Would you take this job?

[victorialine2022]

I got an interview for a job I really like on Monday, problem is it’s an hour away. I live in London, would have to change tube twice and then get a bus 10 mins. Currently work at Greggs, so I looked for another job I could do at night so applied for this and got the interview on Monday.

I really need the money, hence why I applied for this specific job.

But I’m sat here thinking, is an hour long to travel? Will I regret working there due to the long commute? Im also going to start taking driving lessons soon. What do you think??

An hour is standard for a London commute, though it’s not ideal. Would you really want to drive instead though?? The traffic would be awful I think I’d prefer reading a book on public transport.

An hour is not a long commute in London. Get a book and use it to relax after work

Yikes, London is a different world!

I hate commuting so it wouldn't be for me. I would work out how much the travelling time reduces your hourly rate and decide from that if it's worth it. I'm guessing that as this is a second job (and at night!) it will be hard work juggling both with that commute.

As for driving, well it's taking ages to get from having lessons to having a license these days, so that could be a long way off.

Without knowing your circumumstances, it's impossible to say if that is too much.

Do you have other arrangements (e.g. childcare) that will be made more difficult?

Is the travel / work ratio reasonable? In terms of time and expenses. As a teen I took a 1 hr bus each way for a 4 hr Saturday job. Not only did 1/4 of my wages go on travel, it took up the best part of the day for just a few hours work.

Will it lead to better future opportunities?

Do you find commuting relaxing? It can be a nice cut off from work - in the past I quite enjoyed sitting and reading / watching the world go by for an hour or so.

This would be a second job?

I think an hour is a normal commute to a good career, well paid type job. Not for a (presumably) part time, second job, unless it's very well paid.

If its full time and a career style job I'd say this is fine. My commute is an hour, half walking, half train. I enjoy listening to music and reading during that time, Wordle etc, it's not so bad!

It depends on how much it pays and if the tubebus link is reliable or you may end up hanging around.

Are you planning on doing this job and the Gregg's job? If so, that's a fair bit of travel for two jobs tbh

It depends whether the pay makes it worth it? I wouldn't do that journey for a minimum wage job.

I used to do that every day when I lived in London. Didn't even think about it, just got on with it. Public transport is so regular in the city so it's hardly a bind.
Sounds like you need the money.

I’d have thought an hours commute was pretty standard. I always had a 60-90 minute commute but now it’s 10 minutes and it’s pure bliss

I'd find an hour too far. And, so do all the people who now prefer to wfh who would pre Covid have told you that an hour was "standard".
But I guess it depends on how much you need the job and how much you value 2 extra hours of time.

I know an hour is not considered a long commute as such when you live in London, hence why I'm a bit on the fence taking this job. I live in east London, and I used to work in a care home in North West London, took me an hour to get there and I remember how tired I was, but tbh it was hard working 12 hour shifts in that care home and then having 1 hour commute home, and also the tubes were suspended sometimes, and you just never knew when. You'd get at the station, and all the trains were suspended, it was horrible. So there's also that to consider. But I don't know honestly, still have some few days to sleep on it.

It’s not the time, it’s the changes that would put me off. I did a similar commute years ago and it was awful.

It depends if the job is worth it, does the increase in pay cover the travel and time travelled? If this would not be an improvement then what else makes it worth it - does it improve your experience and skills, are there potential opportunities or doors that could be opened through thus job?