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Advice Please! Take new job with pay cut with baby on the way??

tata24-2tata24-2 member
in Working Moms
Hi ladies, I need some advice, desperately.

I have been offered a job at an organization I'm pretty excited about. It's a small nonprofit, and I would be the Managing Director, which is basically the number two spot at the organization. It's a really exciting opportunity for me, and I am a very career ambitious person, so this would be a great next step for my career.

However, I'm now 6 weeks pregnant, and this job is about a 20% cut in pay.

I'm actually pretty happy in my current job. I have great compensation and good benefits, but the Managing Director position would be a great career move. I just can't decide if the timing is too wrong. I think we could technically afford the pay cut, but I'm pregnant with my first, so I really don't even know what to expect for how our life expenses might be soon changing.

Please share your thoughts!
Do I:
Stay in my current job with the good pay & low stress
or
take the new job which will advance my career, but result in a pretty significant pay cut?

Thank you!
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Re: Advice Please! Take new job with pay cut with baby on the way??

  • shannmshannm member
    If you have an offer in writing, go to HR and find out what their maternity policy is like.  If you are happy with it and you think with the 20% cut you will still be able to pay for full time care, then I say take it.  Congrats!
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  • fitmom82fitmom82 member
    My priority right now is my kids.  I'm a teacher and I've often thought about changing district, but knowing that I'll take a pay cut leaving an urban district and that I'll likely have much more work (learning a new curriculum, probably teaching more than one grade) is enough to keep me where I'm at so I have more time with my kids and more money to do things with them. 
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  • BlessedBee83BlessedBee83 member
    From what you've described, I'd say don't take it. It's a pay cut, possibly more hours, and more stress (you mention your current job isn't stressful). There's not much there that would lead me to want to go. Being career driven is great, but- at least for me- the moment LO was born my whole center shifted away from work. When I was 6 weeks, I remember thinking I wouldn't take the full 12 weeks. That changed the moment I looked at DS. Just really give it some thought...
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  • jellybean529jellybean529 member
    IMHO I wouldn't take it based solely on the FMLA issue, if it's applicable here, unless you're able to afford unpaid leave and childcare expenses on the reduced salary. In which case if it's a good career move it might be worth the paycut.
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  • Puppies+Rainbows+UnicornsPuppies+Rainbows+Unicorns member
    The timing sounds off. Unless you truly hate your current job, I would pass on it and hope that something comes up in a year it two. Starting a new job is stressful and being pregnant is tiring.
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  • jlaOKjlaOK member
    The new job doesn't sound like a slam dunk to me.  Yes, it is a promotion in title but will becoming the Managing Director really lead to more career advancement?  For me to take a 20% pay cut I would have to know:  room for salary increase, flexibility, not a lot of stress, if no advancement in that company (doesn't sound like there would be if you're #2 in the org) then it would need to open the door to lateral to another organization where there is room to grow.

    My gut is saying that it isn't the right move right now.
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  • ss265ss265 member
    I'm curious to understand why you think the new position would enhance your career? Is it simply because of the title of the new job? You mentioned pay but how does overall compensation (401K, benefits, vacation etc.) compare between the old and new job?

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  • tata24-2tata24-2 member
    Thanks, everyone! It's so great to hear from so many people. It makes this decision making process so much easier. 

    So the new job is a pay cut and a pretty significant reduction in benefits, so I am leaning toward probably turning it down. I was able to negotiate a higher rate than their original offer, but they can't match my current salary. 

    I spent some time last night researching pay in lateral positions at other organizations, and it seems like I wouldn't be able to get back to my current salary any time soon, so that's a pretty important factor. 

    It's such a tough decision though. They are very excited about me, and it seems like a fun place to work, but I think circumstances just aren't right for such a life shift right now. 




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  • litzo27litzo27 member
    Can you negotiate some other perks instead: 4 day work week? Or telecommuting? Leaving early? More vacation days?

    I'm a big believer that a great job makes your life so much better that sometimes it's worth the money (and a bad job can make you so miserable you don't care about the cash any more).
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  • SoMoNYSoMoNY member
    How much growth opportunity is there at a small non-profit or do you mean this position might let you leap to something even better in the future?

    I wouldn't want to switch jobs while pg or within first 6 months of delivery, too many things to focus on without adding stress of new job/role.
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