Taking a pay cut for a move to management?

[crazy about cars]

Speaking from experience echoing other posters here when making a career move like this don't go for what's promised, go for what's certain.
I was promised significant career progression but that seemed to have all but dissipated now after few months in as company is taking another direction.

[Royce44]

I work in the same industry and that is classic "dangling a carrot" as another poster said which is very much this industry.

If I had a pound for every interview where "potential promotions are around the corner if you prove yourself the I wouldn't need to work anymore.

If they see your potential then they should pay to see it.

[anonymous-user]

My father moved from the shop floor into junior management in the car industry in the early 1970s, and rose to become a senior manager by the mid 80s. His first job in the industry was sweeping a factory floor. His last job in the industry was running a large factory and being on the board of a subsidiary of Unipart. That was of course in a different time and place, but he took the long view. When he moved from being a senior toolsetter and shop steward to become a junior manager, he took a big cut in pay, and he had to work a lot harder. It took quite a while for him to earn more than he had earned on the shop floor, but he ended up earning a lot more, and had a more fulfilling career and a better pension.

So, depending on your industry and your attributes, maybe take the longer view?

[bearman68]

Money talks - if they want you they gotta pay for you. It's a cynical view brought about by working in a cynical industry for far to many years.
Stuff 'em the package is not good enough.

And let's be fair, who want to work in management??

[silent ninja]

Breadvan72 said:

My father moved from the shop floor into junior management in the car industry in the early 1970s, and rose to become a senior manager by the mid 80s. His first job in the industry was sweeping a factory floor. His last job in the industry was running a large factory and being on the board of a subsidiary of Unipart. That was of course in a different time and place, but he took the long view. When he moved from being a senior toolsetter and shop steward to become a junior manager, he took a big cut in pay, and he had to work a lot harder. It took quite a while for him to earn more than he had earned on the shop floor, but he ended up earning a lot more, and had a more fulfilling career and a better pension.

So, depending on your industry and your attributes, maybe take the longer view?

Progression nowadays is incredibly slow and few people actually progress through the ranks. The best way to progress is by moving jobs and gaining skills. This is why Millenials move around. Senior roles, even at the very top of the business, often recruit externally these days. How many employers are loyal? It's a business not a charity.

Look out for number 1. The long-term view should be about what skills you'll gain; it's almost like working backwards from where you think you want to be.

It is not the company's responsibility to develop you. Don't make this mistake. You're responsible for this - by any means necessary.

[768]

The only reason I can see to take it is if the extra responsibility is useful for making another move in, say, a couple of years which would then come with a larger salary beyond where you'd be in the current job.

It's easier to go down from management than up into it.

[T5SOR]

Shnozz said:

"Team Leader" sounds like a carrot being dangled to make you think you are on your merry way up the ladder. At best, it means you are genuinely responsible for more yet being paid less.

It's a common thing particularly in the UK. Save on salaries by giving people fancy job titles that sound good on Facebook and look nicer on a business card to dish to friends down the pub. Add a few special rewards like a car allowance and a mobile phone and you can save a packet.

If team leader is a genuine step to management at the new place, and comes with more responsibility than the existing role, why are they only matching your salary? (and in net terms reducing it given presumably you will still have some travel and still have some overtime, but in this "management" role be expected to do these without additional pay)

I can't wait for you to see my linkedin update

As an aside, I have gone from a small family company managing 30 people to a multi-national managing 6 people. I earn 50% more, but am now a Team Leader.

Edited by T5SOR on Sunday 1st October 17:38

[silent ninja]

T5SOR said:

I can't wait for you to see my linkedin update

As an aside, I have gone from a small family company managing 30 people to a multi-national managing 6 people. I earn 50% more, but am now a Team Leader.

Edited by T5SOR on Sunday 1st October 17:38

To be fair to the poster has a point.

I know in my industry, something generic like a Buyer can mean a £20k salary or £80k salary. A lot of organisations use fancy titles. Have you dealt with America companies? Every other guy is a VP, Director or Senior Sales Leader of some kind. They inflate titles on purpose.

So the point is, you can't tell from a generic role like "Team Leader" whether it is an entry level position managing 5 people in a call centre team, or a genuine leader in charge of a function. Job titles are just that. You need to interrogate the descriptions and responsibilities to find out exactly what they entail.

[T5SOR]

silent ninja said:

T5SOR said:

I can't wait for you to see my linkedin update

As an aside, I have gone from a small family company managing 30 people to a multi-national managing 6 people. I earn 50% more, but am now a Team Leader.

Edited by T5SOR on Sunday 1st October 17:38

To be fair to the poster has a point.

I know in my industry, something generic like a Buyer can mean a £20k salary or £80k salary. A lot of organisations use fancy titles. Have you dealt with America companies? Every other guy is a VP, Director or Senior Sales Leader of some kind. They inflate titles on purpose.

So the point is, you can't tell from a generic role like "Team Leader" whether it is an entry level position managing 5 people in a call centre team, or a genuine leader in charge of a function. Job titles are just that. You need to interrogate the descriptions and responsibilities to find out exactly what they entail.

I completely agree. I wouldn't say Team Leader was fancy though, it sounds like I work in a call centre.

[iwantagta]

Have you gone for the interview?
I've always found it motivates your current employer if you speak to a friendly manager and say you are looking to progress but feel opportunities are limited etc etc & that you are looking elsewhere.
A week later confirm you are going to an interview - take a half day etc.
Then its a case of trying to emphasise why you might leave (even if you won't).

Also - never believe what you are told you will get in the future. My experience is that you once in a job you don't get a rise until the company realise you are serious about leaving, then money that wasn't available magically now is.
Other experiences may vary - thats mine from a relatively large organisation.

[Nickbrapp]

bearman68 said:

Money talks - if they want you they gotta pay for you. It's a cynical view brought about by working in a cynical industry for far to many years.
Stuff 'em the package is not good enough.

And let's be fair, who want to work in management??

It may be cynical but you are right, I've had the interview and the package is no where near good enough. I've spoken with my manager and I've been enrolled on a "development plan" where I have goals to achieve to gain more skills to move about within the company.

I'm going to stay put, the package at this company is too good to turn down and it was one that I chased for a few years coming from a family firm to a multi national was what I wanted before.

Thanks for your help everyone,

[bmwmike]

swerni said:

Phunk said:

Plus - management is st.

This times 10000000.

I've just recruited a general manager to be my own boss so i can get away from managing people and they can do it.
I can go back to the fun stuff.

X10000 more lol. I ran prof services department and it was sooo stressful. Now a subject matter expert for global fintech. No reports, complete autonomy, and more money. Win.

That said I didn't *know* this was what I wanted 5 years ago and it's sometimes only the leap into the unknown that pays off. One thing is certain and that's if the here and now, the status quo, is not what you want that reduces the doubt of jumping into a new role - do it.

[anonymous-user]

I lost my overtime / shift, etc after 12 months as an engineer to be the ops leader, 3 years later I am on around 300% more than I was, play the long game.

Be a 'manager' gain strategic experience then take an 'expert' role on more money with less stress; this is what I am working towards.

Although for any promise the company makes to you, ensure you have it in writing, with clear measurable steps to get there.

[redandwhite]

Even though you have decided to stay, keep your cards close to your chest, dont reveal too much to either employer re package offered, the 'new' company may up their offer in order to entice you, or the current employer may offer more to keep you (providing you have been suitably vague and not told then 100% you are staying) - you only have a v.small window to play this game though, so play it well.

[SnapShot]

Trexthedinosaur said:

I lost my overtime / shift, etc after 12 months as an engineer to be the ops leader, 3 years later I am on around 300% more than I was, play the long game.

Be a 'manager' gain strategic experience then take an 'expert' role on more money with less stress; this is what I am working towards.

Although for any promise the company makes to you, ensure you have it in writing, with clear measurable steps to get there.

Thats exactly the route I took.
Management at our place are salaried whereas the technicians were on an hourly rate with overtime. Took a 10k paycut for a couple of years to gain experience of management. Experience was invaluable for my CV and allowed me to get a senior tech support job leading a small team of specialists. Hourly rate earning nearly 20k more than my previous technician job for less hours and much less stress.