top of page
Search

Lower Salary

As a Recruiter and HR practitioner, most jobseekers I meet usually ask for a higher salary in their next smooth. This is normal behaviour. In my course of work, I come across people who are open to lower salaries. Sharing 3 real cases :


๐‰๐จ๐› ๐’๐ž๐ž๐ค๐ž๐ซ ๐‰ :

J is reaching her mid-30s. She rose from the rank and was promoted to a junior Manager, after working for the same employer for over 10 years. She was tired and felt that she had hit her ceiling, in terms of learning opportunities. She left.


She took on a non-managerial job with another company with a slight pay cut, hoping to learn the skills in the role in depth. The new role didn't turn out to be expected. She was looking out again.


After an interview, the hiring manager decided not to proceed with J because she was not convinced why J took a pay cut and accepted a lower lower-ranking role.


๐˜’๐˜ฆ๐˜บ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ: Hitting the ceiling and seeking new challenges


๐‰๐จ๐› ๐’๐ž๐ž๐ค๐ž๐ซ ๐Š

K has been in the same function for 2 decades. He was retrenched from his employer after being with them for the same tenure. He seeks to pursue his specialisation and is passionate, yet willing to be flexible in the rank and salary.


The new role's salary is a substantial 2-digit % cut of his last drawn. When I asked why he was open to considering, he replied that he believes in using his skills and attitude to prove himself.


๐˜’๐˜ฆ๐˜บ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ: the emphasis is on the job function, not the salary or the rank


๐‰๐จ๐› ๐’๐ž๐ž๐ค๐ž๐ซ ๐‹

L has a high basic salary but has no bonuses, not even the 13th month, while the hiring company I work with has these. I worked out the monthly salary including the bonuses and it was higher than his last drawn. He attended the interview and is looking forward to the next step


๐˜’๐˜ฆ๐˜บ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ: Monthly salary vs annual salary.


๐‘๐ž๐š๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ

Besides the above cases, other common reasons for people to accept a lower salary are:

1๏ธโƒฃ Change of industry and/or career track

2๏ธโƒฃ Better work-life integration (less traveling, shorter working hours, no shift work, flexible

work arrangement options, etc.)

3๏ธโƒฃ Return to workforce after a longer than usual career break (homemakers, sabbatical leave, family care, etc.)

4๏ธโƒฃ Being an entrepreneur

5๏ธโƒฃ More growth and learning opportunities in the new role


Career growth is never linear. Salary growth may not necessarily be linear too. We make our choices!



๐‘ธ๐’–๐’†๐’”๐’•๐’Š๐’๐’๐’” ๐’•๐’ ๐’‘๐’๐’๐’…๐’†๐’“:


๐ŸŽฏAs a hiring manager/interviewer, do you have concerns when the jobseeker is willing to accept a pay cut?


๐ŸŽฏAs a job seeker, what is your view of a lower salary in your next move?


LinkedIn Post:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anne-ong-lightwayhrconsultancy_lightwayhr-career-salary-activity-7114457317827375104-5w5a?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop



Image credit: LinkedIn


9 views0 comments

Comentรกrios


bottom of page