What's the biggest pay cut you have ever taken for work?

1995 was the year, entry level in games is not all that high as everyone wants in....

DD

 

When I was an intern for the Rockets, ZERO pay. I don't know how much cut that is?

 

I make $50,000 more than I did last year. Can't empathize....... yet (hopefully never)

 

I took a 1.2 million dollar pay cut to come and play for Houston.

 

Same thing about 6 years ago.

 

I took a $20K cut on upfront salary to work for Goldman Sachs. I didn't care at the time because it was Goldman Sachs and it was a 3rd year analyst level. Everything has worked out great so far.

 

Ladies and Gents....

I want to tell you all how inspirational this thread is to me.

Seriously.

I am currently in a job that pays me nearly 80K a year, and I'm miserable.

I do the same boring thing, day in and day out. My day never changes.

I doubt I can ever be laid off, and I'd have to do something really stupid to get fired, but there is no future in it, no hope for advancement, and no hope for a substantial raise. If I stayed where I am until I retired, I'd be doing the same damn thing for the next 15 years.

On top of that, I work for an organization that I'm embarassed to be associated with. It's a huge bureaucracy that is rife with fraud. I won't name it, but if you are Houstonian, you can probably guess what it is.

I am seriously thinking about a complete career change. I've worked in IT for 20 years, and I just don't think I want to do it anymore. I don't mind if computers are part of what I do, I just don't want it to be the end-all and be-all of what I do anymore, unless it's using information technology for something I can get really excited about.

The good news is...I have no debts. The only debt I have is my mortgage and bills associated with owning a house. I also have no children or a family to support.

I have a degree in Advertising that I've never used.

I am currently looking for a day gig that I will enjoy. I might have to take a pay cut of half (down to $40K) but in the long run, I am certain it will be worth it if I find something I enjoy. I'd love to get a day gig that involved music in some way, since that is my true calling.

So I'm searching for light in the darkness of insanity right now (thanks Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello ). I've got the support of my folks and my girlfriend of 1 year, who is absolutely the love of my life and is a great inspiration to me. Three years ago, she started her own business, and slowly but surely she's making her way.

I'll let y'all know how it pans out. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. This is the biggest decision I've ever had to make, and at 46 years old, I can't afford to screw it up.

 

I gave up a VP of Operations gig to get an entry level gig on the trading desk. Gave up $40,000 in guaranteed base salary.

Best career move I ever made.

 

RMT-

I know how you feel. I left a six figure salary job that bored me to tears.

Since you have experience, have you thought about getting into consulting? It's the age of consultants (again), in the IT industry. It's fun, getting to meet different clients and resolving their issues. You get to leverage your experience, and trust me, it's never the same thing.

Good luck.

 

I've been a full time employee for almost a year now and I want to kill myself. It is the most boring job I've ever had and am almost itching to get back in to consulting. I miss the money and diversity.

 

I take it the ones who are complaining about being bored with their high paying jobs are M-F/8-5 office type jobs. I've had those jobs and I couldn't stand it, didn't help that I was paid crap. It's a self imposed monotonous jail, you get paid well in some instances but slowly you get numbed to the redundancy.

 

? ? ?

the majority of people living in austin make 36K a yr or less

not everybody has a lake house or a 6th street condo lol

 

I'd love to, but I can't travel 52 weeks a year. I'm a PeopleSoft specialist, but not a developer. I might take a local contract...work it until it ends, find another. Or I might just go for something completely different. Depends on what comes up I guess.

 

Depending on your discipline, it's a very good market for consultants.

 

I don't travel anywhere close to 52 wks/yr.

Actually, I'd say it's less than 15% travel.

If you're interested, we can ping offline, and I can talk to you about some stuff going on with the firm I work at about Peoplesoft engagements.

As a matter of fact, I know there's one going on right now involving Peoplesoft.

 

I stopped chopping rocks and mixing that baking soda, so now I'm making $150k less per week, so do the math. Yikes!!!

 

Were you a geologist?

 

I'm definitely interested!

I've always avoided consulting because of the travel, but 15% I can handle.

Since you've got email turned off on your profile, please shoot me an email via the BBS with your email address or phone number and I will get in touch with you ASAP.

Thanks!

 

I went from $36k down to enter the ministry... still below that level... and that was back in '99.

But I'd rather be happy at what I know I must do, than miserable with money to burn.

 

Ministry will do it every time... went from 60k/ yr to 18k/ yr
to be a pastor.