aibu to consider this secondment?

[Blanchedupetitpois]

I’ve been offered a 3 month secondment with a client of my firm in a city 400 miles away from where I live and I’m agonising over whether to accept.

Pros

Good for career to show willing
Good way of meeting useful contacts
Gain valuable experience

Cons

So far from home
makes DH & me TTC tricky
Same wage in more expensive city
Lonely without family

It’s a really good opportunity. Am I being a wuss for letting the cons scare me? It’s only 3 months after all - but I am a real homebody!

It is really difficult to offer advice on this one. I guess it comes down to your personal priorities. If age is a factor, for example, and you are TTC, you may say that is more important than any job. If your circumstances are different, then it could be a short term hassle for long term career gain. Three months isn't a massive amount of time. Could you come home at the weekends? Would your partner be OK with it and come and visit you? It has to be your decision, ultimately.

Have you thought through exactly how much this will cost you? I did a 9 month contract living 500 miles away from DH. It meant a second lot of rent, council tax, and utility bills + the cost of travel each weekend. It pretty much wiped out my wage. I did it as it’s the only way to get a permanent post.

Also, how easy will it be to find somewhere with just a 3 month lease? I had to sign a 12 month contract.

Luckily my expenses would be covered, so although the city is more expensive I won’t have to pay rent etc. I’m not sure if they will pay for me to come home at the weekends but I’ve asked for confirmation.

My partner is being really supportive which helps. I keep telling myself that even if it’s miserable it is only three months - that means it can only be so bad!

I think you should. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that. It sounds exciting. You'll meet new people, get experience. At worst you are away 5 nights at a time.

It's 3 months. You might like it!