Leaving a job 6 months in?

[shandyssandy]

I've worked at the same company for several years, and planned to stick with my job indefinitely, until 2 months ago - I saw my dream job advertised for an employer close to home (entirely different sector more in line with what interests me, but doing similar actual work). I applied for the job, interviewed for it, and they've offered it to me. It's a large increase in pay, permanent, but primarily it does tally with what kind of job I'd originally tried to get a few years ago but was deemed "not experienced enough" by most recruiters.

The problem?

DH has a fairly senior job in his dept, and last year was put forward to lead a very significant project in the pipeline, due to start late Septeber 2012. It's based in London (we're in Manchester). We will only find out if he's got it in May 2012. If he does, we would all have to move with him (it's ok, he's made far bigger sacrifices for my career over the last few years than he's ever asked of me).

So....

Do I accept the new job, starting in February, knowing that if I do, I may be handing in my notice in September? Or maybe I won't!

Would this look terrible to a next employer, since it's a permanent job?

Although, I can clearly explain why I've had to leave jobs (and locations) so maybe it wouldn't be a problem?

basically I don't want to delay moving to this job offer for me based purely on the 50% chance that DH gets his project job in London. He might not get it, and then I've passed over my dream sector job, haven't I?

I'm really just worried about how this will look to a next-again employer and how my new one (large company, well established) would take someone leaving in 6 months, for a reason that they'll realise I've probably known about since 2010!

Argh.

WWYD?

I would take the job, and not worry about it - you don't know what is going to happen until May, and then it is easy enough to explain your reasons for leaving due to relocation to not only your new employer but also any prospective employers. Also, you can't put your lives on hold until you know what is happening with your DH's job - and you don't know that it is def happening.
As you say, your DH new job may not happen, in which case you have passed up the opportunity for your dream job!

you can't put your lives on hold until you know what is happening with your DH's job

Exactly, and that's exactly what it feels like if I were to decline this job offer.

I've just never stayed at a job for less than a year before, and don't want to get flagged as a job hopper by the next-again employer (in london, if it pans out).

So i'm excited and nervous too. probably worrying for nothing, i'm sure it will work itself out.

thank you for the reassurance!

I'm sure you wouldn't get labelled a job hopper for a single short-term job where there's a very clear reason you left - good luck :)

If there is a good reason then I agree its not a problem

comes in late Another thought, if it's viable... DP and I spent quite a lot of time whizzing up and down the West Coast Mainline when we had a similar situation. It's actually ok as a short-term solution, say if you wanted to do a year in the job before you moved permanently to London (we don't have DCs though, I suppose that would sink it). Though it obviously means kipping in someone's spare room and giving quite a lot of cash to Richard Branson