Completely depressed before I start new role

[Spooky2000]

I work in the civil service. I applied for a new role in a different department that pays an extra £6k pa and got it. Great, I thought. However...

When I applied for the role it said 'must be available for training'. No problem. What it DIDN'T say is that this is residential training, literally hundreds of miles from where I live. I know that this is initially 3 weeks then a break (where I'll work in office in Manc) and then return to residential training - for how long, I don't know. None of this was in the advert or disclosed to me before I accepted the role. Additionally, the office location of where I will be based in Manc is incredibly hard to reach with no parking and will add on an extra 3 hours round trip to my working day - also not disclosed at interview/acceptance. I had asked and was given very woolly answers - now I know why! It means that I can kiss goodbye to the extra money per month as I am having to spend it on dog sitters permanently, as I'll need someone to call in on them every day, at a cost of £70 per week, plus the cost of the travel. My quality of life therefore has shot downhill and I'm extremely depressed at the thought of working there. I'm also very angry - had there been full disclosure in the advert or prior to accepting, I would have said no.

I loathed my previous CS position so returning to that is a non-starter. I am thinking that I will just have to suck this up for 12 months and look for something out of the service that doesn't involve the travel. I came on here thinking that perhaps there may be some suggestions from you lovely MN'ers regarding travel etc, but there's nothing I can do, is there?

Is the training useful/transferable to other roles? A gruelling residential training programme of unspecified duration feels like joining MI5. What on earth is the role? What does the residential training involve? Combat? Archery?

I am confused. The training aspect sounds like they were very vague and you might have a good argument against it.
But I am surprised you accepted a job without knowing where the office was located in a city the size of Manchester. Did they suggest that it was in your previous office?

Well the training is one thing. I wouldn’t be happy that they hadn’t let you know the details, but I’d suck it up if it’s just for three weeks.

But I don’t understand how you accepted the job without knowing where it is permanently based? The location is usually on the contract, even if it wasn’t verbally discussed before you got the contract.

Was none of this discussed at interview? Didn't you ask about what the training entailed?

LOL, those would probably be useful skills in today's market! Yes, it will have transferable skills and training actually - in a niche area of law. 🤔 Thanks, I'd not thought of that.

@Bobbie12345678 I was told it's at Manch Picc. It's nowhere bloody near there! It's Salford Quays.

@TappyGilmore It's a lot more than 3 weeks - it's 3 weeks to start with. I haven't received the contract as yet, and I wasn't told where exactly it is based, but a colleague suggested it would be Manc Picc - it isn't. Locals will know that there's bugger all parking around there that isn't expensive, and my nearest tram stop that takes me directly is 12 miles away! Even if I take the train (40 mins), it's 35 min walk to the office. :(

@IamSmarticus The 'interview' was a presentation required on my part. As the post wasn't advertised as requiring residential training, I assumed (as I think most would) that they meant daily work based training. It's all been very smoke and mirrors tbh and I've had difficulty getting a straight answer on anything.

Sorry OP - I’m trying to think of possible parking places around there. Is parking at IWM an option? I think that was quite reasonable last time I went. Are there park and rides which are closer (even if you had to change at Cornbrook or similar)?

id be as annoyed as you are with the training, can you find out the details and see if there’s any wiggle room, especially as residential training wasn’t mentioned at interview?

Could you get the train and then cycle?

Although not central, Salford Quays is easy enough to get to from town via tram, or park and ride via Parkway or Ladywell

Is this a POU role based at the Soapworks by any chance??

Salford Quays is really well connected on the tram. Can't you park and ride? Everyone I know who works in Media City does this.

Is it ICE? I know that's a long residential course. And you've said it's a niche area of the law. If so the skills are very transferable and there's nothing stopping you from applying for jobs now either? I know lots leave after a few months or transfer elsewhere.