuff but spare money pays for fun stuff)

So will 10k a year pay (after tax), pay your bills? will the job after a short time lead to a better paid role? will the role give you skills and knowledge that can then be used to get a higher paid position?

Be realistic, don't work out your finances too tightly, better under estimate your pay and over estimate your out goings and have a little left over.

Thanks for the guidance that is a good way to look at things. I am 24 years old and still live at home. Have no financial commitments other than a phone bill which is £25 a month and petrol for my car £60 a month (this varies on how much I use it). I am fortunate enough to have no debt (I am Scottish and we get university free). The role I have accepted is an entry level role. They have said to me I could grow in the company and they recruit internally so it may well be a stepping stone into a promising career. I have realised that I am very lucky to be offered this so I see it as a step in the correct direction. I will still be looking out for new opportunities but I suppose if things went really well in this new place I would stay. A good thing with this job is I am paid every 2 weeks so that is a good selling point for me. Most companies I have worked for in the past haven't been like that.

[UK345]

MrHargreaves said:

OP what has raised your expectations about the level of remuneration you think you deserve?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Some good advice from others on this thread

Thanks for the reply. I base my pay expectations through looking at a variety of jobs that interest me and work out from there. I also draw on my previous work experience. All i want is a job that interests me and provides me with scope for career development but then again so does everyone.

I am beginning to get with reality now hence why i have chosen to accept a lower paid job and bide my time.