I know the feeling. When I was last out of work, I was confident I could get a new job, at first. It actually got to a point where I was getting a bit concerned. I was hitting the last 2 or 3 in the interviews consistently, but never quite clinching it. The annoying thing there was that you invest a lot of time in these things, then you're back to square one. There was a point where I was thinking that I might get myself into trouble (in my profession being out of work for an extended period looks bad, regardless of your intentions). I ended up takling a role with a company that looked like it could be a disaster. I actually quite like it, though there are days when I want to head butt the lead developer and strangle my colleagues, that's just par for the course with programming. Most of the time I find it interesting work, and while not a career advancing role, is quite pleasant to work in.

I suppose that's the other thing you need to consider, how big a gap on your CV are you willing to have?

Sorry, I know I was pushing you the other way, but I think I'm now putting you back into procrastination.

You could talk to the people that have offerred you this job, and see what they feel the prospects are for you to advance up to a role similar to the one you had before?

I used to work in outbound sales (call centre) years ago. My sales figures were a lot higher when I was still half drunk from the night before. My guess is it was cause I couldnt give a shit about the job, I just wanted to go home. told them what they wanted to hear signed em up so I could get off the fucking phone. Had my fair share cancel within the cooling off but still.

Regarding the topic at hand though.

My advice to you would be to take the job. Its hard to still keep applying for jobs when you're working full-time be that due to time constraints or due to complacency. You will likey find you dont like the job which tends to fuel you to actually get a better job. sneaking time off for interviews etc is a bitch though.

I know the feeling, but in the end if you would not be happy there you really need to make a personal judgement call.
I agree with wpegg that it is nice to be earning your own money, and I would **personally** take a job with 1~2 thousand less a year under the right circumstances as I have no money left after a rough couple of years and buying a house with family having to help us out.

I am also looking for work and choose to stay in a job where my boss reminds me everyday that he is just waiting for me to jump ship. Because right now I need the money and I want to go to an equally decent to better job.
I am a qualified IT consultant (who is not these days), and I stack shelves for a living. Seriously, goods come in and I am not entrusted to even check the deliveries are correct. I just put things onto the shelves.
Like you I was once able to tell others how to do things as a supervisor and a few people where I work trust my judgment calls, but now I am the bottom of the pile, with no up. I have been passed over several times while working here, and it just goes on.
In my situation and my personal ability to put up with shit I am coping, but would you really want to be in that situation?

Thanks - and promotion is a possibility once I'm there.
Time off for interviews will be a problem because they know I'm overqualified so they will be suspicious if I start needing time off but still I think you're right and being in work looks better on a CV

I know when I took my current job, I had been unemployed for six months. My savings was pretty exhausted and I just took the job even though it wasn't what I was looking for. I got a couple job offers a month later, but I had decided I liked the current job I was doing. The other jobs would mean I would have to move to the DC area, with of course a huge bump in pay. I decided to stay on with the original job, and now I am making what I was offered with the other ones and I don't have to fight the DC traffic nightmare.

My advice, is if you are not on unemployment bennies and are dipping into savings, take the job and continue looking for a better one (though of course keep that part to yourself). Who knows, you might actually like the new one and there might be a lot of advancement opportunities. Worst case scenario you find you hate it, but are able to replenish your savings account, and eventually find that job you actually want.

*were

Thanks for the advice - I hope things look up for you soon. I'm going to take the job - there just aren't many jobs where I live and there are far to many applicants for each position. I won't hate this job and I think I just need to accept that I have to take lower-level position for now.
Yeah you're right - even if I leave after six months at least I will have been earning money during that time

I was all set to chip in with my advice but I see you've already decided. Think you've made the right decision.

Keep your CV up to date and active on whatever job websites are appropriate - Monster, JobSite, Jobserve etc. I've been in my current job for 4 years but I still get a couple of emails a week asking me if I'm available for various vacancies...

How come you will earn more in a low-level position?