If your head office is in the arse end of nowhere that’s not my problem

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I’m based in London, do a highly specialised job. I’ve been contacted by a recruiter about a new job, and it seems absolutely amazing. There aren’t many people working in this sector yet and I have been at it for 15 years.

The company want someone in the office 2 days a week, but their office is in the arse end of nowhere in Norfolk.

Now I’m happy to go into the office as a when needed. But if you are going to go for presenteeism and require people to be in regardless, AND want to start recruiting for specialised technical roles, having a head office in a small town 30 miles from Norwich and 100 miles from London is a bit fucking stupid.

The recruiter has phoned me twice asking me to reconsider the offer. But they won’t budge on the 2 days a week, and I am not up for uprooting the family.

It’s a shame as I really like the team and the job. But they just seem unrealistic. They can’t find anyone else apparently….but with that office location I am not surprised.

Is it the company doing the begging or recruiters hired by the company?

If the former, it doesn't sound like a great work environment or stable company if they're not only disclosing to a candidate that they 'can't get anyone else', but also refuse to negotiate with that candidate!

If the latter, sounds like you and the company aren't a great fit for each other, but the recruiter is doggedly chasing a commission.

‘Arse end of nowhere!’ Well, aren’t you a charmer?
In an ideal world, we would all be able to choose where our offices are based. If you want the job take it . The company isn’t going to move it’s offices for you. If you don’t want the job, don’t take it! But don’t come on here moaning about how hard-done-by you are. We are not interested!
What do you expect the company to do, exactly? You sound very entitled and I have no idea why they want to hire anyone who is so dismissive of them and their location!

The East of England has been given £6.5bn (iirc) to soup up regional transport, with specific focus on high-speed links to Cambridge and London. This is part of an economic initiative to expand the Cambridge tech hub and build out related industries.

I read about this while browsing some news about property investment. It recommended buying up the Norwich area!

It's a bit of a stretch to suggest taking a job on the basis that you might end up (eventually) being a fulcrum of a thriving new hot spot but, if OP should find she'd consider moving after negotiating with the firm directly, it's something to bear in mind.

Would assume there would be a very generous relocation package if it's someone they really want. Fairly standard.

I reckon the recruiter can't find anyone else, which is obviously bad for their business, but the company is happy with the candidates it has through other means, otherwise they would be discussing the possibility of flexing their policy.

It’s not for you. But London is not the be all an end all. I’m sure they’ll get someone better suited.

There’s a government regulator in my industry that is constantly recruiting for my role, but they are based in Brighton. Being civil service they have a requirement to be in the office a minimum number of days per month. Their location means they are competing with London firms for talent, but they pay a fraction of what London firms do, and less even than firms where I am (NW). The civil service pension would potentially make it attractive to me, (it would be a hefty pay cut) but not if I have to go to Brighton at my expense (and hassle) every month.

So they can’t recruit but can’t drop the office attendance policy. I have worked fully remotely for London firms for 3 years, so am living proof that presenteesim is not required to do a good job/be part of a team!

Hi... from the arse end of Norfolk... 30 miles from Norwich... relocated from London... LOVE IT!!
So you don't want to relocate... dont.
Yes they might struggle to recruit but they'll adapt. Meanwhile providing jobs locally and benefiting from talent overlooked elsewhere.

It's just not perfect for you and that's fine, move on.

Ridiculous. They need to get a grip!

If she's not prepared to work in the company's place of business, as required, then she is neither suitable nor willing.

There is a whole world outside London

Is she though? I read it as more of a complaint about the company than the recruiter.

Norfolk is lovely but where in Norfolk? But I'm not a Londoner so that's probably why it wouldn't worry me.

this. They want something you can't do. Say no, move on.

I’m not sure that really adds up to being ‘entitled’ in its true meaning. I can see it might hit a nerve if you feel it refers to somewhere similar to where you live and you see it as a derogatory term. I read it as ‘somewhere not near a major hub’ rather than somewhere horrible. Just OP explaining that it is in an out of the way location for her/most people and therefore their behaviour is baffling.

If they are indeed in a remote location AND want niche expertise then they may have to compromise. In any case, they should take OP at her word and either drop their pursuance or meet her terms.

The two are linked - they're trying to recruit for a role they are struggling to fill because of their location. The recruiter and company are presumably feeding back to each other.

I agree with others saying jobs shouldn't be London-centric. BUT if you're in any kind of specialist industry, that makes it harder because you don't want to relocate for one employer who goes bust or makes you redundant a couple of years later, and then you're stuck in a part of the country where you can't find another job, with your kids settled in at school. You need to know you can find another job easily if you lose your current one, the job market being as volatile as it is and most employers being pretty ruthless in dumping staff who no longer serve them (the voice of experience here - I've been made redundant four times now). The London-centrism does exist for a reason.

In reality the company is probably considerably more cost effective being located in Norwich rather than London. If it isn't for the OP, not up to her to be judgemental on their business decisions. If it is such a specialist thing, getting a visa for an overseas worker shouldn't be difficult.

Quite. I'm from the arse end of Devon and take absolutely no offence at that term. Some places are just...remote. Agree with whoever said that some posters are projecting their own annoyance at opportunities in the UK being so London-centric onto the OP. (I don't live in London, nor do I want to, btw!)

They need you, not the other way around. If they want you, they'll agree to your terms. If they want to maintain their policy over getting the staff they need, then they're idiots! So probably not best you don't work there.
I'd also tell the recruiter, these are my terms, don't contact me about this role again unless they're willing to accept them. If they did, I'd block them. I couldn't be arsed with having to repeat myself everytime they contact me.

Edited to add: Just seen it's Norwich. Norwich is great.

The arse end of Norfolk, eh? Is that just over the border from Cambridgeshire, within easy hitting distance of Cambridge which is an interesting place from a tech jobs and prospects point of view? It might not be such a bad idea in that case.

Or the North Norfolk coast, which is lovely and which you might want to consider if family life, good schools etc were something you were bothered about.

I get your general point, but I have great memories of long hot summers in Norfolk growing up.

I have a friend who does the reverse - lives in Norfolk and does 2 days a week in London. She doesn't have children though. I guess it depends how much you want to make it work. Could you do two consecutive days so only one overnight? But if the travel and accommodation costs are going to outweigh the benefits of moving jobs, this one isn't the job for you and the company will need to keep looking.

The recruiter has phoned me twice asking me to reconsider the offer

tell the recruiter its pointless as the company clearly don't need you as they won't budge on presentness

Tell them to stop contacting you.

You've made your position clear they've not budged - so no point having another conversation.

We were once keen to stay put and DH was applying for nearby positions - never got anywhere despite this one place constantly having ideal positions advertised and DH matching the wanted criteria.

Few years later after a big relocation for us at a conference top guy from there corners DH and ask why they can't get people like him to apply with them as they can't fill the posts - and he was like I did several times.

Back of that guy went back turns out HR were binning candidate they wanted based on odd criteria they'd come up with and ones they let thought to interview didn't match what was needed. It had gone on years - guy rang DH to thank him. Lucky the move worked for us by then really as at time we were really upset.

If you read the OP it's 30 miles from Norwich

And Norfolk isn't known for its wide open motorways and dual carriageways.

If they want two office days and you can't give them, they think it's a good policy and you think its unnecessary, they have their office where they think best, and you are derogatory about their decision - well it doesn't matter what technical abilities you offer, you're still a poor fit for that employer. The fact that the recruiter keeps coming back means only the recruiter wants to match someone to the job, and clearly doesn't care if its a square peg/round hole situation. By sticking to their guns, the employer has done you both a favour as it sounds like you would be at odds with their culture, which can cause big issues for employers that a skill set often can't compensate for.