Have you ever moved away alone for a job? Would you?

Skintmama

Yes, a couple of times in my twenties. The first time I stayed in a nurses' home and the second in a shared house. These options were great for getting to know people outside work.

I am sure it must depend a bit on your profession. There are a lot of young single people in nursing; I was spoiled for choice as regards a social life.

Primmer

Yes I moved 100 miles away on my own for a job in a different county. It was supposed to be a 6 month temporary contract but have been here 18 years now!

Sky_

Yes, I moved 300 miles away when I was 19, as there was very little work where I lived.

I then moved to another European country when I was 21, learnt the language, stayed there a couple of years then moved to another country. All to take up interesting job opportunities.

After a few more moves I finally settled in a town 100 miles from my hometown.

I'm glad I grew up in a hardworking household. I'd never have overcome my fears, and moved away from home, if I hadn't been so determined to support myself financially.

southoftheriver

Yup have done it a lot. In my profession its pretty much the done thing until you finish training. Is exhausting moving yearly and not being able to put down roots but at least you're in it together.

roobee13

Not personally but my BFF moved to London on her own at 18 for uni, then moved to another city on her own in her mid 20s due to a job opportunity. She's been there nearly 5 years now and loves it. She made a real effort to make friends through work and the gym and is now really settled and happy

mishmogs

At 19 I moved from south Manchester to Cambridge for 5 years which was great in 1980 with my new husband, moved back to Manchester and then moved to Suffolk 5 years later for work and my DH became my ex DH!

I have since remarried and my DH has a great job so when I was offered work in India I took the opportunity for 2 years on my own in my 40s and then returned, worked back in the UK again and then took off to the UAE for 2 years in my late 40s. Back in the UK and think I have finished with my wonderings now. I am happy that DH was ok about my travelling and working abroad, not many would have been but I did say at the very outset "Do not put me in a cage as I will fight back" and I would let DH work abroad if that is what he wants to do.

I think I have had a great adult life, childhood...a different story.

millysg1

one of my friends moved to London on her own. HAd no job before she left. Lived off savings until she found something. Still there 4.5 years later and loves it. She has made friends and she isn't the most outgoing person.

Tygermoth

I was in a job i loved - I lost out on a promotion but i did so well at interview they referred me to another internal job but up country. Went for the further two interviews did brilliantly got the job.

I was so excited the perks were great, pay my the extension uni qualification course, on site accommodation and written agreement i could take my cats. Downsides was that i knew nobody the employer was huge and i was used to a small close knit team. I did have a friend in the area but she was just embarking on a new relationship and one one of those that dropped everyone like a hot rock when boyfriends came on the scene.

Weighed it up and decided the agreement to put me through uni alone was worth it never mind the pay increase and promotion so boxed up my life and dragged it across England. Being ex military brat i was very used to moving about and have had no issue making friends in new locations. I had moved many times during my professional training and always found people to get on with.

On the day of arrival i had all my worldly goods in a van and three grumpy cats. The accommodations officer explained that someone more important needed to be housed that morning so they had given them my flat! He could not care less. I was upset, absolutely livid and very panicked. They offered me a room in a local hotel where of course the cats couldn't go until everything was sorted. Cue trying to find a cattery on short notice in an area you don't know. Dropping the cats off with a place i had not vetted before hand made me very angry. Then we found a storage place and off loaded all my stuff.

To this day my Dad says it broke his heart leaving me upset but being all 'stiff upper lip' in this filthy stinking pea green damp nasty hotel room where there was a nasty fight going on down the hall.

This turned out to be how things were going to be. they never did sort out my accommodation. I ended up going private rental which they promised to part fund and i always had to chase them for money. I was advised that yes they would put me through the uni course but there were suddenly three people in line before me...(four year course!)

The job was a farce. I walked in on the first day. I sat the whole morning in the office as no one knew i had been hired. There was no induction, no one had a clue, they were rude and angry with me for the inconvenience. They didn't have the time or inclination to train me (this was a specialist role you could not just walk in and pick it up - though i knew the details of the role their equipment was very very different) the staff made it very clear that i was unwelcome. I turned up every single shift to be told by my supervisor to go sit in the break room as she was to busy to train me. When i complained up the food chain firstly they had no idea who i was... great, then i was told to put up and shut up. i left after two weeks. They never even called to find out why i had not turned up for work.

I immediately started working on a temp basis for another area of the business and the money was great. but i was SO bored. As a single person all the other staff were my age but they all married young and had babies. No one wanted to go out or meet up. I am quiet but not shy so went out on my own (in fact i got used to it) went to the cinema, meals singles nights..... but as a huge city i just seemed to be floating along in the faceless masses unable to make a connection. It was sad, i had more money then i have ever had a lovely flat a job that i could pick up and put down when i felt like it. I made sure that every second day i went somewhere a museum or gallery etc but i was just very very lonely.

I moved away and settled in a new town and BLAM in the first two days i made friends met the OH and had a rocking social life (though poor as the new job paid a pittance)

I should mention the above was pre internet and mobile phones...

egoode

My first main move was to Uni at the age of 18 where I knew no one and none of the people I went to school with went to that Uni. It was the best thing I ever did and really bought me out of my shell as before I went I was painfully shy and I barely spoke to people.

Then after my degree finished I move to Sydney which was slightly different as I ended up living with my sister as she was about to start Uni in Sydney. However that move was quite hard for me as I made very few new friends and tended to just catch up with my Uni friends who were scattered about the city.

My biggest move was my move from Australia to London when I was 26. I came over by myself and knew no one else here. I lived in a hostel for 2 weeks while I tried to find a more permanent place to live and a job. I've now been here for 9 years and it's been the best move I've ever made. I've made all my friends either via flat shares or work. I highly recommend flat sharing initially in a new place to get to know a few people.

I've now recently made a smaller move within London. I've moved from West London to SE London so it's a bit more difficult to catch up with my friends so now I'm trying to find local groups to join to meet people in my new area.

If you do end up moving my best tips to settle into an area are:
- try flat sharing initially
- say yes to as many invitations as you possibly can when you first get there. If you say no early on people will stop inviting you along.
- find out what clubs there are that interest you and join them.

Angelicdevil

Yup!

I've moved twice now. I'm currently c100 miles away from my home town.

It's been great for my career but I do miss my family...sometimes....

My first move I didn't really settle and didn't make any "lasting" friendships but my second move has been great.

I've even bought my own property in the second location. I have a great support network and 4 years on I'm still making new friends!

Bizarrely, this current location feels more like home than home ever did