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Would you change this setup for career progression?

2 replies

Strangedillemma · 10/11/2025 10:18

I have two young DC, 4 and 1 yo. I have worked in public sector for several years and some jobs have come up in another department.
If I get it it would mean an added train commute of 30 mins each way, additional £300 monthly train tickets, while my current office is 5 mins on bus or 15 mins walk from home and it's nearly free to commute.
It would be additional £10k increase in salary but more responsibility and a new organisation to navigate, however it would be good for my long term career.
Needless to say I am currently knackered because of young DC and the baby is a bad sleeper so wakes up several times each night. I like my current manager and team hence in no rush to change anything. I get 31 days annual leave due to been having here long time and get to work flexibly 4 day week.
What would you do in my position?

OP posts:
ChrisReaPoppedAnEggInMyBath · 10/11/2025 10:27

If the new role is in another department but still the same organisation or similar, could you negotiate the same flexibility, in terms of the four-day week, or condensed hours. With the added commute, are there options if the trains are late/delayed or there's strikes? Will the added time impact your childcare arrangements? And, most crucially, does your partner share the childcare pick ups, drop offs, and sick days? Do you have a support network for the days you're both up against it and there's poorly children, or no transport, or nursery is closed or....?

Do you know much about the new department? Are people usually 9-5, for example, or are they often working late or having to do extra? Are there options to work at home, or work flexibly, if needed? It sounds like you have this already, and it can be priceless. It would be good to know more about what the expectations are, just to know if they align with what you'll be able to give. When I worked in the public sector, no-one batted an eye if I headed off at a particular time to sort the school run, but when I moved to the private sector, it wasn't the norm and it quickly became clear that it was causing issues, despite what they promised.

I've always felt more ambitious straight after a period of maternity leave and have wanted to climb the ladder, but I'm also very mindful of the pressures that come with juggling a new job, new people, new expectations and a very young family, but with the right support, there shouldn't be any reason you can't smash it!

stackhead · 10/11/2025 10:30

The increased commuting costs would eat up most of your pay rise. So it wouldn't be much more money for your effort. After tax (basic rate), pension contribution (4%) and commuting cost it works out at roughly an extra £266 a month. Will you need more childcare?

Is the opportunity likely to come up again?

That said, 30 minutes isn't that long, and having some decompression time at the beginning and end of the day can actually be quite nice with young children!

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