Choosing between Dublin & London

R

rbarry

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Hi all!

I've a dilemna, and would welcome opinions! After 8 months out of work, during that time have had 2 offers of employment reneged upon. I worked my a$$ off to improve my CV, interview techniques and my hunt became a fulltime job!

Thankfully I now have 2 offers on the table! Which is a great position to be in, but a big choice to make.

I'm late 30s, have worked for myself for 10 years, then in the security industry for another 5.

Dublin
Growing telecoms company, very well known. Fairly basic salary, with poor bonus. I can stay in my house, have a good social life and do the MBA that I really want to. I think it will open up doors in the next 2 yrs to companaies like facebook, google or vodafone.

London
A big global security company. New division working on global contracts. Good basic, with great bonus. Concerns are that I know v few people in London, its more security and if I want to come back to Dublin I am pigeon holed and also I probably wont have time for my MBA.

Like i said, i am thrilled that all my hard work has paid off, but I want to make sure i am making the right decision, so would appreciate some opinions!
 
If you really want to do a MBA and you dont wnat to be pigeon holed, then the Dublin option looks the best. Do the MBA and use it to open doors.
 
I'd follow the money. You can always make time for an MBA, do it over a longer period for example. International experience of working for a big London company has got to be good. London will open up a lot more options for you than Dublin.
 
rbarry said:
London
A big global security company. New division working on global contracts. Good basic, with great bonus. Concerns are that I know v few people in London, its more security and if I want to come back to Dublin I am pigeon holed and also I probably wont have time for my MBA.
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I'd be wary of this. Can you verify for yourself if the bonuses paid are actually that great? Based on what you have provided so far, I'd be inclined to stay in Dublin and do your MBA. It also gives you 2 years to move up in the company. In addition, once you have your MBA you will be able to look for a new job with the cushion of already having a job. Just my 2c
 
I'd second that. I worked my £$%^ off during my 1st year in my current company (also a big global company) and I did not get a bonus. I was supposed to get a payrise of 30% to 60% (to bring my salary to the same level as that of my British colleagues): that did not happen either. I had to drop out of the BSc I was preparing p/t to make room for all that unpaid overtime, and now that uni fees have risen, it looks like I'm not going to be able to register again. The 'great bonus' might just be a clever ploy to get you to work 10-12 hours (or more) a day. With a 'new division', rather than an established one, there is always the risk that the work will not materialise, or dry out quickly. In my department, which had been around since 2004, the usual supply of work dwindled in mid 2009. The managers cooked up a project, which was a complete disaster: loads of work, and no income whatsoever. They then signed a contract with a client who was paying well: we breathed for 1 year. Then in January, the client refused to renew their contract because they felt we were overcharging them (quite rightly). In March, my managers had managed to land another contract with another client, but it looks that this one is never going to bring us any income: they're now locking horns with the client about what was and was not specified in the contract.Sometimes I wish I could run my own business, or become liberal profession. But it's so costly...So if I were you, I'd stay in Dublin, and get that MBA under my belt. Then you can move to London.
 
London is far more expensive than Dublin, so the some of the add'l salary will be absorbed by the higher costs. Add to that moving costs etc.

Leaving money aside, which would you prefer to do? It sounds like you want the MBA, and your social connections are here? London seems to offer money, but little else, and the money isn't all guaranteed. Yet on the plus side, you can view it as a challenge and a new experience. Thing is, (without being too ageist!) establishing new friendships etc may be easier for someone fresh out of college. Whatever you decide, best of luck.
 
Rberry, congrads on getting the two job offers.

London is not that far away and whatever your age once you have good social skills you will very quickly make friends there. It is a fab city with loads to do.
I also think you will have far better advancement opportunities in London considering the city is emerging from its recession at a far faster pace than Dublin.

Go with your own instincts and maybe if you write down the pros and cons of each it might help make your decision a little easier.

Good Luck:)
 
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