I have been working in governmental auditing for the last 2.5 years - my first career job. I interviewed last Wednesday at a smaller sized corporation for an internal audit position. This is a newly created position due to the company just recently going public. There would only be me and my direct supervisor working in internal audit, and the job would have a lot of responsibility attached.
On Thursday, I received a verbal offer, and on Friday, I received the pay and benefit packet. My problem is this: we all know government jobs don't pay exceptionally well, but this initial base salary offer is an 11% pay cut from my current salary. I really want this position and I fully intend to call HR and negotiate on Monday, but if they don't offer an increased base salary, I'm not sure if I should take it.
I know that corporate and government are opposite sides of a coin, and I know there would be a learning curve attached. But I feel like that is a fairly significant decrease in pay for a lot of responsibility.
Thoughts?