Who does a costly commute? Quandry.
Discussion
In short, I've been offered a role for something which I was approached to apply for, and is something i've never dreamt of trying to apply for, nevermind applying for.
However, the new role requires me to be in their office 3 times a week, which is in London. I'm in the southwest and I've moved there recently. No scope for uprooting family again.
Rail Season ticket for the journey is 12k a year, for a 2 hour station to station commute each way.
Are there actually people who pay this sort of money to do the commute? I'd need a significant payrise (post tax) to cover this.
Maybe i'm just spoilt as my job has been WFH, or fully expensed by fuel card and car allowance when I travel to customers.
Can anyone share their experiences?
However, the new role requires me to be in their office 3 times a week, which is in London. I'm in the southwest and I've moved there recently. No scope for uprooting family again.
Rail Season ticket for the journey is 12k a year, for a 2 hour station to station commute each way.
Are there actually people who pay this sort of money to do the commute? I'd need a significant payrise (post tax) to cover this.
Maybe i'm just spoilt as my job has been WFH, or fully expensed by fuel card and car allowance when I travel to customers.
Can anyone share their experiences?
When I was younger (
) I used to commute from Brixham to Chiswick a couple of days a week and often Cardiff on a third day.
Not pretending it was fun by any means but it was a very simple drive in terms of knowing exactly where I was going and what traffic to expect etc so not stressful by any means and not particularly tiring.
All depends where you are in the SW and where in London you are going. If you've got 20 miles to get to the M5 before you start moving then it could be a PITA. Same coming back if you have to get across town to hit the M4. I avoid(ed) the M25 at all costs!
) I used to commute from Brixham to Chiswick a couple of days a week and often Cardiff on a third day.Not pretending it was fun by any means but it was a very simple drive in terms of knowing exactly where I was going and what traffic to expect etc so not stressful by any means and not particularly tiring.
All depends where you are in the SW and where in London you are going. If you've got 20 miles to get to the M5 before you start moving then it could be a PITA. Same coming back if you have to get across town to hit the M4. I avoid(ed) the M25 at all costs!
devnull said:
In short, I've been offered a role for something which I was approached to apply for, and is something i've never dreamt of trying to apply for, nevermind applying for.
However, the new role requires me to be in their office 3 times a week, which is in London. I'm in the southwest and I've moved there recently. No scope for uprooting family again.
Rail Season ticket for the journey is 12k a year, for a 2 hour station to station commute each way.
Are there actually people who pay this sort of money to do the commute? I'd need a significant payrise (post tax) to cover this.
Maybe i'm just spoilt as my job has been WFH, or fully expensed by fuel card and car allowance when I travel to customers.
Can anyone share their experiences?
Shut up and take the money However, the new role requires me to be in their office 3 times a week, which is in London. I'm in the southwest and I've moved there recently. No scope for uprooting family again.
Rail Season ticket for the journey is 12k a year, for a 2 hour station to station commute each way.
Are there actually people who pay this sort of money to do the commute? I'd need a significant payrise (post tax) to cover this.
Maybe i'm just spoilt as my job has been WFH, or fully expensed by fuel card and car allowance when I travel to customers.
Can anyone share their experiences?
And you're lucky it's only 3 days a week
You can always drive further and catch a train at Reading/Didcot/Swindon or some place like that - season ticket should be cheaper.
devnull said:
In short, I've been offered a role for something which I was approached to apply for, and is something i've never dreamt of trying to apply for, nevermind applying for.
So putting expense aside for a moment... do you want to take your career in this direction ? If you did take the job, does it open up further opportunities later on ? maybe with more local employers ?If you don't take it are there still routes from your current position upwards ?
I guess its a case of if the investment would be repaid later in your career. If you are a bit limited in your current area of expertise and this new job could open up possibilities it could well be worth it. If its a bit niche or wouldn't necessarily provide new opportunities then there is no point imho.
Only you can decide if the investment will be worth living with the downsides. If you don't know salary maybe you can at least get some idea from a recruiter / whoever suggested you apply ?
Which 3 days in the office?
If you can group together Tues, Weds and Thurs then you would probably be better off staying in London 2 nights a week. Go up Tues morning, stay Tues and Weds, come home Thurs. If your family life can take the strain. I don't think 5 hours commute a day is sustainable over any kind of time period frankly.
If you can group together Tues, Weds and Thurs then you would probably be better off staying in London 2 nights a week. Go up Tues morning, stay Tues and Weds, come home Thurs. If your family life can take the strain. I don't think 5 hours commute a day is sustainable over any kind of time period frankly.
Thanks for the excellent replies thus far!
To be specific, i'm very near Bristol, so it's a 2h15 journey into Paddington, plus the journey from Paddington to the company offices (there's a couple so not sure what one yet).
Days have yet to be discussed, would probably like to do Tuesday-Thurs in the office, with Monday and Friday at home to beat the rush, but we shall have to see.
I'm 4 miles to the nearest station, and 10 mins to the M5, no issue there. New company is in central london, driving to the centre everyday would finish anyone off
Regarding the role (Technical Sales) - it is essentially the role i have now, but selling new company's products in the same manner.
I enjoy my current job a lot, i'm pretty good at it by my own admission, but the company is dwindling, with an uncertain future - i might be made redundant in the coming months, or it will be business as usual. In addition, the current company has essentially no chance of promotion for me. New company can offer me the same role, and allows me to "look around" to see where I eventually want to go.
To be specific, i'm very near Bristol, so it's a 2h15 journey into Paddington, plus the journey from Paddington to the company offices (there's a couple so not sure what one yet).
Days have yet to be discussed, would probably like to do Tuesday-Thurs in the office, with Monday and Friday at home to beat the rush, but we shall have to see.
I'm 4 miles to the nearest station, and 10 mins to the M5, no issue there. New company is in central london, driving to the centre everyday would finish anyone off
Regarding the role (Technical Sales) - it is essentially the role i have now, but selling new company's products in the same manner.
I enjoy my current job a lot, i'm pretty good at it by my own admission, but the company is dwindling, with an uncertain future - i might be made redundant in the coming months, or it will be business as usual. In addition, the current company has essentially no chance of promotion for me. New company can offer me the same role, and allows me to "look around" to see where I eventually want to go.
Daily commuting sounds unfeasible as it'll be near enough 3hrs each way door to door, do you want to live away from your family to lessen that burden?
Is the new role an opportunity to dramatically and positively enhance your career trajectory or future earnings?
Unless both of these are overwhelmingly yes, is it worth thinking more about?
Is the new role an opportunity to dramatically and positively enhance your career trajectory or future earnings?
Unless both of these are overwhelmingly yes, is it worth thinking more about?
Yep
I commute by train from Castle Cary to Reading. I have a 20 minute drive to Castle Cary and then the train takes 1hr 20mins.
I like the time on the train in the mornings I go back to sleep and in the evenings I listen to music or sometimes I work on the train.
Train gets busy after Newbury and it does take a bit of getting used to especially as some peoples train etiquette is well, quite frankly really irritating.
Its a means to an end I was stuck where I was at work and in order to progress my career the commute is a necessary evil. The role I have now is much better and I really like my job which isnt something I have been able to say for many years.
I have negotiated a WFH day now once a week which takes the sting out of it a little.
You could try using a technique called "split ticketing" and see if that reduces the ticket cost.
Have a look here, put your start and end destination station in and it will do the rest for you.
https://raileasy.trainsplit.com
I commute by train from Castle Cary to Reading. I have a 20 minute drive to Castle Cary and then the train takes 1hr 20mins.
I like the time on the train in the mornings I go back to sleep and in the evenings I listen to music or sometimes I work on the train.
Train gets busy after Newbury and it does take a bit of getting used to especially as some peoples train etiquette is well, quite frankly really irritating.
Its a means to an end I was stuck where I was at work and in order to progress my career the commute is a necessary evil. The role I have now is much better and I really like my job which isnt something I have been able to say for many years.
I have negotiated a WFH day now once a week which takes the sting out of it a little.
You could try using a technique called "split ticketing" and see if that reduces the ticket cost.
Have a look here, put your start and end destination station in and it will do the rest for you.
https://raileasy.trainsplit.com
Thanks again for the replies - still waiting on some finer points from the company as to the role, so travel is an ongoing negotiation.
Ultimately, the role is a little bit of a "one step back, two steps forward" for me, as I have a senior position at the moment, whereas the new role is a little bit more desk based. However, like many people have said in their replies it is sometimes the done thing to get along in your career.
Ultimately, i think i'll accept the role if the company decides to fund my travel. I think it will be a massive change for me, but its something i'll be willing to do.
Ultimately, the role is a little bit of a "one step back, two steps forward" for me, as I have a senior position at the moment, whereas the new role is a little bit more desk based. However, like many people have said in their replies it is sometimes the done thing to get along in your career.
Ultimately, i think i'll accept the role if the company decides to fund my travel. I think it will be a massive change for me, but its something i'll be willing to do.
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