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Original poster

How to relocate with a rubbish job market

46 replies

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 10:53

Hi

I'm trying to relocate from London to Birmingham. I've been in London for years, but now for a number of reasons will be relocating to Birmingham. After looking at a number of areas, it looked like this had the best job market.

However, after looking for a number of months, there's hardly any suitable jobs at all on job boards etc. And what I have applied for I've heard absolutely nothing. I'm getting really worried as I have to move in the next few months.

I've spoken to a few west Midlands recruiters and they've said I won't be taken seriously until I actually move and therefore employers won't consider me! Which is ridiculous as I can't move without a job.

I'm currently miserable in my job, so I really want to move on!

I know the job market is vastly better in London, but I thought I would have had some positive news over the past six plus months.

How on earth have others relocated out of London?!

I am mid senior HR, so remote doesn't exist and I would be lucky to get 2 days a week wfh, which obviously doesn't work.

Posting for traffic.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 10:56

I have tried to look for super flexible roles in London, but in HR they don't really exist. The max I could get is 2 days wfh. And I can't commute 3 days to London per week.

We aren't 100% set on west Midlands, but absolutely desperate to get away from London and the surrounding areas, so moving to Kent etc does not work.

OP posts:
MojoMoon · 15/08/2023 10:56

Tell recruiters you are willing to commute? Or tell a white lie that you have a second flat in Birmingham but your main home in London.

We have people who commute from Birmingham to London at work so it's not unheard of for peol to commute.

So I am sceptical this is the main reason for lack of job offers tbh

Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:01

I have told them I'm willing to commute until we get a property. The response I've received is I won't be taken seriously until I have moved.

How often are your colleagues commuting ? I just couldn't commute 3 or 4 days a week! It's 2.5 hour train from bham to Paddington.

I've not even had an interview.

The job market is so different. Last week 4 suitable roles were posted on LinkedIn in Bham, compared with the hundreds in London that were posted.

OP posts:
MojoMoon · 15/08/2023 11:23

Fast train is 1hr 16 mins from Euston to Birmingham. Then 10mins on hire bike to our office.

Colleague I know the most is in three or four days. He does live in central Bham so think it's only ten mins walk at other end.

Get another job in London that you like better than current one, is near Euston and move to central Birmingham?

EpsilonMaltravers · 15/08/2023 11:27

Are you looking for private or public sector? Public sector can be more flexible. If you would consider a council job in the Wsst Midlands they are all on WM Jobs website

turkeytwizzlerss · 15/08/2023 11:33

Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:01

I have told them I'm willing to commute until we get a property. The response I've received is I won't be taken seriously until I have moved.

How often are your colleagues commuting ? I just couldn't commute 3 or 4 days a week! It's 2.5 hour train from bham to Paddington.

I've not even had an interview.

The job market is so different. Last week 4 suitable roles were posted on LinkedIn in Bham, compared with the hundreds in London that were posted.

What are you talking about. Plenty of 1.5 hour train journey. Leicester is 1 hour as well

Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:38

I meant Euston not Paddington.

I have never seen the 1 hour 20 min trains, I travel to bham fairly often but always get the 2 hour plus trains due to cost. I can't believe I've not seen the shorter trains. That would have saved me some anxiety. I do usually have good attention to detail. I blame the stress!

Thank you!!!

I think you're right, look at roles not far from Euston. That will be OK for the fairly short term until I get the right role in the west Midlands

@MojoMoon

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:40

EpsilonMaltravers · 15/08/2023 11:27

Are you looking for private or public sector? Public sector can be more flexible. If you would consider a council job in the Wsst Midlands they are all on WM Jobs website

Private.

I wouldn't mind public at all. I've applied for a couple of roles, but didn't hear back.

OP posts:
PensionPuzzle · 15/08/2023 11:42

Marylebone is another station option from Brum if I remember correctly. Or you could look at Leicester if St Pancras works as well.

rachelvbwho · 15/08/2023 11:45

Yep there are definitely shorter train journeys - loads of them going into different London terminals! It's 2.5 hours from Lancaster to London Euston and that's probably double the length.

LookingWest · 15/08/2023 11:46

There are quite a few civil service roles that can be worked from multiple locations so might be worth looking at those as options to cover a transition if you can take the pay hit from private sector. As in potentially start in London but look to transfer to one of the other locations when you move

rachelvbwho · 15/08/2023 11:46

Also take a look at the various universities, they are generally more flexible and all have HR teams... Often struggle to recruit into them too!

Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:47

rachelvbwho · 15/08/2023 11:45

Yep there are definitely shorter train journeys - loads of them going into different London terminals! It's 2.5 hours from Lancaster to London Euston and that's probably double the length.

The 2 plus hour trains are the cheaper ones, so that's why ive missed them before ! Alongside me panicking!!!

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:48

PensionPuzzle · 15/08/2023 11:42

Marylebone is another station option from Brum if I remember correctly. Or you could look at Leicester if St Pancras works as well.

Thank you

I think Marylebone are two hours commute too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:49

LookingWest · 15/08/2023 11:46

There are quite a few civil service roles that can be worked from multiple locations so might be worth looking at those as options to cover a transition if you can take the pay hit from private sector. As in potentially start in London but look to transfer to one of the other locations when you move

Thanks

I really would love to work in CS, I have a couple of friends that do and they get so much flex.

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 11:51

How do they know where you live? My address isn't on my CV?

Surely you just discuss locations you'd be wiling to work in x days per week.

I'm also surprised that mid/senior HR automatically means no more than 2 days WFH per week. Do you work in an industry that is dependent on in-person/face to face work?

Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 11:54

rachelvbwho · 15/08/2023 11:46

Also take a look at the various universities, they are generally more flexible and all have HR teams... Often struggle to recruit into them too!

Oh really!
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 12:09

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 11:51

How do they know where you live? My address isn't on my CV?

Surely you just discuss locations you'd be wiling to work in x days per week.

I'm also surprised that mid/senior HR automatically means no more than 2 days WFH per week. Do you work in an industry that is dependent on in-person/face to face work?

My address isn't on my cv. But my current role is a big London based company, so all they would have to do it know the company or Google it. All my previous roles are London based too.

I have looked at many industries and have a hr network across different industries, and I dont know anyone that is my level, more junior or more senior, that is doing more than 2 days a week from home. It is thoug
ght that HR cannot be done that effectively if you are more often out of the office than in. I am inclined to agree with that tbh

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 12:13

It is thought that HR cannot be done that effectively if you are more often out of the office than in. I am inclined to agree with that tbh

That assumes all the rest of the employees are in on the same day as you and in the same office location.

I work for a large (FTSE100) national. We do 2 days a week in the office and are at different locations so "office" could mean wherever is nearest.

I'm not sure if I'm being naive about provincial recruiters but I don't understand why it matters to them where you live.

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 12:45

Also- are you enquiring about the London (or non- W Mids) jobs to find out how many days you'd be expected to be in the office?

Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 14:51

Yes I am. Alot of employers are trying to move away from the very flex hybrid model it seems.

I've not seen any suitable roles that offer more than 2 days a week at home. Tbh most roles offer 1 day wfh. This is in London, as I've been keeping an eye on both markets ad I'm pretty desperate to move on from my current role.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 14:51

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 12:45

Also- are you enquiring about the London (or non- W Mids) jobs to find out how many days you'd be expected to be in the office?

Most say on the advert, or upon discussion say 1-2 days at home.

OP posts:
Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 14:55

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 12:13

It is thought that HR cannot be done that effectively if you are more often out of the office than in. I am inclined to agree with that tbh

That assumes all the rest of the employees are in on the same day as you and in the same office location.

I work for a large (FTSE100) national. We do 2 days a week in the office and are at different locations so "office" could mean wherever is nearest.

I'm not sure if I'm being naive about provincial recruiters but I don't understand why it matters to them where you live.

Are you in HR doing 2 days a week in the office?

I also work for a FTSE 100, albeit mostly London and south east based.

It matters to regional recruiters because they and employers would consider my commute before offering me an interview for a role. And if I live a few hours away and other similar candidates don't, then they go with the others.

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 15:00

I'm not in HR myself but my HR colleagues are not expected to do more than 2 days a week in an office.

I'm confused because they don't know what your personal arrangements are - you might be prepared to book a hotel or apartment for the nights you need to be in a city, or have friends or family that you can stay with. But as I said, I may be naive about attitudes from provincial recruiters.

Original poster
Waitingandwaitingg · 15/08/2023 15:58

Whataretheodds · 15/08/2023 15:00

I'm not in HR myself but my HR colleagues are not expected to do more than 2 days a week in an office.

I'm confused because they don't know what your personal arrangements are - you might be prepared to book a hotel or apartment for the nights you need to be in a city, or have friends or family that you can stay with. But as I said, I may be naive about attitudes from provincial recruiters.

I would absolutely love to find a role only requiring 2 days a week in the office

I completely forgot somehow, but I was in an interview for a great role in the west mids, right back at the start of my search. They offered me a final interview and then pulled it and the feedback was

'They are concerned about your move date'

Bearing in mind they knew I was relocating all along.

I have a three month notice which IMO is more than enough time to find a rental!

OP posts:
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