Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Would you quit your job, relocate and hope for the best?

41 replies

fluffyatemycake · 12/10/2021 22:43

We are looking to relocate but given the distance and that my husband has to give 2 months notice, he is finding it difficult to find a job where we want to relocate to. I work remotely and have been given the all clear to move and keep my job so we are waiting on him as the main breadwinner. We have spent many weekends in this new location (about 3 hours from us) and have fallen in love with the area. We are all desperate to move. Kids included. We have narrowed down the neighbourhood where we want to live, the schools we will be applying to...we have a decent chunk of savings. Would you take the risk and live off your savings to find a job once relocated? We couldn't live off my salary but our savings would cover about a year of rent.

OP posts:
CtrlU · 12/10/2021 22:45

Yes

RandomMess · 12/10/2021 22:47

We did, DH was allowed to keep his job, I wasn't. We earned similar but we just relocated anyway.

kikipie · 12/10/2021 22:48

We did it, but moved countries with no idea what either of us was going to do for work. That was 18 years ago and we’re still here Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General money
AlexaShutUp · 12/10/2021 22:55

Hmm, I don't know. If your DH is the main breadwinner, I assume that he is looking for relatively skilled roles. Why does he think it will be easier to find a new job after moving rather than staying where you are for the time being while you look?

It's quite a leap of faith and there is a risk that you'll burn through all of your savings before he finds anything. Then what? Is there a plan B?

How many jobs has he applied for? Is he getting interviews? What's stopping him from getting jobs at the moment?

Also, are there lots of jobs in his field in the new area? Does he have transferable skills so that he could apply for other types of role too? Could you earn more/become the main breadwinner instead?

AlexaShutUp · 12/10/2021 22:58

To add, I have quit 2 jobs without knowing what was going to come next. Once in order to return to the UK after living overseas and the second time because it just wasn't the right job for me and I was confident I could find something better. The second time, I was right but it took a lot longer than I thought...

Original poster
fluffyatemycake · 12/10/2021 22:58

@AlexaShutUp

Hmm, I don't know. If your DH is the main breadwinner, I assume that he is looking for relatively skilled roles. Why does he think it will be easier to find a new job after moving rather than staying where you are for the time being while you look?

It's quite a leap of faith and there is a risk that you'll burn through all of your savings before he finds anything. Then what? Is there a plan B?

How many jobs has he applied for? Is he getting interviews? What's stopping him from getting jobs at the moment?

Also, are there lots of jobs in his field in the new area? Does he have transferable skills so that he could apply for other types of role too? Could you earn more/become the main breadwinner instead?

The area that we are looking to move to is considerably cheaper than where we live now. He could work at mcdonalds alongside my job and we could cover all the rent and bills. That is worst case scenario.
OP posts:
KeyErro · 12/10/2021 22:59

Honestly no, but it's hard to say without knowing more about the type of work your DH does and the chances he will get a good role where you want to move to.

Winniemarysarah · 12/10/2021 23:02

In this case I’d make sure he had at least a McDonald’s job lined up then before you moved. Moving sounds like the right choice for you, but don’t underestimate how hard it can be finding even a low skilled/paid job at times

grapewine · 12/10/2021 23:02

I did relocate several times (years ago now). Often without a place to stay but never without a job to go to. So I wouldn't.

Winniemarysarah · 12/10/2021 23:02

Also would he be happy working at McDonald’s long term if his desired job didn’t materialise?

grapewine · 12/10/2021 23:04

Oh, sorry. Just saw that your savings would cover you for a significant amount of time. In that case, I probably would go.

Original poster
fluffyatemycake · 12/10/2021 23:08

@Winniemarysarah

Also would he be happy working at McDonald’s long term if his desired job didn’t materialise?
Not long term no! He is a high up manager in university wellbeing service. Most of the jobs online are internal positions. He would be looking to take a lower ranking job at a uni and work his way up again when a position becomes available but worst case scenario he could take a low paying job to cover the bills.
OP posts:
RandomMess · 12/10/2021 23:21

Are there really no roles at all being offered at the uni currently, or one in commuting distance?

AlexaShutUp · 12/10/2021 23:28

Are there several universities in the area, OP, or only one? How high up are we talking? Director of Student Services type roles probably won't come that often and tend to be fairly competitive. There will be more opportunities in middle manager type roles, especially if there are multiple institutions. Would he have the skills to transfer to a wider range of university roles? Or would be be willing to look outside HE?

AlexaShutUp · 12/10/2021 23:34

What's the rush, incidentally? Is it simply that you want to move quickly? Or is there some other reason why you're under time pressure to make the move?

It just seems a big risk to burn through your savings when it isn't at all difficult in that kind of role to job hunt from a distance. You mention the 2 month notice period, but that's pretty standard (actually quite short?) for the sector/job level, so that can't be getting in the way of him finding anything, but I guess it will further delay your move.

I'd be inclined to wait it out if there is no instant need to move. It's always much easier to find work when you're in work. Not necessarily fair but just the way it is.

Does he hate his current job or something?

Original poster
fluffyatemycake · 12/10/2021 23:46

@AlexaShutUp

Are there several universities in the area, OP, or only one? How high up are we talking? Director of Student Services type roles probably won't come that often and tend to be fairly competitive. There will be more opportunities in middle manager type roles, especially if there are multiple institutions. Would he have the skills to transfer to a wider range of university roles? Or would be be willing to look outside HE?
There are 3 in the area. Moving England to Wales potentially
OP posts:
Original poster
fluffyatemycake · 12/10/2021 23:48

@AlexaShutUp

What's the rush, incidentally? Is it simply that you want to move quickly? Or is there some other reason why you're under time pressure to make the move?

It just seems a big risk to burn through your savings when it isn't at all difficult in that kind of role to job hunt from a distance. You mention the 2 month notice period, but that's pretty standard (actually quite short?) for the sector/job level, so that can't be getting in the way of him finding anything, but I guess it will further delay your move.

I'd be inclined to wait it out if there is no instant need to move. It's always much easier to find work when you're in work. Not necessarily fair but just the way it is.

Does he hate his current job or something?

No rush. He has only started in the last few months but decided if by Feb next year we are still not having any luck maybe we should just up sticks and move regardless. We don't want to still be here years later waiting for our big break.
OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 12/10/2021 23:52

OK. 3 in the area gives a few options. It still seems quite a big risk to jump into it instead of waiting for a role to come up.

It isn't easy to move out of the university sector because the t&c are typically very good. He might be able to find alternative roles outside HE if he's willing to compromise on pension, sick pay, annual leave etc.

AlexaShutUp · 12/10/2021 23:57

No rush. He has only started in the last few months but decided if by Feb next year we are still not having any luck maybe we should just up sticks and move regardless. We don't want to still be here years later waiting for our big break.

Fair enough. I'd carry on looking from a distance for as long as you can hack it, personally. You never know when those savings might come in handy for something else.

But maybe broaden the search beyond the HE sector a bit if he's willing. Some voluntary sector roles might suit him if he's willing to take a financial hit.

GreenLunchBox · 12/10/2021 23:57

I wouldn't. I'd wait for a job before moving

GreenLunchBox · 12/10/2021 23:59

If he was a doctor, pharmacist or nurse etc, no problem. What would you do if the worst case scenario happened and he never got a job in his field?

B229 · 13/10/2021 00:12

I think the worst case situation (job at McDonald's plan) is risky, overqualified cvs can get tossed out in favour of people who will stick around, students etc.
I'd need him to have a job lined up before I felt comfortable moving.

HerRoyalNotness · 13/10/2021 00:17

No I wouldn’t. I did 8yrs ago on the promise of call this guy when you get there, he’ll have a job for you, plenty of work going. He did not and there was not. It’s been a shit show ever since

MouseholeCat · 13/10/2021 01:03

We did this 4 years ago, although I was very lucky and was able to move my job in the end but was prepared to quit. It worked out brilliantly for us, but there were a few hairy months in the early days. We didn't have kids at the time though, that would probably change my peprspective.

myheartskippedabeat · 13/10/2021 01:32

@fluffyatemycake

If you can cover things for a year and you are renting and not buying and selling houses then I'd go for it.

He could always temp and I'm sure jobs will come up - where are you looking to relocate too?

Swipe left for the next trending thread