Unsure about possible new job due to commute - thoughts?

General_Grant

redrabbit29 said:

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 

And the rail journey is longer than the car drive, plus walking time.

Savvy_Sue

redrabbit29 said:

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 know we're not chaps (so don't have to worry about suits) but several of my colleagues cycle in and shower / change on arrival, taking their smart clothes and shoes home with them each night in rucksacks or panniers. At least one of them was doing a bike / train / bike commute, although not in London. 

JReacher1

redrabbit29 said:

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 

Yes I agree. Saying you can’t listen to an audiobook while driving is ridiculous. As you say must be a nervous or inexperienced driver.  I wonder if they have passengers in the car whether anyone is allowed to talk?

JReacher1

Undervalued said:

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!

Has anyone ever been prosecuted for listening to an audiobook while travelling?

Johnmcl7

A while back I had a commute that was a half hour walk, 90 minute train journey then another ten minutes at the other end, with delays and cancellations particularly in the evening it made for a long day.  I found it hard going because during the week my day was get food, travel to work, work, travel home, food and then bed then at the weekends I felt I was recovering from the week. so didn't want to do much.

However at the time I desperately needed experience in the field I was in to be able to progress and the job offered me that so although I found it hard going it was likely worth it in the long term.  However I only did that commute for seven months and decided to move house and don't think I could have faced sticking with it long term.

redundantmortgage

In my experience 'great opportunities' have turned out to be nothing more than instant financial gain. I once was faced with a choice of 2 roles, one going in the direction I wanted to go without much financial gain and one which was more of the same for a decent financial gain. I chose the former, big mistake. Turned out to be more of the same under worse circumstances.

With this direction you want to take, is it one where 90% of the jobs are in London? If so then you may need to accept the long commute is what you need to do so you need to decide whether this direction is worth it. If not then look for something closer to home.

I wouldn't recommend staying in your job for the flexibility alone. I've been there myself and when I finally left I realised it really isn't worth it if you hate everything else about the job which I did.

Baled

Taking up any new job is always a gamble isn't it? It's the one aspect of our lives that takes up the most of our time so trying to make the right decision can be extremely challenging!

I worked from home for 20 months solid however during this time the company was taken over and the last 2 months were particularly awful so I quit without another job in place. 

Within 2 weeks I was offered another job but it was full time in the office, 40 hrs instead of 37.5 with the evening commute being much more problematic than the morning one.

4 months into that and feeling knackered I was fortunate enough to be offered a job with a lovely company - 5hrs less working week for the same money and WFH full time again. It was a no brainer which is always appreciated!

As others have said, if you take the job but the commute becomes really unbearable would there be opportunities in your chosen field nearer to home and how regularly available would those opportunities be?

Or maybe look at it this way - what would you regret more? Sacrificing a (potentially) good career move to keep your current flexibility or your excellent work/life balance for a more interesting job?

Hoping you get some positive updates from potential new employer which will help with your decision making. 

kimwp

JReacher1 said:

redrabbit29 said:

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 

Yes I agree. Saying you can’t listen to an audiobook while driving is ridiculous. As you say must be a nervous or inexperienced driver.  I wonder if they have passengers in the car whether anyone is allowed to talk?

For me, the difference between an audio book and the radio or a podcast is that you have to concentrate fully to follow an audiobook or you will get permanently lost, but you are only briefly lost with the second if you concentrate on something else for a bit. Same as people conversing while I'm driving - I can listen to others chatting to each other, but can't hold a concentrated conversation and fully focus on the road. I am neither a nervous or inexperienced one, but an aware one.

OP - would a foldable bike work for the bits of the commute before and after the train?

wolvoman

OP. The value of the £7k uplift in salary is entirely dependent on how much you're on now. +£7k on £25k then much more use than +£7k on £60k (indeed you'd only get to keep £4k of it after tax).

Also highly depends what you do with your WFH saved commute time now - would you really miss it?

And also you say you have no kids now - this might lead you to take the commuting role now, with a view to more of a home-based role when/if you have kids.

Wyndham

In my 30s I did a commute which was 90 minutes 'door to desk' - but only if everything went well. I had more days that I can count where something happened, and it took longer. So while I was looking, in theory, at 3 hours a day, it generally had another half hour on that.

It was a drive of 45 minutes, then the train into the city (not London) which was 35 minutes, then 10 minutes walk to the office at the other end.

I used the time on the train to read, which was nice. But sometimes, especially on an evening, I was just too tired. And I didn't always get a seat, so on those days I didn't really end up using the time in a constructive way.

The job was worth it, and I did it for 4 years. Looking back, I can see that it was a really foundational job for my later career, so I don't regret it.

But, wouldn't do it now I'm older (now in my 50s). Since then I have had jobs where I've been away from home Monday to Friday. You have to find (and pay for) accommodation, but I felt I had more time, less stress, and more energy. And somehow my partner didn't miss the tired and irritable person who really wasn't home much anyway!