I was in a similar position in my job about 5 years ago in Local Government, within 2 years I had gone froma Grad out of uni into a Senior position and then just Manged staff. It was a good challenge for a while but we went through numerous restructures and I was under three different Managers in the time and another restructure was on the cards.
I had spent 5 years a Uni to be come a Landscape Architect and I ended up being a Manager... Then an opportunity came up to go back to designing, get paid more and I ended up comunting to Canberra for 2 years from Adelaide.
We are now focusing working within Adelaide, Hills, South and North of the Metro area. Which I had been really enjoying but was feeling a bit "bored" like I needed a new challenge and I felt I was getting too comfortable in my position, even though I was managing staff and as a Senior Designer and working at the higher levels with the Developers. But just before Christmas I was seconded to work directly for that Major Deveoper in Adelaide as a Landscape Manager, I must have impressed them enough as when the person resigned my Boss received three phone calls from two Project Directors and the Head of Landscape in Melbourne .
So now I am travelling a lot further each day, DD is getting dropped off at DC earlier and my days are a lot longer as I am still doing my other work in the evenings.
But what is coming with the change of position is exciting, challenging and the change that I needed. I amd feeling much more happy with my work days, I feel as though I am achieveing more and I am learning more each day. The position I walked into was an absolute mess and I am cleaning it up, getting everything organised and getting things done - which hadn't happened previously
It is a short to medium term position, but we wouldn't be suprised if it becomes more permenant as it is difficult to find someone who has the varied experience to undertake the role.
It has basically given me a new lease on life, as I was really reconsidering my whole career.
I know the travel will be more, but I sometimes feel that we need to do things for ourselves, and I have been making up for being away from DD more during the week, by ensuring that when we are together that I really cherish every moment and I often sneak into her bedroom at night to watch her sleep or have and extra cuddle. We are also having a lot mroe extra cuddles in the mornings before work and evening safter work.
If the opportunity may exisit to do some work off site then definitely go for it, that is grea thing about IT you can do it anywhere, same with my design work, I can design from anywhere
Work is where I go to get money, Home is where I live, If it were me, I would ask whether the benefits I get from the new job will outweigh the time I lose at home.
The hard part is that Kids spell Love T-I-M-E rather than M-O-N-E-Y.
The thing about Govt Jobs too is that after a period of un-rest those who survive often float to the top and get better roles sooner.
Spenceee - that's part of the reason I'm considering the move. Another is for my sanity and stress levels.
Well, my interview is tomorrow afternoon and after spending the last 3 days with these people, then coming back to my office late today - I think it's pretty clear to me that I would rather have been in town.
While I found the workshops quite hard and taxing, they were also exhilirating and got me enthused. Something MY work hasn't done in ages.
I even enjoyed the travel as I listened to NOVA (which I haven't done before) and laughed half the time!
Lulu - good point about School holidays, but I'll ask tomorrow if they'd consider a 8-4 routine and then see how I go with the School traffic. I suppose it's either school traffic or commuter traffic At least I haven't cut into my time with Liam over these last few days... it's been almost normal (except crawling out of bed at some un-godly hour! I am NOT a morning person )
Thanks everyone for your support and I will let you know how the interview goes tomorrow.
Fellow public-servant here, Sydney-based and also a one-time supervisor who had severe anxiety issues coupled with bullying from my direct managers. I rode it out, and being a worker again has its benefits, but the glass ceiling is something else again.
We moved from inner-west to outer-west, effectively doubling my commute. For me, though, it was more time to spend doing uni work or, when uni's not on, catching up with reading, or puzzles, etc. The 20min commute didn't give much time for relaxing, and you'd never get a seat unless you got the all-stops train with the school-kids.
As for leaving a full-time job to go non-ongoing and so far away and for only $10K extra, I would have to advise against it on the following grounds:
1) How much is seeing your son worth? My brother just scored a promotion which landed him as much as I earn in a year, on top of what he was already on! But it's now as a national manager, involving junkets like you wouldn't believe, including a 4-day regional conference in China. While SIL doesn't have to work any more, he reckons it won't interfere with his seeing his boys. Although they're 8 and 5, I still reckon he has no idea.
2) Will the $10K cover your added expenses - lunch, commuting - as well as the inevitable toll on your mental health? Getting up that much earlier and getting home that much later will exhaust you. We have a super-commuter from the Central Coast here who gets up at 0400 to be here by 8, and isn't home until 1830-1900 .. that has to be telling!!!
Well, I thought I'd better let you all know that I didn't get the job anyway.
I'm quite disappointed and a little bit peeved because I sent an Email last Thursday asking about what was going on (the Chairperson had said she would let me know early last week) and I got no response until today.
The Email I got had 'Re: position' and then an attached letter which simply stated that my application was unsuccessful and to contact her if I required any clarification.
I immediately replied to the Email and asked for feedback on my application - and I have had no response (this was about 10am this morning).
I'm ok with not being selected, but with the Email/letter? Whatever happened to the phone call? Gutless...
I hate when that happens. You can almost never take the date they give you: I was told that I would have an answer about my transfer request before the Director went away, and had to chase him up a week after we got back.
Anyways, in a way I'm glad you didn't get it, for the reasons I set out ... it happened for a reason: something better will come up soon, anyways!
I spoke to the woman this morning and she told me that no-one was selected (there were multiple positions) as what they were looking for was probably too specific (IT savvy and specialist knowledge). I had the specialist knowledge - but not the IT experience.
Feel better about it now - so thanks for your support!
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At least I haven't cut into my time with Liam over these last few days... it's been almost normal (except crawling out of bed at some un-godly hour! I am NOT a morning person 
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New Job Opportunity - don't do it
I'm ok with not being selected, but 
with the Email/letter? Whatever happened to the phone call? Gutless... 
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