Commuting to London? Opportunity worth it?
Discussion
Hi guys,
I’m looking for your views on commuting in to London.
I’ve survived my entire Recruitment career without taking the plunge but I’m getting to the point where the money is so tempting.
In my old company we had an office just over London Bridge in Gracechurch Street and I would work there a week every now and again… I loved it but not sure if it was the novelty of it. I also used to be able to park at the office near me and then walk to the station which was quite convenient.
I’ve had a call from a rec 2 rec who I know really well and respect regarding a role in Cannon Street which suits me perfectly (a mix of my past industries) and the money is a fair increase on what I’m currently taking home… even after the cost of travelling I’d be left with more than I get currently plus a much better commission structure.
I wasn’t actually looking for a new role but now the opportunity has been presented I’m tempted.
So… you guys who travel in to London (1hr + Commute)… What are your thoughts on it? Do you hate it? Do you do it as you love the buzz of London? Do you do it for the money? Lifestyle?
It would impact my day quite severely, at the moment I leave my house at around 7.45am and I’m home by 6pm (if I leave on time which isn’t often!). If I went to London I’d be leaving my house for around 6am and I wouldn’t be getting in until at least 7.30pm.
This is a real dilemma for me as if I lived near a station I’d be working in London now, at the moment I’d have to drive and park at a station / nearby… which is a bit of a pain!
So can someone please tell me to stop being a girl and jump at the opportunity to progress my career and get my ass up in to London!!
I’m looking for your views on commuting in to London.
I’ve survived my entire Recruitment career without taking the plunge but I’m getting to the point where the money is so tempting.
In my old company we had an office just over London Bridge in Gracechurch Street and I would work there a week every now and again… I loved it but not sure if it was the novelty of it. I also used to be able to park at the office near me and then walk to the station which was quite convenient.
I’ve had a call from a rec 2 rec who I know really well and respect regarding a role in Cannon Street which suits me perfectly (a mix of my past industries) and the money is a fair increase on what I’m currently taking home… even after the cost of travelling I’d be left with more than I get currently plus a much better commission structure.
I wasn’t actually looking for a new role but now the opportunity has been presented I’m tempted.
So… you guys who travel in to London (1hr + Commute)… What are your thoughts on it? Do you hate it? Do you do it as you love the buzz of London? Do you do it for the money? Lifestyle?
It would impact my day quite severely, at the moment I leave my house at around 7.45am and I’m home by 6pm (if I leave on time which isn’t often!). If I went to London I’d be leaving my house for around 6am and I wouldn’t be getting in until at least 7.30pm.
This is a real dilemma for me as if I lived near a station I’d be working in London now, at the moment I’d have to drive and park at a station / nearby… which is a bit of a pain!
So can someone please tell me to stop being a girl and jump at the opportunity to progress my career and get my ass up in to London!!
SteveS Cup said:
Hi guys,
I’m looking for your views on commuting in to London.
I’ve survived my entire Recruitment career without taking the plunge but I’m getting to the point where the money is so tempting.
In my old company we had an office just over London Bridge in Gracechurch Street and I would work there a week every now and again… I loved it but not sure if it was the novelty of it. I also used to be able to park at the office near me and then walk to the station which was quite convenient.
I’ve had a call from a rec 2 rec who I know really well and respect regarding a role in Cannon Street which suits me perfectly (a mix of my past industries) and the money is a fair increase on what I’m currently taking home… even after the cost of travelling I’d be left with more than I get currently plus a much better commission structure.
I wasn’t actually looking for a new role but now the opportunity has been presented I’m tempted.
So… you guys who travel in to London (1hr + Commute)… What are your thoughts on it? Do you hate it? Do you do it as you love the buzz of London? Do you do it for the money? Lifestyle?
It would impact my day quite severely, at the moment I leave my house at around 7.45am and I’m home by 6pm (if I leave on time which isn’t often!). If I went to London I’d be leaving my house for around 6am and I wouldn’t be getting in until at least 7.30pm.
This is a real dilemma for me as if I lived near a station I’d be working in London now, at the moment I’d have to drive and park at a station / nearby… which is a bit of a pain!
So can someone please tell me to stop being a girl and jump at the opportunity to progress my career and get my ass up in to London!!
Commute from where ? Could you get/would you want to ride a large scooter, X9 250, Burgman 400, comfortable, quick ride, on motorway no problem and makes London doable, really crap weather and you can still take the train if your a jessyI’m looking for your views on commuting in to London.
I’ve survived my entire Recruitment career without taking the plunge but I’m getting to the point where the money is so tempting.
In my old company we had an office just over London Bridge in Gracechurch Street and I would work there a week every now and again… I loved it but not sure if it was the novelty of it. I also used to be able to park at the office near me and then walk to the station which was quite convenient.
I’ve had a call from a rec 2 rec who I know really well and respect regarding a role in Cannon Street which suits me perfectly (a mix of my past industries) and the money is a fair increase on what I’m currently taking home… even after the cost of travelling I’d be left with more than I get currently plus a much better commission structure.
I wasn’t actually looking for a new role but now the opportunity has been presented I’m tempted.
So… you guys who travel in to London (1hr + Commute)… What are your thoughts on it? Do you hate it? Do you do it as you love the buzz of London? Do you do it for the money? Lifestyle?
It would impact my day quite severely, at the moment I leave my house at around 7.45am and I’m home by 6pm (if I leave on time which isn’t often!). If I went to London I’d be leaving my house for around 6am and I wouldn’t be getting in until at least 7.30pm.
This is a real dilemma for me as if I lived near a station I’d be working in London now, at the moment I’d have to drive and park at a station / nearby… which is a bit of a pain!
So can someone please tell me to stop being a girl and jump at the opportunity to progress my career and get my ass up in to London!!
Tampon said:
Commute from where ? Could you get/would you want to ride a large scooter, X9 250, Burgman 400, comfortable, quick ride, on motorway no problem and makes London doable, really crap weather and you can still take the train if your a jessy
My nearest station is Dorking. Never going to get me on a scooter! 
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croyde said:
Dorking! that's not far. I live about 6 miles from central but allows have to allow an hour to get to work, unless I cycle/motorcycle.
Was considering moving to Dorking as it's countryside yet easy to commute from.
Ok... I'm a 10 minute drive from Dorking, then it's a 1hr 15min train journey... meh, I'll see what happens! Was considering moving to Dorking as it's countryside yet easy to commute from.
Man up 
I go from Blackheath to Farnborough (Hants) and back every day.
Isn't Dorking 15/20 minutes from Victoria? And then it's a quick tube ride round to Cannon St. What time do you have to start at to warrant leaving so early?
Also, the commute may allow you to clear down emails and get a few bits and bobs done before you're even in the office.
Edit - just had a look at the train times and I must be thinking of somewhere else!
I go from Blackheath to Farnborough (Hants) and back every day. Isn't Dorking 15/20 minutes from Victoria? And then it's a quick tube ride round to Cannon St. What time do you have to start at to warrant leaving so early?
Also, the commute may allow you to clear down emails and get a few bits and bobs done before you're even in the office.
Edit - just had a look at the train times and I must be thinking of somewhere else!
SteveS Cup said:
croyde said:
Dorking! that's not far. I live about 6 miles from central but allows have to allow an hour to get to work, unless I cycle/motorcycle.
Was considering moving to Dorking as it's countryside yet easy to commute from.
Ok... I'm a 10 minute drive from Dorking, then it's a 1hr 15min train journey... meh, I'll see what happens! Was considering moving to Dorking as it's countryside yet easy to commute from.
SteveS Cup said:
If I went to London I’d be leaving my house for around 6am and I wouldn’t be getting in until at least 7.30pm.
They're the hours I currently do. My journey is around 1:30 each way (drive to station-train-walk-tube-walk. Rinse and repeat backwards). I hate it. I have been a commuter for the past 12 years approx. so have "got used" to it. I have a kindle, MP3 player, free newspapers etc. so just put my head down and get on with it.However, I now have a young family so very rarely get to see them (I realised this Wednesday that I'd literally not seen my youngest since Sunday - that really sucked) so the hours make much more difference to me now.
However, my salary is many multiples of what I could earn if I were to get a similar job close to home. I'm "doing it for my kids" - but, I do have an "out" (my pub) as and when the money makes sense.
So - I'd say, if you don't have kids or you hate your kids
then doing it for the money is OK. But you will almost certainly grow to hate the commute (especially crowds/reliability/strikes and so on). Also, commuters, in the main, are 
s.BrabusMog said:
Man up I go from Blackheath to Farnborough (Hants) and back every day.
Isn't Dorking 15/20 minutes from Victoria? And then it's a quick tube ride round to Cannon St. What time do you have to start at to warrant leaving so early?
Also, the commute may allow you to clear down emails and get a few bits and bobs done before you're even in the office.
Edit - just had a look at the train times and I must be thinking of somewhere else!
MTFU indeed... it's about an hour or so on the train but you're right... you're sat there doing sweet FA so a great opportunity to catch up on PH Threads... sorry emails! I go from Blackheath to Farnborough (Hants) and back every day. Isn't Dorking 15/20 minutes from Victoria? And then it's a quick tube ride round to Cannon St. What time do you have to start at to warrant leaving so early?
Also, the commute may allow you to clear down emails and get a few bits and bobs done before you're even in the office.
Edit - just had a look at the train times and I must be thinking of somewhere else!
Not sure about your personal circumstances, but why not consider a move into London?
You'll pay more to rent but the savings in travel might go some way to off-setting that additional cost.
Also your employer will probably not make allowances for your commute in terms their expectations of your participation in out-of-hours work/activities. It's been over ten years since I worked in recruitment (thank God!), but back then there were many late nights spent with clients or my team.
If you're young and relatively unattached I'd be living in town. Save the long commute from the sticks for when you've got kids.
You'll pay more to rent but the savings in travel might go some way to off-setting that additional cost.
Also your employer will probably not make allowances for your commute in terms their expectations of your participation in out-of-hours work/activities. It's been over ten years since I worked in recruitment (thank God!), but back then there were many late nights spent with clients or my team.
If you're young and relatively unattached I'd be living in town. Save the long commute from the sticks for when you've got kids.
I have done a 1hr 30min commute (including tube) into London for the last 15 years. It's a bit of pain, but you get used (resigned) to it. I don't mind too much as on the train I read the paper/read a book/listen to podcasts/play my 3DS/do some work on my laptop etc. etc. so it doesn't feel like wasted time. I leave the house at 7:40 and usually get home at 19:45.
SteveS Cup said:
I know buddy! Still never going to happen... my hair would get messed up!
Fair do's, two wheels and a helmet is either your thing or it isn't. I can't suggest anything else, sorry bud. Had a think, I used to do a hour or so on the tube from Uxbridge, I would download Iplayer programmes and watch them on the laptop on the way in. I have been a bit against Ipads but ( depends on how good the battery is ) they might be perfect for this type of thing.
Invest in some decent tech to play with there and back, do some studying something that you can benefit from in the time you travel. Plan what you would do if there was trains canceled/servery delayed for a night ( does happen )
I 'commute' from Nottingham to the outskirts of London 2 or 3 times a week when I'm working in the UK/onshore. It's roughly a 369 mile round trip, fortunately I get given a car to do it in and don't have to pay for the fuel as I'm 'home based'
I set off at 05:00... get to the office for 07:30, the leave at 16:00... getting home around 20:00.
I live with a career woman that's as interested in her own career progression as I am in mine, so getting home late is not huge issue with either of us.
If your going to commit to a big commute, you (and your dependants) need to pretty much accept that your weekdays are for working and your weekends are for playing.
If that is mutually acceptable, then go for it.
I would not be getting the experience I am getting, and the money I am earning without a bit of sacrifice which will set you up for later in life.
I set off at 05:00... get to the office for 07:30, the leave at 16:00... getting home around 20:00.
I live with a career woman that's as interested in her own career progression as I am in mine, so getting home late is not huge issue with either of us.
If your going to commit to a big commute, you (and your dependants) need to pretty much accept that your weekdays are for working and your weekends are for playing.
If that is mutually acceptable, then go for it.
I would not be getting the experience I am getting, and the money I am earning without a bit of sacrifice which will set you up for later in life.
My gf is also in Recruitment (commercial but hey) so it's not an issue for her... she understands! Some forms of client entertainment are still a bit of an issue.......
Bikes aren't my thing... my brother has a GSXR750 and my dad has an SV1000SZ... I love them but I prefer my limbs!
I might get my CV over and see what happens.
I know I will end up in London one day... that day may as well be now!
Bikes aren't my thing... my brother has a GSXR750 and my dad has an SV1000SZ... I love them but I prefer my limbs!
I might get my CV over and see what happens.
I know I will end up in London one day... that day may as well be now!
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