Working away from home

misterPK

misterPK

misterPK

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I've just come back from a meeting with our HR department and they've offered me a 2 month secondment to our depot in Dumfries. As I'm based near Warwick at the moment it'll mean staying there in a hotel monday to friday and getting back here for the weekends.

The job I'll be doing is quite interesting and a total change from what I'm doing now. It'll also be a great way to get myself noticed in the company and some great experience.

The one thing that is slightly putting me off is how I'd cope living in a hotel 5 days a week. Does anyone else do this? Will I die of boredom??

PK!
 
Tis only for 8 weeks

presume you'll get all meals paid and an allowance for this.

Would be good for the CV.

Buy an xbox or something for the room.
 
I used to keep a stock of movies on the laptop and soem good books. Two months isn't too bad - I did it for 12 months.
 
yep, i've been doing this for 6months! Personally, I really enjoy it. En suite bathroom, bed made every day, clean towels, the gym is free and only a 30sec walk down the corridor, free meals, always warm and toasty :D

Laptop with mobile internet USB modem thing keeps me online without paying ridiculous hotel internet charges.
 
i spent 6months at wylfa nuclear power station and 6 months at connors quey power station and had a whale of a time,beer and food on the company and if your a single lad put it about a bit with the locals :),
 
I do it periodically, depending on the work. I actually spent about 2 months in Dumfries myself. Stayed in a Travel Inn just outside the centre, next to a Brewers Fayre. It's alright, better if your staying with a couple of other people from the company. On your own it's a bit boring, as others have said I loaded up on films to keep me occupied in the evening.

If you do go, make sure and check out a pub in the centre called the Cavan Arms. They do some top grub!
 
Travelling on your own can be boring. You can try socialising with the local staff, but they will obviously won't want to go out every night. I always take my laptop, some ripped films and my DS but being on my own soon gets tedious.

The other worry is getting fat. Hotel meals and probably quite a lot of drinking whilst socialising can soon add up. Be wary about having a full english breakfast every morning, no matter how tasty it is.

Other than those two concerns, I've always had a great time whilst travelling with work. I've met some great people and visited some very interesting places that I would never have had the chance to visit otherwise. I would go for it if I was in your shoes.
 
Where you end up working makes a big difference. I always make a point of trying to eat somewhere other than the hotel simply to break the monotony but in a small town (and Dumfries is hardly huge) that can be a real challenge, especially 4 nights a week.

In the OP's case it's 2 months, give it a go and see how you get on. If it doesn't suit then it's not the end of the world - unlike those of us who have 25+ years of it to look forward to :(
 
you'll probably save tons of money, make more for being there and it's only 8 weeks, unless things at home are keeping you there (like a kid etc), then go for it :)
 
bledd. said:
you'll probably save tons of money, make more for being there
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Depends on the company expense policy. I lose money when working in the UK because we only get actual expenses back so beers in the hotel bar or going to the cinema cos I'm bored come out of my own pocket. I still have to pay Sky, broadband etc while I'm away even though I can't use them.
 
sist_si said:
Alan Partridge did it and he was ok. Just don't forget your big plate :D
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Hehe saw that last night, brilliant episode. Second only to the young farmers one!

Thanks for all the advice guys. If I do go insane I'll make sure I share it with you all!

PK!
 
I can't see you going insane mate, you'll probably enjoy it... plus your weeks will go fast with you being away.

I don't do quite the same... I travel fairly regulary both in the UK but mainly abroad. Will sometimes be asked to go away for the week. I enjoy it, it breaks up normal office hours and it can be fun, plus you get to travel to loads of places.

I've only been with the company i'm currently working for for just under a year, but i've visited about 6 foreign places, including another continent. All very interesting and exciting :) I'm rarely bored and sometimes prefer to be alone so I can read books/catch up on movies and do some learning. Your free from many distractions, and as said you'll save money, have your bed made and eat some gorgeous meals!! :)
 
I did it for over 3 years. Load a laptop up with DIVX and MP3 files, if you don't mind packing up a set of small external speakers - should help reduce boredom in the hotel room..

Try to dine out of the hotel as suggested. Helps to break it up a little. Shed the billy no mates image and just go to the cinema on your own if there is a film on you fancy watching...

Spend a little longer then normal when dining out, order extra drinks if the company is picking up the tab, be careful sometimes alcohol isn't included, but taking a bit longer in the restaurant means you spend a little less time on the hotel room..

Best part of living in a hotel is fresh towels, bed made for you and free coffee and tea in the morning and evenings... It can be done, 2 months is nothing...!! I thought I'd go insane when I was told I'd be on secondment for a year, ended up doing over 3 years... Not sure I'd do it again mind..

Dunno, perhaps I would... Given enough money.. Oh and get a good credit card, and spend on this but just ensure you get your expenses back before you have to pay interest. I used mine so much, I ended up with a credit limit that was just insane... :eek:
 
I've done it a lot in the past especially when I was working for ACN... it's not as bad as you might think, and you'll only be doing it for 2 months which isn't very long at all.

I've stayed both in hotels and also in self-catering appartments... hotels are nice due to the maids doing the cleaning and being able to eat in the hotel if you can't be bothered finding a good restaurant, but being in an appartment is better, imo, because it's like a home away from home and you get more space compared to a hotel room.

As said, check out what your expenses cover and make the most of it. I used to get per diems, so could choose pretty much what I wanted to spend the money on. I used to get newspapers a lot... much more so than I do nowadays.

Be prepared to put on some weight, though, due to eating out so much... unless you can find a gym that you can use or you're disciplined enough to go running.
 
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