Side careers move? Good or bad idea?

Libs · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:39

Hi Guys,

Id just really appreciate people opinions on making a sideways careers move.

My situation I am in is that I am employed with a company very close to home (around a 15 min drive) and not entirely happy with the job. My work load is very up and down but more days than not i dont have much to do. I know some may laugh when I say thats a downfall but I need motivation and something to get my teeth into.

I have a job interview in London next week which may offer around £4000 more than my current salary, however this will be swallowed up in commuting costs. The job is working within a team of professionals scientists within the nutrition field ( I have a degree in Nutrition), however the job is starting at the bottom of the company mainly as a pa (science secretary). It seems to have more scope for future progression and in gaining valuable experience.

Bearing in mind the commute which is 45 min into Liverpool Street, then to Chancery Lane, how many of you would think it may be a good move in the long term. I know its hard to give a decision as you dont know the job or other factors. But id be really grateful for any input as its something ill need to consider. I know only i can make the decision if i got offered the job but i like to know others opinions or maybe people that do the commute.

Thanks

Yas786 · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:47

Hmmm well the first thing i would weigh up is whether or not the money is enough for your travel and is it going to give u any extra at the end of the month. Secondly whether or not you can hack such a journey...remembering that your gonna be travelling at peak rush times so trains and tubes are going to be quite crowded etc.

Also i would consider whether or not you will be happy working that far away from your home.

Gilly · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:48

I did the commute from Leeds to Manchester and back every day. Although I got to leave Lancashire every day, which was ace, it was a real bind. I wouldn't travel for more than an hour in any direction to work now.

Ukadder · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:50

Good Idea and something I'm hopeing to do in the not to distant future, thou I'll also be looking to move to london shortly after I start a job there.

From my point of view and my position I can't really expand or get a promotion in my current job, theres also no one to learn from and no one to talk to about technical problems I come across. I wan't to climb the ladder a little more and have positions that I can aim for.

I suppose it depends how much you value your career Vs your free time, I guess you'll end up working longer hours thus haveing less time off every day, I'll accept that as I'll be moving to london shortly after starting which would cancel out the commute.

Libs · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:54

Im only 23yrs and have been working in what id call a proper job for nearly 2 years since gaining my degree. So my career is very important to me at the moment and I want to progress as far as I can until poss one day i have babies?

Im a little sceptical as the job working at the bottom for a bit mainly as a pa although like i said there is good opportunities to work alongside some real professionals and gain a name within the industry!

chimaera · 6 Apr 2006 at 15:58

Libs said:
I need motivation and something to get my teeth into.

It seems to have more scope for future progression and in gaining valuable experience.

Doesn't sound like a sideways move to me, i'm in the same situation, can either move sideways for a new challenge but no more career progression than i get now, or sit where i am and try and teach myself new things with the ample bordom time i have.

The Liverpool Street commute isn't that bad, i commute into Moorgate by train. The one thing i would advise is to check whether your local station is far enough away for you to get a seat, theres nothing more miserable than standing up for an hour on a cattle class train. If you can get a seat then i think it'll be a nice journy, read a book, paper, play video games if you're me

Personally i think you should go for it, but only because i know how unmotivating a job can be when you don't have enough work to do.

...On the plus side it means you would qualify for the City meet...whenever we get round to it

Libs · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:02

I think i would get a seat. I have been into London a few times that timeof morning and usually got a seat. I live in Rayleigh so im a few stops from Southend but have the best part of the journey into Liverpool. I am also wondering if you can walk Liverpool street to Chancery Lane. If i could it may save costs. From what I can make out its between 1-2 miles walk poss 15-20mins. This is doable but not sure its ideal, but i also know the central line can be a real pain rush hour?

Yas786 · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:08

Libs said:
I think i would get a seat. I have been into London a few times that timeof morning and usually got a seat. I live in Rayleigh so im a few stops from Southend but have the best part of the journey into Liverpool. I am also wondering if you can walk Liverpool street to Chancery Lane. If i could it may save costs. From what I can make out its between 1-2 miles walk poss 15-20mins. This is doable but not sure its ideal, but i also know the central line can be a real pain rush hour?

You can do the walk from liverpool st to chancery lane but its a bit of PITA if you know what i mean especially if your all dressed up professionally ie heels. I used to walk from liverpool st to holborn when the tube strikes were on and ill tell u this much, it wasnt a very comfy walk for me even in my comfy leather shoes etc.

Actually you could probably get a bus from liverpool st to chancery lane if you so wished. The central line can get very very busy at times especially around 4.30-5.30 time slot. Sometimes it feels as if your a sardine crammed into a tin, not a nice feeling especially when the summer comes along

Rich_L · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:09

Oooh just down the road, though I do it the other way round and live in Camden but work in Billericay

The Southend commuter line doesn't seem too bad from the opposite platform from what I've seen, it's busy but not sardine-tin so, getting from Liverpool St to Chancery Lane is a bit too far to walk IMO but it's a very short tube ride that shouldn't be too unbearable....!

From what it sounds the London job would be much better career-wise, plus in the thick of it it's almost inevitable that you'll start to make contacts which may not occur as readily outside of London.

Libs · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:12

Does any one know exactly how long it would take to walk from Liverpool Street to Chancery Lane. I wouldnt particularly favour the walk but with out tube fares the salary would be more feasible.

Yas786 · 6 Apr 2006 at 16:14

Libs said:
Does any one know exactly how long it would take to walk from Liverpool Street to Chancery Lane. I wouldnt particularly favour the walk but with out tube fares the salary would be more feasible.

Depends on how fast you walk really, but it used to take me about 15 mins to walk from liverpool st to chancery lane....im not that fast a walker so dunno how long it would take a fast walker to do it in.

chimaera · 7 Apr 2006 at 16:07

Libs said:
Does any one know exactly how long it would take to walk from Liverpool Street to Chancery Lane. I wouldnt particularly favour the walk but with out tube fares the salary would be more feasible.

Its a fair walk, as Spawn said i can do it in about 15 minutes with my manly strides and half comfy shoes, if you're dolled up to the max then it could be over 20, oh and the final section up holborn viaduct is uphill

The bus is actually a cracking idea, plenty of them heading that way as it goes past St Pauls, and much more pleasant than the central line. The good thing is that you'd only need a zone 4 travelcard which is pretty cheap compared to the zone 1 tube you'd need, and that entitles you to bus travel throughout the whole of greater london.....you could sample the delights of richmond, islington...umm...barnet

alexakasloth · 7 Apr 2006 at 16:20

If you can afford it, and it won't be a pain with the commute then I would say go for it.

wordy · 7 Apr 2006 at 16:21

Libs said:
Im only 23yrs and have been working in what id call a proper job for nearly 2 years since gaining my degree. So my career is very important to me at the moment and I want to progress as far as I can until poss one day i have babies?

Im a little sceptical as the job working at the bottom for a bit mainly as a pa although like i said there is good opportunities to work alongside some real professionals and gain a name within the industry!

Go for it!!

Seriously I was in a bit of a crap job working a manufacturing job, and an I.T position became available within the company This meant between a 1-3 hour commute depending on traffic I did this job for just over a year and used the time to learn as much as I could. 4 months ago I left that comany and now work 5 mins down the road, for more pay and am currently eligible for promotion.

It's not the commute or where you start, it's where you can go that matters.

Good luck!