convenience Vs career prospects - which do you go for when choosing jobs?

[duktig]

I live in a crappy town where there aren't many job opportunities. Salaries are low and the only positive is that I work super close to home.

However I'm feeling really bored in my job and have started looking at some jobs in the nearest city which has loads of opportunities. There's loads of interesting organisations / businesses to work for but obviously the drawback is the commute. Depending on where the job is travel would be around 45mins door to door max.

Should I stay in my low paid job or apply for jobs in the city!?

A max 45 min commute door to door? You would be silly not to apply for something better paid and more interesting/have prospects. A 45 minute commute is really nothing. Go for it.

45 minutes door to door is nothing for better pay and progression. Use the train time to read or listen to podcasts or audio books in the car.

I may be biased as I was at home for a while this past year, but now commuting 90 mins into London and it feels so good to have my career back on track. Can't tell you how much better it is when you've got a job where you feel you have some future prospects. Nothing is forever, as I get more senior I can work more flexibly as well.

Also - why can't you move to the nearest city? Then you can travel back to the dead end town if/when you need to (I'm assuming to see family)

I live in London so 45-mins door-to-door sounds fantastic to me.
Would it all be workable with your other commitments?

Definitely career opportunities. I work in a very specific field of clinical research. I have a lot of very specific training (and a PhD). Jobs are generally only in London or Edinburgh/Glasgow. I work in London and commute in 3 hours each way 3 days a week (1day I work from home and 1 day I have off with my toddler). I’ve done this the better part of 5 years and through having 2 dc. It’s fine.

Would it be nice to work close to home? Yes, but I’d have to leave my field. I love my job. I have a dh who is self employed and can be flexible and I work from home as needed for parents evenings, school plays, etc. I make about £20,000 than I did 5 years ago, so financially it’s been a good decision too. And I still do the school runs twice a week and have my older dd with me 2 afternoons and ds that plus a full day together.

45 minutes is nothing really. Most people I know commute that far just in London.

I travel 30 - 35 minutes away from where any work really is. It’s actually fine. Listen to podcasts along the way

45 minutes is nothing! Go for them.