A job where you have to commute versus a job in your own city
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31365)
Denmark
March 19, 2013 3:01pm CST
Some years ago I had a job in home healthcare. I really liked my job. I had a good relationship to my co-workers and a good relationship to most of the clients that I visited. In many ways it was the perfect job, there was just one problem: I didn't work in my own town and I had to spend time and money on commuting every day.
One day I read about a home heathcare job in my own town and I decided to apply. I got the job, but unfortunately the job was very different from my old job. It was very stressful to work there, because we all had more clients than we could handle. We tried to work as fast as we could, but we never had enough time. The relationship between the head nurses and the rest of us was very bad, there were many arguments between the employees, and the atmosphere at the place was very cold.
My salary was almost the same as my salary in the previous job, but I didn't have to spend money on transportation so I had more money than before. Of course the extra money was nice, but I still wished that I had kept the other job.
Today I would think about twice about a quitting a good job in another town. Of course it is nice to work close to my home, but it is not the only thing that matters and I don't want to make the same mistake again.
Is the location of your job important to you? Do you prefer a good job in another city or do you prefer to work in your own city so that you are able save time and money on transportation? Did you ever regret giving up a job?
2 people like this
8 responses
@yanzalong (19091)
• Indonesia
19 Mar 13
Having a job away from home is ok as long as the salary is higher to cover transport. I have been offered a job away from home but haven't decided to take it as the salary offered is low. I would take it it were in my home town.
Many years ago I had a good job but left it since I was busy with my main job. Now I feel sorry I had given it up.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
20 Mar 13
Yes, if the salary is higher it might cover the money that we have to spend on the transport from our home to the place where we work. Some time ago I was offered a job in a nursing home very far from my home. The salary was the usual salary that you get when you work in a nursing home (the salary is more or less the same in every nursing home in my country) but the train fare was quite expensive since I had to change trains to get there and I needed two train passes instead of one. My salary would be quite low when I had paid for the train passes so I decided to turn down the job offer.
@yanzalong (19091)
• Indonesia
20 Mar 13
You did the right thing to turn down the offer. If I were you, I'd do the same.
1 person likes this
@ARIES1973 (11944)
• Legaspi, Philippines
20 Mar 13
I was once asked the same thing when I applied for the job I have at present. But since, I need a job during that time, I said I am willing to be assigned anywhere. In short, I was hired.
Well, personally, I would say that it doesn't really important how long you travel to reach you workplace, or how far is your workplace is. What is important is the relationship you have with your co-workers. Although having to work near our home could be better.
Have a great day!
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
30 Apr 13
I agree with that. I gave up a good job in another town when I found a similar job in my own town, and of course it was nice to save the time and the money that I used to spend on transportation, but unfortunately that was the only positive about the new job. The work conditions were horrible and we all had to visit far too many patients. The relationship between the co-workers was not very good either, and there was often arguments between the co-workers. The job that I gave up was a really great job except from the location. The relationship between the co-workers was much, much better and job was less stressful as well.
@chiyosan (30186)
• Philippines
21 Mar 13
Hello there! I have worked in the business district here in the city and is quite a lot of effort as well. I have worked in there for about 3 years and thought it is really hard to work in there... my reasons include me having to prepare and leave home at least 3 hours each day because I have to commute and wait for the train and the train is usually Late or full of people. Just the ride home is a challenge in itself. Before I got I to work and after I come home half of my strength had already been consumed. And most importantly I get no proper rest at all.
What I really did was to stay in the company until I find a job near where I live. I have consistently waited for an opportunity and prayed hard for it to come to me as well. I have indeed won in the end and found a work in the city and its very neat I where I live. If my work starts at 9am I can leave home at v quarter to mine v and I can still make it!!!! It really is better to work near your home because you would be at c ease and you would have better rest too. Stresses are eliminated by your travel Time.
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
19 Mar 13
I used to live in a village called Bridge three miles from the city of Canterbury. I hadn't passed my practical driving test and the bus service was terrible. The nearest train station was two miles away along a rural route. This went to Canterbury East in one direction and Dover in the other direction. Canterbury East train station was ten minutes walk from Canterbury bus station. Canterbury West Station was half an hours walk from the bus station and a twenty minute walk from Canterbury East Train Station.
I had a teaching job at a school in Folkestone. I had to cycle to the train station , take two trains and then cycle to the school. The bus didn't arrive until 10 am so it was useless. I had my next teaching job at a village 4 miles from Canterbury. That village was on the train route from Canterbury West to the Viking Coastline. I had no choice but cycle all the way there and back every day. It was a rural route of 12 miles a day. I then taught at a school in Canterbury. I cycled there and back. It was just 6 miles a day. I loved that job and school. After that job ended I moved to North Somerset.
In 2010 I passed my practical driving test. I miss the school I taught at in Canterbury. I would have loved a job at Bridge Primary School and it would have been within walking distance.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
19 Mar 13
When we depend on trains and busses it can be a challenge to get from our home to the place where we work. It is sounds like the bus service in tge area where you used to live was really terrible. When I worked in home health care I had to work early in the mornings in the weekends and there were no trains or busses at that time so I had to cycle 20 kilometers or a ask a friend to drive to me. Unfortunately I didn't have any co-workers who live in my town so I couldn't get a lift from any of them. But one of my friends offered to drive me sometimes and then I paid him for the gas.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
20 Mar 13
I think that enjoying one's work is more important than the proximity of the job to one's home or even the amount of pay. As you have experienced, another job may pay about the same and cost less in transportation but not deliver the same level of personal fulfillment.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
21 Mar 13
I agree with that. I learned that from my experience with those two jobs. I was happy when I got a job in own town because I would be able to save both time and money that way. I did save time and money, but the job that I gave up was much better than the new job that I got in my own town, and I wasn't happy there. If I am in a simimlar situation in the future I wouldn't just give up a job that I really enjoyed in order to save some money on transportation. I would think carefully about it before I make my decision. It also depends on the money that I have to spend on transportation of course. If there isn't enough money left to spend on rent and bills when I have paid for the transportation I would have to find a different solution.
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
19 Mar 13
Of course I would always choose to work within my own city. It wouldn't do if I earn more and I have to spend more on commute or house rental to move closer to work because then my expenses will also increase. It also will have something to do with our financials and the money coming in to our family.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
19 Mar 13
We definately have to think about the expenses if we choose to work in another city. I gave up my job and took another job in own city, but afterwards I regretted my decision because my new job was much more stressful than the old job. I saved money on transportation, but I wasn't happy in my new job because the working conditions were terrible. The salary was almost the same, but because I saved money on transportation I had more money every month. A dream job would be a job with good working conditions and a good location (in my own town)
@kprofgames (3089)
• United States
20 Mar 13
I work every where. A radius of 40 miles any direction from my home. I'm in Senior Care in their homes. Not home health but a companion to take care of their daily needs so they can stay in their homes over assisted living.
Sometimes I miss the 9 to 5 in one location and local, but then again I'm looking more of the rewards gained then other places I've worked.
I really think to be content in a place you have to love what you're doing. Everything else just kind of falls into place when you're happy where you're at.
1 person likes this
@CookingIsMyPassion (653)
• United States
20 Mar 13
I have never had the opportunity to work at a position in my home town. I have always had to commute back and forth to work. I was lucky not to have to take trains and subways but it was a lot of driving. One job I had to drive 120 miles each way. It made for a long day.
It would be nice to work close to home but usually they don't pay as well or have the better insurance plans that larger companies have outside of small towns.
Now I do freelance work online. I work when I want and push when I want to earn extra. Right now I don't have to work but I still do on a part time basis on my own terms now. It is nicer than straight hours, traffic and dealing with cold and stressed people all the time.
1 person likes this
