Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling?
Discussion
Hi,
I have got a job offer from one of IT company but I haven’t made a final decision. This role involves a UK and International travelling, maximum one week to four week away from home at one time. So basically I will be travelling to client site for requirement gathering and then doing the software development from home.
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
They are paying good money though and I can live anywhere in UK as it is a home based job with travelling to client sites.
Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling and then staying away from home for 2-4 weeks?
I have got a job offer from one of IT company but I haven’t made a final decision. This role involves a UK and International travelling, maximum one week to four week away from home at one time. So basically I will be travelling to client site for requirement gathering and then doing the software development from home.
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
They are paying good money though and I can live anywhere in UK as it is a home based job with travelling to client sites.
Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling and then staying away from home for 2-4 weeks?
SteveDyson said:
Hi,
I have got a job offer from one of IT company but I haven’t made a final decision. This role involves a UK and International travelling, maximum one week to four week away from home at one time. So basically I will be travelling to client site for requirement gathering and then doing the software development from home.
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
They are paying good money though and I can live anywhere in UK as it is a home based job with travelling to client sites.
Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling and then staying away from home for 2-4 weeks?
If I was 25, no kids and lot of energy, I would do it like a shot. I'm 40 with 2 young kids, it would have to be for a finite period and make me, both financially and career-wise for me to consider it.I have got a job offer from one of IT company but I haven’t made a final decision. This role involves a UK and International travelling, maximum one week to four week away from home at one time. So basically I will be travelling to client site for requirement gathering and then doing the software development from home.
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
They are paying good money though and I can live anywhere in UK as it is a home based job with travelling to client sites.
Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling and then staying away from home for 2-4 weeks?
I know some "family" men love it, because it gets them out the house, away from their family. That's really not me, as I may as well not have any.
I was single-ish at the time, I was about 40, and I was away for 7-12 days per month on average. For 3 years.
Did I enjoy it? – some of the time, about 1 in 5 are enjoyable and could be considered jollies
The rest for me was Heathrow-to-airport-hotel-shipyard-hotel (repeat as necessary)-airport-Heathrow.
Very hard on the social life, relationships came and went, and I just got exhausted living like that.
If you are under 30, single, and you need the career… go for it…otherwise……..
Did I enjoy it? – some of the time, about 1 in 5 are enjoyable and could be considered jollies
The rest for me was Heathrow-to-airport-hotel-shipyard-hotel (repeat as necessary)-airport-Heathrow.
Very hard on the social life, relationships came and went, and I just got exhausted living like that.
If you are under 30, single, and you need the career… go for it…otherwise……..
Seeing as most women who are murdered are killed by their husband/partner, then if you're away a lot, then it's because you want her to be as safe as possible. That's what I told my wife, but she didn't really buy into it.
But seriously, your main priority is to provide for your family, and if that's what you have to do, so be it.
I missed my youngest son's first steps, I'd just left for 10 days away. When I returned he could almost run!!
But I don't feel guilty about it, I was doing what I had to do to put a roof over their heads and food on the table.
But seriously, your main priority is to provide for your family, and if that's what you have to do, so be it.
I missed my youngest son's first steps, I'd just left for 10 days away. When I returned he could almost run!!
But I don't feel guilty about it, I was doing what I had to do to put a roof over their heads and food on the table.
I have to travel (Europe) a reasonable amount, it comes & goes but it's never fun - and I'm only ever away during the week, not for several weeks.
A friend of mine spends probably 80% or more of his time travelling the entire globe, and has done ever since I've known him, and during his kids' entire growing up - but they seem to be a happy, well-adjusted family and he is in a VERY well paid job.
A friend of mine spends probably 80% or more of his time travelling the entire globe, and has done ever since I've known him, and during his kids' entire growing up - but they seem to be a happy, well-adjusted family and he is in a VERY well paid job.
I contract and therefore go where the work is. I fully expect that there are periods where I have to stay away every week. On the flip side some roles are working from home and so it is rough and smooth.
Whether I'd do it for a salary in permiedom though.....depends on the alternative I suppose.
Whether I'd do it for a salary in permiedom though.....depends on the alternative I suppose.
The business I am in involves a lot of traveling and we have a lot of people on 2nd and 3rd marriages. The other effect it when you are away its boring and its easy to be tempted women, drink, gambling etc.
I put a lot of effort in to make sure I picked my daughter up as much as I could and she is now 21 and recognises how hard I worked but if I hyad my time over again I would do it different and would have spent less time away
I put a lot of effort in to make sure I picked my daughter up as much as I could and she is now 21 and recognises how hard I worked but if I hyad my time over again I would do it different and would have spent less time away
you mention you could relocate, is this on the cards? what lifestyle would this give you? does living in europe appeal?
personally the answer is yes, but i am not married with kids. i get stifled in the office and am experiencing cabin fever having not travelled in the last 3 mths. i even enjoy the mundane trips and spending a month away is a double bonus as i am not spending my own money.
personally the answer is yes, but i am not married with kids. i get stifled in the office and am experiencing cabin fever having not travelled in the last 3 mths. i even enjoy the mundane trips and spending a month away is a double bonus as i am not spending my own money.
SteveDyson said:
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
I think a lot depends on how much of a 'unit' you wife and kids are - my BIL travelled a lot when his kids (boy & girl) were small and his wife said it was a bit of a pain when he was home as he messed up their routines.It's a strange one this, from my experience.
I started my working career travelling a great deal, 7-9 months away per year in 4-6 week blocks. These were the good old days when you got a tax rebate for being out of the country on business >90 days a year but I digress!
Somehow I managed to meet my wife during this time and eventually produce a brood (first one 6 years after we married - time away probably explains why). I even disppeared to Australia for 3 weeks just 2 weeks after child no. 2 was born leaving my wife to deal with everything. When we had three children under 5 I was still tavelling frequently albeit normally for only a week at a time. I/my wife thought nothing of this; it was our way of life. Indeed, she did comment that when I was home for a week it did upset the routines!
My travel started winding down about 10 years ago. I don't miss it at all and I've really appreciated being around as my kids have grown from young children to young adults. Looking back I do wonder how I 'got away' with being away when they were young. Do I think I missed out? Not really, I think being around from age7/8 through the teens has been far more valuable for the whole family.
Oddly enough as I write this, I'm currently away on business for the first time in two years!
So my advice, if the job is right, has prospects of progression and pays well then I'd go for it. The family will adapt and the fact that your time at home is truly at home then there's opportunity to compensate for the periods away.
I started my working career travelling a great deal, 7-9 months away per year in 4-6 week blocks. These were the good old days when you got a tax rebate for being out of the country on business >90 days a year but I digress!
Somehow I managed to meet my wife during this time and eventually produce a brood (first one 6 years after we married - time away probably explains why). I even disppeared to Australia for 3 weeks just 2 weeks after child no. 2 was born leaving my wife to deal with everything. When we had three children under 5 I was still tavelling frequently albeit normally for only a week at a time. I/my wife thought nothing of this; it was our way of life. Indeed, she did comment that when I was home for a week it did upset the routines!
My travel started winding down about 10 years ago. I don't miss it at all and I've really appreciated being around as my kids have grown from young children to young adults. Looking back I do wonder how I 'got away' with being away when they were young. Do I think I missed out? Not really, I think being around from age7/8 through the teens has been far more valuable for the whole family.
Oddly enough as I write this, I'm currently away on business for the first time in two years!
So my advice, if the job is right, has prospects of progression and pays well then I'd go for it. The family will adapt and the fact that your time at home is truly at home then there's opportunity to compensate for the periods away.
Depends what your family dynamics are like. Personally I wouldn't give up the time spent with the kids. You can't get the time back with your kids. I've given up one day a week to be with the little one as has the OH.No regrets loved the time with her. We could both work FT and have a bigger house etc but IMHO there is no contest. That said we are all different so you have to find what works.
I've travelled and worked overseas for 30 years, and know loads of people who do it, but my advice is simple, 'do not start it after you get married', if you do a lot of travelling and then meet your wife then there are few problems but I know loads of people who changed after they were married and they are all divorced.
SteveDyson said:
Hi,
I have got a job offer from one of IT company but I haven’t made a final decision. This role involves a UK and International travelling, maximum one week to four week away from home at one time. So basically I will be travelling to client site for requirement gathering and then doing the software development from home.
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
They are paying good money though and I can live anywhere in UK as it is a home based job with travelling to client sites.
Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling and then staying away from home for 2-4 weeks?
I have a young family too, and my whole outlook on life has changed. Before I would stay at work until midnight if I had an important deadline approaching; now I stop work at 5:30-6pm and head home to see the family. Then after bedtime I will work at home through the night.I have got a job offer from one of IT company but I haven’t made a final decision. This role involves a UK and International travelling, maximum one week to four week away from home at one time. So basically I will be travelling to client site for requirement gathering and then doing the software development from home.
I have got a family and two kids under age 6, just wondering that it would be too much staying away from a family for 4 weeks.
They are paying good money though and I can live anywhere in UK as it is a home based job with travelling to client sites.
Would you take a job which involves alot of travelling and then staying away from home for 2-4 weeks?
No amount of money or career prospects will tempt me into missing seeing my family grow up. So my answer is a massive NO.
Berw said:
I've travelled and worked overseas for 30 years, and know loads of people who do it, but my advice is simple, 'do not start it after you get married', if you do a lot of travelling and then meet your wife then there are few problems but I know loads of people who changed after they were married and they are all divorced.
+1, absolutely.The only other thing I'd say is if it's going to be a lot of long-haul find out what their flight policy is in advance. Economy class is fine up to a couple of hours, but for thirteen hours transatlantic, or if you're doing it Monday & Friday every week for a month, your back will not appreciate it.
I really appreciate everyone’s reply. Thank you for that.
I have found out bit more on traveling and it will be like 3-4 weeks away (on trip) and 2-3 months working from home and so on.....
On one side i will be away from home for 3-4 weeks (i think i can bear 2 weeks not more than that) and on the other side i will be home for 2-3 months. Dont know if it balances everything.
I have found out bit more on traveling and it will be like 3-4 weeks away (on trip) and 2-3 months working from home and so on.....
On one side i will be away from home for 3-4 weeks (i think i can bear 2 weeks not more than that) and on the other side i will be home for 2-3 months. Dont know if it balances everything.
Edited by SteveDyson on Tuesday 30th April 12:31
bucksmanuk said:
I was single-ish at the time, I was about 40, and I was away for 7-12 days per month on average. For 3 years.
Did I enjoy it? – some of the time, about 1 in 5 are enjoyable and could be considered jollies
The rest for me was Heathrow-to-airport-hotel-shipyard-hotel (repeat as necessary)-airport-Heathrow.
Very hard on the social life, relationships came and went, and I just got exhausted living like that.
If you are under 30, single, and you need the career… go for it…otherwise……..
I'll echo this. Everyone you speak to (that hasn't done it) will think you've got the easiest job in the world seeing all these different places, meeting different people.Did I enjoy it? – some of the time, about 1 in 5 are enjoyable and could be considered jollies
The rest for me was Heathrow-to-airport-hotel-shipyard-hotel (repeat as necessary)-airport-Heathrow.
Very hard on the social life, relationships came and went, and I just got exhausted living like that.
If you are under 30, single, and you need the career… go for it…otherwise……..
The reality is you've been up from 4.30am, have had to deal with hassle of security, boarding, idiots that either don't understand the concept of common courtesy at 6.30am on a small flight or t
ts off their face on booze at tea time on the return trip. You pick up the hire car and see motorway for a few hours, arrive at the job, do what needs done, realise you haven't eaten in 10 hours so head to hotel to check in and eat. Maybe have a pint, on your own, hundreds of miles from home. Maybe listen in on two spacers next to you complaining about the food and how David has a really nouveau direction he wants to take the business in.
By this stage you've been up for 16 hours and can't be f
ked doing anything beyond lazing on the hotel bed and watching ste on tv. If you're lucky and you can be arsed bringing swimming shorts, the hotel might have a pool you can chill out in for a while. Up at 6am again to drive straight to the job and try to get finished before you have to leave again to either return the hire car, go through security, board your flight and get home for 8pm, or either back to the hotel if it's a particularly long stint.
Arrive home, say hello to missus, eat, go to bed, and arrive into the office in the morning to be told how everyone has had such a tough few days and are uber stressed that there was no milk in the fridge yesterday morning. Get home that evening knackered, expected to be jolly to see the other half and totally up for the cinema/meal/walk somewhere.
But it's work, and it's well paid and it'll eventually get me to where I need to be so I'll stick at it for now. Not sure if I could do it with a wife and kids though.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff