I started in a new position about 4 months ago, after negotiating a higher salary than what I was offered. I was extremely proud of this!!! And it’s the only reason I took the job (because it’s not worth what they offered at first). Now, I’m being asked to run all purchases through double approval because of “drastic budget reductions,” and I heard my boss mention that pay cuts may be coming.
I don’t love my boss to begin with and I’m not inclined to stick around and find out if they’re going to take the extra salary I negotiated, so I started applying for other jobs. I’m just worried a job I spent 4 months at isn’t going to look good when other departments or jobs look at me. I know my old department will always take me back, but that’s a pay cut too. I’m just thinking if I have to take less money I may as well go back since I actually liked that job.
What do I say when people ask about why I’m leaving? Is it acceptable to say it was because of budget issues?
My biggest frustration in all of this is that I worked so hard to get paid just a bit more and now I might be looking at even less than the offer was to begin with. Like I wasted my time when I could have waited and found something where I actually make a decent amount.