[TheKnack]

I have experience trying to get a down-level job for a different employer. I think that might be even more difficult than staying with the same employer. I was trying to down-level for more or less the same reasons - burnout from 20+ years of 50-60 hour weeks managing an I.T. department with mission critical systems and too few staff.

I interviewed for several "down-level" positions, a couple where I subsequently found out that I was clearly the most qualified candidate. One HR person more or less told me that they didn't understand why I was willing to take a ~30% pay cut. I think they thought it seemed suspect... because who would do that?