Choosing between Dublin & London

mrbig73

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!

Denerick

If you were in your early 20s I'd counsel moving to London; you'd broaden horizons, get out of stale and depressing Ireland for a while... But I reckon since you're pushing 40 that you don't really have the same determination to sow your wild oats.

G-Money

Do you have anything keeping you here like a family or something? Moving to London would be a big change alright, especially if you don't know that many people over there.

I've had a few spells living abroad myself but I'm in my early 30's now and I definitely feel less inclined to just up sticks move to a different country. I think when you are in your 20's, these things are a bit easier or something.

From the way you've described it, the job in Dublin sounds a bit drab and the job in London sounds more interesting. I don't know if that's the case, but it's just the way you seem to have described them.

How long do you have before you need to make a decision? My father always says if you are undecided about something, put it out of your mind and think about something else. Then, a few days later, something usually happens that makes the decision obvious.

I remember a few years ago I was wondering if I should go to Australia or not for a year. A few friends were going and it was a good time to go, but I couldn't really make my mind up. Then a few days later we were discussing the house I was living in and I said I was thinking about going to Australia then yer man said "right, we'll all move out then and not renew the lease" and that was it, decision made, and I went to Australia.

Best of luck with whatever you decide and congratulations on getting work again.

Radiotower

I got a job offer in London back in Feb, my inital thought was to take it cos the money seemed good. But after looking into it a bit more the salary didn's seem that good. Rent is very expensive in London compared to here plus you have to pay council tax (which was roughly working out at an extra months rent per year). The houses weren't even as nice as the houses here, they all seemed very drab and were unfurnished.

The job I was offered involved working weekends so we looked into my wife moving over but her salary would have been alot less than here, child care is also alot more expensive than here and child benefit less. So taking all this into account plus the cost of getting our belongings over there I declined the offer.

On the down side, I'm still looking for work here!!

Fran79

Hi
I'd also suggest the Dublin job.
As previous poster said you have to pay council tax and high rent for unfurnished property. Also there is rush hour on the tube to consider (think sardine with less space) and the water rates you have to pay!

(A few of the reasons I decided to leave the UK and move here)

Good luck either way

Fran

Sleepy

UK Income Tax is also slightly higher for anyone earning a decent salary.