June 2009 Weddings
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Negotiations fail :'(

They called back and said they won't budge on the starting salary.  Crying

I now have to weigh lower wages against the prospect of not finding another job before my contract is up in August. Nine months seems like a long time, but this is my first job offer in 15 months. Plus, this job would get me into court, giving me more experience to put towards other job prospects. We could survive off the new salary, but I'd be losing all the money going toward debt repayment.

We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
My 101
Lilypie First Birthday tickers

Re: Negotiations fail :'(

  • Oh no. :( So sorry to hear they wouldn't budge. I firmly believe something greater is out there for you! 
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    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • So sorry. :( How long do you have to get back to them on their offer?
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  • I asked for the day. I've been talking it over with DH. Going to call my best friend at lunch and see what she says (just as a sounding board). She's also an attorney and really level-headed, so I'd like her opinion.  I've been making a mental pros and cons list, and there are a lot of pros, and only one con, but it's a huge one. And it comes with sub-cons.
    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Oh Leigha, that sucks. Are there any other prospects on the horizon? When do you need to let them know if you're taking the job?
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  • Something to add to the middle list (because I don't know if it's a pro or a con, or if it really applies in your field...):

    Six Month Evaluation/Salary Renegotiation.

    What I mean is, usually, the first six months at a new job is probationary. After your six month review, you may be entitled to additional benefits and/or a raise. So, could you take the hit if it was potentially only for six months?

    It sounds like saying yes OR saying no would be difficult right now. I'm sorry about that Sad Just go with your gut -- whatever you pick will work out someway, in one way or another. To quote an awesome FRIENDS episode:

    Rachel: But you know, I figure, it just has to work out.

    Tag: Why?

    Rachel: Because it has to!

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  • imageSBS0628:

    It sounds like saying yes OR saying no would be difficult right now. I'm sorry about that Sad Just go with your gut -- whatever you pick will work out someway, in one way or another. To quote an awesome FRIENDS episode:

    Rachel: But you know, I figure, it just has to work out.

    Tag: Why?

    Rachel: Because it has to!

    Thanks for the smile! :)  Yeah, either answer is hard. It would be really easy to say yes in, say June of July, when my contract is nearing end, because something is better than nothing. But it's hard to turn down 9 months of extra pay. But at the end of the 9 months, if I still have nothing, unemployment pays WAY less.  No 6 month review. It's a govt job and the state is in a spending freeze (as pretty much every government entity is). Only chance of a raise is getting a promotion (if an attorney at a higher pay grade leaves and I could get their job, which would mean re-interviewing, etc.).

    I honestly wouldn't be against a part-time job. I opted out of trying out to be a Kaplan tutor earlier this year because I didn't live in Austin, but if we moved back, I could give it another try.

    I honestly thought I would say no if they wouldn't up the pay, but I'm having a really hard time turning it down. I think that's my gut talking. 

    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Are there any other benefits to factor in?  I seem to remember you saying this would be a shorter commute - how much would you save in commuting?  (I'm guessing it would not be $1000/month but just checking out all angles.)
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  • Taking health insurance into consideration, I'd only be taking home about $500 less than now. We'd get to move back to Austin, and if we could find a place close enough, my gas bill could go down considerably, possibly $160 instead of $320.  Also, I'll get court room experience, which would look good for any future job prospects. I'll have comprehensive health insurance, and job stability. Only con is the pay, which means longer time to pay off debt and possibly pushing back having a kid until I'm making more money.
    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • imageLeigha12:
    Taking health insurance into consideration, I'd only be taking home about $500 less than now. We'd get to move back to Austin, and if we could find a place close enough, my gas bill could go down considerably, possibly $160 instead of $320.  Also, I'll get court room experience, which would look good for any future job prospects. I'll have comprehensive health insurance, and job stability. Only con is the pay, which means longer time to pay off debt and possibly pushing back having a kid until I'm making more money.

    More Cons: 

    Other than gas, would your other living expenses go up? including the big one--housing?  You would also be reducing your future income by taking the hit now.

    More Pros:

    There would be possibly better job prospects for your husband and starting his longterm career.  Also you would be starting to accrue years toward a state pension.  And you would be back in the city where you want to be.

     

  • Actually, we pay more in rent now than we did in Austin, if you can believe it! 

    Plus, both of us will have shorter commutes.

     

    I accepted it 10 minutes ago. My friend pointed out some more pros: In addition to more courtroom experience, I will get to know the judges and the local attorneys, which is built in networking.

    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • imageLeigha12:

    I accepted it 10 minutes ago. My friend pointed out some more pros: In addition to more courtroom experience, I will get to know the judges and the local attorneys, which is built in networking.

    Hooray!  Congrats on the decision and making a big step in your career!

    FWIW, I would have taken it too. 

  • Well, congratulations!  Sorry I missed all the decision-making but it sounds like you got some good advice.  For what it's worth, I would have asked what would make you happier.  Happiness is worth a lot of money in a job, to me.  (and it sounds like the court experience and judge connections could go a long way towards this)

  • Congrats, Leigha! From your original post I was convinced you'd be turning it down. There is a lot to be said for happiness and its price. 
    image image
    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • imagemamie329:
    Congrats, Leigha! From your original post I was convinced you'd be turning it down. There is a lot to be said for happiness and its price. 

    I thought so, too, Mames! But when it came time to tell HR no, I couldn't do it. As much as it stinks to take a paycut, the pros far outweighed the cons. And so far, it looks like we'll be able to eat up some of that paycut with lower rent and gas. So it shouldn't be as big a hit as it could be. So fingers crossed we can find something cheaper and not entirely scary in the next couple of weeks!

    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Mames, I should add that I re-crunched all the numbers. I even went so far as to add up all the hours I worked this year to determine my actual wages paid (as opposed to just multiplying 2080 by my hourly rate), and the new salary isn't as huge of a drop (700 instead of 1000). With the insurance thrown in, I'm losing $500 a month. We're trying to cut expenses elsewhere to eat some of that up so I can continue paying off our debt. That was essentially the extra money I was using for my debt snowball.
    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • That's not that bad of a drop. Hopefully this new position is a stepping stone into promotions down the line and more mula! When do you start?? 
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    Lucy Elizabeth 10.27.12
  • 12/28! I had wanted to start 12/20 so I could actually get paid for Christmas, but they said I could only start 12/13 (too soon to give notice) or 12/28. Government!
    We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.
    My Bio (wedding pics added 7/6)
    My 101
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • How exciting! Congratulations on the new job & future move!  What a wonderful way to start the new year!!!
  • Congratulations Leigha!
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