Move to Dublin from East Cork: Career V's Quality of Life Discussion

Okay a brief background: Married, 38 yr old, 2 kids (1 & 3yr old). One earner.

I've been offered a sales manager position for a large co in Dublin, currently living in East Cork, near to sea and beach.

Careerwise this could be a good move - but quality of life could degenerate.

Has anybody done this type of move in pursuit of career and what was the outcome?

Thoughts and options on subject welcome.

Emul

Re: Move to Dublin

I would say to be careful on where you decide to live as the traffic can be very bad if you need to travel across town or from north city to south and vice versa. Plus if you are taking public transport to work this becomes more important.

Other than that quailty of life is whatever you want it to be. I really have found traffic to be the only downer as it makes the working day longer.

Plus you would obviously have to plan for getting the children into a good school, I think there are waiting lists for a lot of schools etc.

Just noticed your reference to the sea and beach, if you are into that kind of thing then you might find it hard to find somewhere to live in Dublin close to either, unless you have a very big budget. And dont expect to find any quiet beaches around Dublin.

Re: Move to Dublin

Where in Dublin is the company based? Can you afford to live in a location that will be convenient (short drive-not likely) or on public transport (bus, DART, luas etc.)

Re: Move to Dublin

They are based in North dublin, I'd fully intend to locate near to them to cut down on commute. My thoughts are at this stage to rent in Dublin (rather than purchase) and rent out house in Cork (REALLY want to get back here).

Re: Move to Dublin

emul said:

Careerwise this could be a good move - but quality of life could degenerate.l

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Personally the latter would be of more importance to me, particularly at your stage of life with a young family. It sounds like you love where you live etc.

Unless your career was seriously undermined by not taking this move i'd opt for staying put.

Re: Move to Dublin

Many Dubliners are moving out to improve quality of life.

I'd be slow to move unless it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Re: Move to Dublin

37years old, married, two young kids. Moved / escaped from Dublin just over a year ago to the west, would recommend it from a quality of life point of view. As others have said unless its once off oppertunity stay where ye are if you value your home life. An extra hour or two hour on your working day really adds up over a year and children grow up very quickly................

Re: Move to Dublin

Tell your current boss of this opportunity and see if he makes it worth your while to stay. You'll find out what you are worth in your current company at the very least. I understand some people find it easier to plead ignorant here but its best to know where you stand.

Re: Move to Dublin

I live on the south side of Dublin and work on the north side. The most it takes me to get to work is 45 minutes and the most to get home is 60 minutes. That’s a couple of times a year. On average it takes 30 minutes each way. It’s a 9-mile journey through the city or 14 miles around the M50. This time of year it takes 20-25 minutes. My point is that distance is not the major factor; it’s access to good roads and time of travel.

Dublin has a lot of drawbacks but it also has a lot of attractions. That’s why property is expensive. I think your idea to rent is a good one. It will enable you to live in a better location for less money and if things don’t work out you will be better able to move back.

I’m a great believer in taking risks (“regret the things you do, not the things you don’t do”, and all that.), so in general terms I would say go for it. Your children are young enough that you could give it a try for a year or two without disrupting them too much. Is distance from family and friends a factor for you or your other half?
It’s a big decision but it won’t be the end of the world if it doesn’t work out.

Re: Move to Dublin

emul said:

My thoughts are at this stage to rent in Dublin (rather than purchase) and rent out house in Cork (REALLY want to get back here).

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I'd think long and hard about this statement, if you already know that you really want to get back to Cork, and you are already living there, own your own house, have your family settled there, and are enjoying your life, why would you want to uproot all that and move to Dublin only to spend the next x amount of years basically waiting to get back down out of there?

Personally speaking, quality of life far outweighs any job, I made the decision to move back down home from Dublin after a number of years spent living there,and have chosen to turn down lucrative job offers in Dublin in favour of jobs which although are poorly paid by comparison, allow me to stay where I live and have an excellent quality of life - 10 minute commute to work, quiet beaches etc. nearby, family and friends living nearby, and so on.

Why not apply for sales managers jobs throughout the south east region if it's a move you really feel you want to make, remain living where you and your family are happy, and commute? Bear in mind that an hour's commute either way in Dublin may only see you move a distance of 10 miles, whereas in the south east region in general you would be in striking distance of a number of towns/cities in the same length of commute time? Just a thought.

Re: Move to Dublin

Watch out for the kids - they become a major time sink in the not too distant future and will require Mommy & Daddy to drive them here, there and everywhere. With Dublin traffic being what it is, this is a major detriment to quality of life.

I disagree about Dublin being a great city, by the way. Cork has everything Dublin has, only in smaller doses. Apart from the expense and traffic issues, Dublins other major problem is crime, a lot of it random!

M

Re: Move to Dublin

I think I'll agree with you there. Dublin has alot of crime and alot of bad attitude. Driving to work every morning I see the most angry faces. Even on the trains its madness. I dont think Dublin has alot to offer. The shape of the city is bizarre, the drivers are maniacs and its a rip off. The money you make may be consumed on lots of things such as car insurance, rent, toll bridges, journeys back home and perhaps schooling could be alot dearer. You might be better off in Cork.

Re: Move to Dublin

I disagree about Dublin being a great city, by the way. Cork has everything Dublin has, only in smaller doses. Apart from the expense and traffic issues, Dublins other major problem is crime, a lot of it random!

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I have lived on Cork "city" and have to disagree with you. There are some great parts and the county is lovely but the town is just that; a town. I saw nothing special about it. In my experience the traffic was terrible there as well. It was a few years back and I'm sure things have got better. Each to their own as they say

Re: Move to Dublin

just another quick point to consider - you mention that your family is a one-income family, presumably you're the earner as it's you that is thinking of changing jobs. Your wife will be moving with you and will be far away from family, friends, etc., with two small children, and no local knowledge of where to go/what to do.

She may find the first few months paticularly tough - you will make new friends through work, whereas she will have to make a much bigger effort to get to know others in the locality and make some friends for both herself and for the children. I would consider this to be an important factor, as I presume she will be staying at home to mind the children, and without the support network of friends/family that she may be used to - even just for dropping round for a chat -she may find it very lonely indeed.

How much more will you be earning in the new job?
If the only thing you would be agining is money then I would say no way.
However if this positon will open doors to you career wise in the long term then I would be prepared to make a sacrifice for a few years in terms of quality of life.
Is your wife prepared to move?
The kids are too young to notice the difference.
Personally having lived in Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Dublin city over my career to date, the time spent in each city was worth it to get to where I want to be now in terms of my career.
However I did all the during my twenties when I was single and childless....

Firstly thanks to all for your input. As you can gather this is a bit of a dilemma and not a decision we'll make lightly. We will have a network of family and friends in Dublin, and both of us lived in Dublin up to 3 years ago.

This really comes down to career progress v's quality of life - both important - but which one more so??

The thought process is ongoing - again thanks for your time and input.

emul said:

Firstly thanks to all for your input. As you can gather this is a bit of a dilemma and not a decision we'll make lightly. We will have a network of family and friends in Dublin, and both of us lived in Dublin up to 3 years ago.

This really comes down to career progress v's quality of life - both important - but which one more so??

The thought process is ongoing - again thanks for your time and input.

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My sister had decided to move to another part of the country with her family after her husband got a new job. He resigned from his job and was full set on leaving. It was only then that they did the maths. The difference in salary was quite large but the cost of living was too much. They needed a second car amonst other expenses and so he had to ask for his job back.

If you are moving for this career oppurtunity will there be jobs in Cork at your level when you want to return?
My brother in law got a great job in Galway and swore to my sister that they'd move back to Limerick after a few years but now there are no jobs at his level in Limerick so now they seems to be stuck. They are now moving to Dublin for another promotion but as she sees it at least all the big jobs are in Dublin so they probably won't be moving again.
You need to take this into account when moving.

Hi there.

My opinion is that Quality of life far outweighs career.

My wife and family are of paramount importance, I work to pay the bills, I do strive to get on in my career just for personal goals/ambition/sanity, but if it comes down to it I will forego that promotion or move if it affects the quality of my family's life.

We live just outside county Dublin as we believe it is a much nicer family environment, but I work in Dublin (unfortunately). It would be much easier for me to have the family home in Dublin but I refuse to live there - it is not a financial decision.

I am a native of Dublin and I do not like it any more, as a previous poster has said, there are a lot of angry people, bad attitudes, crime and drugs.

This is just my humble opinion, but I would seriously consider staying put and enjoying your life...

Regards
Kane

My thanks to all of you for your thoughts and input on this subject. I declined the job, deciding the sunny south east is the place for me.

Thanks again to all.

Eoin