Unsure about possible new job due to commute - thoughts?

pjcox2005

redrabbit29 said:

General_Grant said:

redrabbit29 said:

I have been offered a new job which sounds really good, exciting with new things to learn and some travel. It is technically [does that mean "actually"?] more senior although due to the commute I will probably break even [so the "although" is probably looking at nett income and therefore not about the job itself]. 

My current job I have complete flexibility over working hours, and also work from home whenever I want. Most days I stay at home now, but if I go in I can do so anytime I want in the day so it's very flexible. I also get a work car (for commuting only rather than personal use). So my costs are £0 in that regard.  [If it is for commuting then that could be "personal use" and a taxable benefit.]

The new job would involve:

1. 20 minute car journey to train station 
2. 40 minute direct train to London Waterloo
3. 25 minute walk to office or 10 minute bike ride [there's some exercise] (or the electric scooters they have now) 

Total time you'd be looking at is about 1hr 15 mins if using the bike. It is broken up and involves just the one train. No WFH in the new job either.

My worry is that I would go from a job with complete flexibility to one where I'd be out of the house at 6:30am and not back until about 6:30pm. So time of exercise would be really difficult to find as I'd get home do dinner, be tired, etc.   [What are the working hours?  Leaving home at 6.30 am and a max 1.5 hour commute suggests an 8 am start with a back at home time suggesting finishing at 5 pm.  So 8 am to 5 pm?]

Has anyone done a similar commute? My gut is telling me it is too long and even if this may be a great job, it's just going to use up a lot of my free time for no pay reward. However, the opportunities it may give could make it worthwhile. Just a bit torn.
[I certainly did longer commutes - generally walk, tube, change tube line, walk - and went out a fair number of weekday evenings.  That was in my 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.)]

Is the long-term view for career progression something which should tip the balance to moving?

Hi - some really good points there. The main two things driving this move was:

1) I am bored in my current role and promotion is not very easy/likely or even a good option for me in my current organisation
2) The job I have gone for and been offered is in an area of work I am more interested in. More technical and with lots of learning/new things I've never dealt with before 

Your questions:

- It IS more senior, my wording around it being "technically" more senior was only as it wasn't really a pay rise (when looking at net income). It's public sector so pay isn't that great. But yes it is a step up. 

- The salary for the new job is £7k more - however travelling to work would wipe most of that out and I'd lose the work car I have now

- That's a really good point about exercise in the walk. That could be 40 minutes of walking there (2x20 minutes). I'd just have to consider how sweaty I'd turn up if it was hot weather and carrying a back pack!"

- Public sector hours, 37 hours per week, likely to be something like 830ish to 430ish or similar. Unlikely to have overtime unless travelling somewhere. 

- I've heard of many with longer commutes, but similarly a lot saying "ohhh I wouldn't do more than 30 minutes" which makes me doubt whether it's a good move or not. I'd keep myself entertained with kindle, noise cancelling headphones, etc.

I would typically think it's on the edge of being too large a commute, but the points around boredom, no promotion prospects and a move to an area you want to work in would definitely be enough for me to shift.

1 year is all you need to commit to and then you're in the area you want and more likely to be employed in that by others (although whether there is closer jobs may be another thing).

Only thing that would stop me is young family unless you have a partner who has taken on that load e.g. rushing back for pick up, sudden illness. 

The other one is that jobs are likely to get more flexible; do you feel the company will really insist on 5 days in the office once you're settled in the job and performing in six months time.

josephine82

I do a similar London commute to this and I don’t find it significantly impacts on my life. I walk 15 mins from home to my local station and from the London station to the office which is 20 mins, I see it as my daily exercise and actually enjoy it if I’m honest. 

I read on my train journey and it’s the only time I get to do that so again I quite enjoy it. 

I am strict about my finish time though to make the right train to get me home on time. Takes a bit of time to work out exactly what time you need to leave to get to he station with enough time! 

I think while you have the freedom to be able to manage the commute with the potential for career development then go for it. 

GingerTim

Not for me, Clive.

Marcon

redrabbit29 said:

The new job would involve:

1. 20 minute car journey to train station 
2. 40 minute direct train to London Waterloo
3. 25 minute walk to office or 10 minute bike ride (or the electric scooters they have now)

Total time you'd be looking at is about 1hr 15 mins if using the bike. It is broken up and involves just the one train. No WFH in the new job either.

My worry is that I would go from a job with complete flexibility to one where I'd be out of the house at 6:30am and not back until about 6:30pm. So time of exercise would be really difficult to find as I'd get home do dinner, be tired, etc. 

Has anyone done a similar commute? My gut is telling me it is too long and even if this may be a great job, it's just going to use up a lot of my free time for no pay reward. However, the opportunities it may give could make it worthwhile. Just a bit torn.

Wonder what the commute would look like on a cold/wet/snowy day with delays on the roads, delays on the rails and delays getting to work/getting home?

The commute is nothing out of the ordinary for someone used to commuting, but as your post makes clear, that isn't you - or at least not recently. Going from minimal travelling time, if any, to 15 hours a week (at least), plus the actual cost of travel...that new job would have to offer extremely good future prospects to tempt me.

TELLIT01

MalMonroe said:

TELLIT01 said:

I wouldn't take a job with a commute of that length, irrespective of the perks of the job.  The furthest I've travelled has been 40 minutes and that got boring.  I was driving so couldn't use the time for anything constructive.  I've known people who have done 2 hours each way and haven't any issue with it. 

It is a choice that only you can make having carefully weighed up the pro's and con's.

I agree with you. But you could have been learning a language on your 40 minute commute? Or something else you could listen to. I also had a 40 minute drive each way to my job but it wasn't boring. Now I'm self employed and nothing is boring. But that's another story .  .  .   

When I'm driving I concentrate on the driving, I certainly wouldn't be attempting to learn a new language or even listening to an audio book.  That, as far as I'm concerned would be worse than using the phone because it is so distracting.  I won't even take hands free calls when I'm driving.  I do have the radio on but that it really just background music.  As for a 40 minute drive not being boring, I'm guessing you weren't on a motorway for about 35 of those 40 minutes.

Undervalued

TELLIT01 said:

MalMonroe said:

TELLIT01 said:

I wouldn't take a job with a commute of that length, irrespective of the perks of the job.  The furthest I've travelled has been 40 minutes and that got boring.  I was driving so couldn't use the time for anything constructive.  I've known people who have done 2 hours each way and haven't any issue with it. 

It is a choice that only you can make having carefully weighed up the pro's and con's.

I agree with you. But you could have been learning a language on your 40 minute commute? Or something else you could listen to. I also had a 40 minute drive each way to my job but it wasn't boring. Now I'm self employed and nothing is boring. But that's another story .  .  .   

When I'm driving I concentrate on the driving, I certainly wouldn't be attempting to learn a new language or even listening to an audio book.  That, as far as I'm concerned would be worse than using the phone because it is so distracting.  I won't even take hands free calls when I'm driving.  I do have the radio on but that it really just background music.  As for a 40 minute drive not being boring, I'm guessing you weren't on a motorway for about 35 of those 40 minutes.

Indeed!

If the driver was involved in a accident that left a third party seriously injured (or worse) and this was investigated, it could leave then wide open to prosecution - and rightly so!

SensibleSarah

I have done similar commutes in the past (not in London but similar times/break down of journey) and I would absolutely never do anything like that again - had a pretty terrible impact on my quality of life. Used to leave the house just after 6am and get back sometime between 6-7pm - just not sustainable for me over a long period of time. No pay rise or career progression is worth making yourself unhappy or ill for. 

That said, we're all different. I know people that love commuting and it's their 'me' time, which they find great. 

Brie

I live a long way out of London and know people that commute there most days - a minimum 2.5 hours each way.  Much too long for me even with good opportunities.  I used to work somewhere about an hour drive from home and left that for a lesser paid role at a place 15 minutes walk away.  The change in pay was fine as I no longer had to pay for petrol, parking.

Are you sure that they wouldn't allow WFH maybe 1 day a week once you're in place?  Lots of places have had to be more flexible over the last 2 years so it might be worth an ask in a few months.  Also - do they have showers, change rooms?  You could get a slightly earlier train in a track suit for comfort and then shower and change at work.  Would work too if there was a gym beside work (when our shower died I went to the gym before work simply to shower for about 2 months)

Most importantly - what does you partner think?

redrabbit29

TELLIT01 said:

MalMonroe said:

TELLIT01 said:

I wouldn't take a job with a commute of that length, irrespective of the perks of the job.  The furthest I've travelled has been 40 minutes and that got boring.  I was driving so couldn't use the time for anything constructive.  I've known people who have done 2 hours each way and haven't any issue with it. 

It is a choice that only you can make having carefully weighed up the pro's and con's.

I agree with you. But you could have been learning a language on your 40 minute commute? Or something else you could listen to. I also had a 40 minute drive each way to my job but it wasn't boring. Now I'm self employed and nothing is boring. But that's another story .  .  .   

When I'm driving I concentrate on the driving, I certainly wouldn't be attempting to learn a new language or even listening to an audio book.  That, as far as I'm concerned would be worse than using the phone because it is so distracting.  I won't even take hands free calls when I'm driving.  I do have the radio on but that it really just background music.  As for a 40 minute drive not being boring, I'm guessing you weren't on a motorway for about 35 of those 40 minutes.

Not sure I would say listening to an audiobook is distracting. I've listened to educational podcasts. It's the same as listening to the radio when someone is talking and you're following what they're saying.

Unless you're a really nervous, inexperienced or likely to become overly absorbed I think it's being a bit overly dramatic 

redrabbit29

Brie said:

I live a long way out of London and know people that commute there most days - a minimum 2.5 hours each way.  Much too long for me even with good opportunities.  I used to work somewhere about an hour drive from home and left that for a lesser paid role at a place 15 minutes walk away.  The change in pay was fine as I no longer had to pay for petrol, parking.

Are you sure that they wouldn't allow WFH maybe 1 day a week once you're in place?  Lots of places have had to be more flexible over the last 2 years so it might be worth an ask in a few months.  Also - do they have showers, change rooms?  You could get a slightly earlier train in a track suit for comfort and then shower and change at work.  Would work too if there was a gym beside work (when our shower died I went to the gym before work simply to shower for about 2 months)

Most importantly - what does you partner think?

It's hard to say about WFH - probably could do it but you know how it is with the unknown. I know that all proper hands on work has to be done at the building. I could do calls/admin from home so one option could be that one day a week I write off for those admin its or deliberately set meetings on that day. 

I've considered gym clothing and things. I'd have to plan it carefully as I would be limited on what I could take on a train commute. I would struggle to routinely carry a shirt/trousers, or lots of things like that. I think what I would do would be to just wear normal work stuff (trainers rather than shoes for comfort) and take in 2-3 sport tops and some shorts for gym or running. 

I need to talk to partner more. Waiting on some answers back from prospective employer which will help make a decision