请教各位前辈：take a severe pay cut 是多少？

和一家小公司谈了一段时间，最近他说：please be prepared to take a severe pay cut for the first few months.

请教各位前辈：
1． take a severe pay cut 一般是白分之多少？
2． the first few month一般是几个月？

多谢前辈！