Accepting a pay cut in your 30s. I have been on a job search for about 8 months, the only offer I manage to get today is asking for a 25% paycut are there other options for me?

Understand pay cut is not easy. Pay is not everything tho. Good to asess your strategy and where you can go with this new offer. Sometimes taking one step back to go 3 steps forward is worth it.

I am exactly 30y.o this year, and has just accepted a job offer after 8 months of job search. I was working in one of the local hospital during covid period, while at the same time doing my part-time study.

I have been through several job interviews, after i left my previous organisation. Some of my consideration prior to accepting a job offer was

1) Job responsibility has to tally with the remuneration and benefit, I don't mind a paycut if there is an improvement in my QOL, at the same time if the chances of burn-out are high, of course it is normal that we request for a higher payout. At different part of my life, i might not be able to afford a burn-out as that would means that I would probably be required to stop working or risk damaging my health further.

2) Secondly the organisation that i choose, i will see if it is a VWO, private or mixed enterprise. Naturally I will scale back on my salary request or accept a minimum pay cut if i am performing an easier jobscope. Of course when that happen, i will probably be "moonlighting" after work to make up for the shortfall.

3) The skills sets that i can bring on-board after joining the organisation. If i am learning new things and is consider an upgrade, and also i might potentially love the job, i might accept abit of paycut. But if i am doing back the same roles as my previous organisation, i will defintely quote for a higher pay.

In my opinion, 25% pay cut might be abit steep, depending on how much your last drawn is. However, if u feel that u will potentially be happier, healthier, and most importanly enough to spend, i see no harm in giving it a try to see if it meet your needs. This will also depends on the reason why u left ur previous job.
Otherwise, if you still have the "ammo" to hold on and wait for better job offer, and u feel that the 25% paycut is really a cut in your flesh, i would suggest you to just drop the offer and try to send in your cv to more company.

As the saying goes, you are still young, how is it possible that you can't find a job at your age? Is just a matter of what types of job we ultimately end up with. Cheers and take care!

Hi, i feel you, 25% is ouch. Which industry are you in? Have you tried to find out the average pay range for your job in the same industry? If they are paying fairly and yet it's a pay cut for you... you have to decide to accept or pivot. Also agree with others who mentioned it depends how bad the 25% is, and factor in other areas like working hours allow you to perhaps take on other side hustles or not.

Would say my previous job sucked all energy out of me with daily OT, but on current job I still have a good 2 to 3 hours to see if there's trade opportunity or even just analyse business/keep warm with market.

I think the context / exact numbers would matter too, would say 25% pay cut from 10k monthly salary is fine. If it's a 25% drop from 4k, believe there are better options around.