Tuesday starts with a job offer abroad...advice

amtc

I'm not putting this in Work and Jobs as I want advice on all facets. I've spoken to my parents and my two best friends so would appreciate objective advice.

Today started very strangely with a phone call at 9. A Skype interview at 10 and a provisional offer by 11. Excellent money and I could do the job standing on my head backwards. I didn't even apply for it. It was from a Linked In search and a personal recommendation from someone who was asked.

So what's the issue? It's in the Falkland islands...
For three years.

Job and money not an issue.

But

I'm in my early 40s, live on my own, but have never lived any more than two places and am 5 minutes from my childhood home. I have a very much on off relationship (he's in South Africa lots and there are other issues) and two really best friends but they're all babied up now.

I've been feeling in a rut for a while. A big rut.

My parents are 70 and 80. Both ok, kind of. My dad requires more care. My mam just back from Australia after 3 months and although my dad doesn't know it is planning to go for another 3 in May. I'm an only child. I speak to my parents a couple of times a day but don't see them all that often.

I'm working in a very specialised area here but it looks like the funding is running out. I can survive for a bit but not for long. In this area it like revolving doors...same names, different company.

The job is one that colleagues in a previous job have done successfully in Jersey Guernsey Isle of Man Qatar Myanmar. So I have no doubt I could do it.

I would appreciate any advice even about what questions to ask.

I'm terrible at making small decisions but great at making big ones...in 2010 I resigned, accepted a new job, signed for my house and called off my engagement all on the same day! But I am a creature of routine normally. As my friend says I'm the go to person for rules and regulations.

First question I would ask is how many times a year will they pay for you to fly home.

In order to make the decision you need to be able to measure the circumstances accurately.

Are you going for three years or will you be back every 3-6 months?

Koptain Liverpool

It's pretty far away and remote.
And is it even that nice there?
Comes across as a bit of a dump anytime I read about it.

Tokyo

Before you even consider this job OP, the first thing I would do would be to check the credentials of the company in question, particularly as they cold-called you. I'm not sure of the specifics of the job, but I have often asked to speak to a current employee in a similar role before considering overseas work, in order to get a feel for the company, and the life I'd be living for the next few years.

amtc

5 flights home a year or to anywhere else. Relocation expenses and car.

Spoke to my old boss and he reckons it would be good for me. Very good on c.v. he did it at same age as me in Barbados and also Jamaica but had to live in compounds and missed his family.

It does look remote. My cousin is a keen birdwatcher and has been there so I have a call in to see what the lifestyle is like.

Rubberchikken

no where is too far away anymore not with planes and skype and email. having said that, the issue doesn't appear to be the job/money but the leaving behind elderly parents, or at least, your dad whose at home.

could you talk to him. get his opinion. maybe he'd be happy to see you spreading your wings. your mom seems independent, heading off to australia, returning and planning on going again.


on an aside, the fact that your mom is heading back to australia and hasn't spoken to your dad about it seems a little odd to me. he doesn't need to remain at home ignorant to things happening around him. is he a man that you can talk to about the job opportunity?

sometimes we need something to push us into making a decision. sometimes having an opportunity land in front of us makes that decision making very difficult.

amtc

Oh I know the company. Bahrain Royal Family owned Cable and Wireless. They do this all over the world. The colleagues mentioned who worked abroad all worked with them.

amtc

Listen I've stopped trying to figure out my parents relationship. I speak to both separately. The best way I can describe it is when I mentioned that my dad brings my mam breakfast in bed my friend thought it was cute...its a demarcation line which gives them ownership of a floor each....they swap over at lunch.

I think what I might do is ask for a flight over to see what it's like, without accepting it.

The girl I'd be working with is Irish and is there six months so I'll ask to talk to her

zoobizoo

Sounds like a wonderful adventure and a great way to get out of the rut in which you find yourself.

Five flights anywhere: two back to Ireland and us the others to travel around South America / The Carribean / anywhere...... wow.

Sounds like it won't impact on your parents all that much or your current relationships.

Just read that there are only 3,000 people on the island so making friends should be easy enough or even recognising familiar faces from going to the same bar / shop / cafe...

LegacyUser

I'd do it .It sounds like a good opurtunity ,your on /off bf could travel to the falklands rather than Ireland... plus you have 5 flights home/ elsewhere every year which is great .

Your Mam going to oz for 3 months shouldnt really influence your decision for your life.

Is there other family /family friends that would check in on your father ?

pilly

Sounds like a brilliant deal to me OP. 5 flights a year? Sure you'd be on a holiday every 2 months at that rate.

Great opportunity to save up a fortune as well.

amtc

This has been a roller coaster day and certainly one I hadn't expected.

Thanks to all for their input.

I am in a huge rut at the moment.

Although I do lots of business travel it's only ever for a few days.

I put it to the company that I'd want to talk to the other Irish girl over there. As luck has it she is going to a conference in London next week, so they'll arrange a meeting with her.

Will update!

Another day

If you don't take it can you tell them I'm interested!
Seriously if you know the Company, I would jump at it. Like yourself I'm in a rut and would love that opportunity! I'm older than you with kids and grandkids but I now have a chance to live life so would snap up such a position.
You gave one life go live it!

Fakediamond

If the company has all those amazing locations, is there a possibility that you could hold out for a better offer in...Barbados for example? I've been to Barbados, albeit only for 2 weeks and I loved it so much. The people are incredibly warm and friendly and weather is amazing, of course!

With elderly parents, who knows when you might need to come home in a hurry.

Falklands is 18 hours on a bumpy RAF flight, or 3 days with regular airlines, via Spain and Chile. Barbados is 8 and a half hours direct from London.

I know which one I'd prefer!

jimmycrackcorm

Just go for it op. It's a fantastic opportunity. Given the Falklands is a small enough community, I've no doubt you would settle in better than in a big city surrounded by staggered.

If you've five paid flights home per year then there's no issue being so far away. Plus once your in, you're more likely to get other opportunities after the initial contract.

amtc

I'm such a homebird and am swinging wildly between madly excited and thinking I'm mad. Every single person, all of whom know me well, are telling me to go for it.

It's the fact of leaving my home. I mean I literally lived with my parents until I left home at 32. I'll be 44 next week. I have eight wardrobes stuffed and over 2000 books.

The company got onto me this morning to arrange London meeting for Weds which is my birthday. Omens!

To the person who said Barbados I do know a guy who is there. Whereas nice for tourist he has to live in a compound.

Someone else made the point to me that if you're going to do it better to be far away so you can't just pop home...my cousin is a nurse in UK and flies back every weekend.

I'll update after Weds!

pilly

My eldest son would have been one of the biggest home-birds I ever knew until he moved to Canada 2 years ago. Now I doubt he'll ever settle back home. Yes he misses home terribly sometimes but he was home once last year and I was over there once and he's having a ball and getting to see a lot of Canada and America.

One thing to take into consideration though is how difficult would it be to come back if you really hate it? I think in the 1st year there were times when my son thought about coming home but the prospect of trying to find a job here put him off. Of course things are a lot better now.

amtc

Well I'm back to update.

When they realised was my birthday yesterday cancelled it, so I now have a phone call tomorrow to agree ts and cs were I to go ahead (jeep, apartment) and a meeting in London next week to meet the Governor General Tues. All paid for flight 5 star hotel plus (this is odd) a paid for blow dry
500 euro transferred into my account Monday.

Plus turns out first six months are in Gibraltar. Same regime

This is the weirdest job interview I have ever been to

I got confirmation on Friday that I was successful in a civil service role , but I'd be nuts not to just go along for the experience?

grouchyman

Go for it. It sounds like a life experience event.

Sephiroth_dude

grouchyman wrote: »

Go for it. It sounds like a life experience event.

You've nothing too lose, I 'd go for it!

smurfjed

Are you sure this is legit? Sometimes when things sound too good to be true, its time to get worried.

Cable and Wireless Falklands rebranded themselves a few years ago.

http://en.mercopress.com/2013/07/15/falklands-iconic-communications-cable-wireless-changes-name-to-sure

pilly

amtc wrote: »

Well I'm back to update.

When they realised was my birthday yesterday cancelled it, so I now have a phone call tomorrow to agree ts and cs were I to go ahead (jeep, apartment) and a meeting in London next week to meet the Governor General Tues. All paid for flight 5 star hotel plus (this is odd) a paid for blow dry
500 euro transferred into my account Monday.

Plus turns out first six months are in Gibraltar. Same regime

This is the weirdest job interview I have ever been to

I got confirmation on Friday that I was successful in a civil service role , but I'd be nuts not to just go along for the experience?

Jesus, don't even dream of going into a civil service role if you have this opportunity. Grab it with both hands!!

amtc

Well unless they've gone to the hassle of hiring a whole embassy on the South Bank just for interviewing me I'd assume it's legit!

I'll update further next week

smurfjed

1: There is no Falkland Embassy in London.
2: Falkland Government house is located at Falkland House 14, Broadway, London, SW1H 0BH, United Kingdom, not the south bank.

amtc

The recruitment person got it wrong. They do have offices in Lambeth but she corrected it to Westminster. I have MoD clearance now sorted.

Taltos

Mod Note
Hi OP
This thread is descending into a blog type affair which we regularly close in PI.
Can you clarify what is the specific advice beyond that already offered you still need?

amtc

Sorry. I don't need any further advice at present. After Tuesday I may so feel free to close until then

njs030

amtc wrote: »

The recruitment person got it wrong. They do have offices in Lambeth but she corrected it to Westminster. I have MoD clearance now sorted.

Why would you need MoD clearance? And why would there be an embassy in London when the Falklands is a British colony?
I've never heard of embassies in the occupying country before

Tokyo

Mod:

Closed at OP's request.

amtc

Hi
I promised I'd update on my odd Falklands job offer for anyone who is interested. I flew to London to meet Governor General Tues and it all went well. Turns out first six months is in Gilbraltar. Somewhat funny interview as HR Manager literally nine months pregnant, and her boss had forgotten his hearing aids. So I had to scream answers.
It was all very positive from their side, but I wonder how much is that of it being a very hard role to fill. It is very specialised and remote. The Governor had planned to fly back that night but due to winds it would be today earliest.
Anyway waiting on formal offer...I had some questions re health care etc. I have absolutely no issue with the job.
I don't need any more advice but I had said I would update.
Thanks to all for input.

A

amtc

I had started a thread on this....which was me offered this job out of the blue early April. Lots of people encouraged me to take it. But I think I won't...just for update.

Reasons:

1. I really am a homebird

2. I'm not sure they know what they want...the entire Telco has six part time staff. I get the feeling you'd be hanging round. I spoke to an ex colleague who has done this role in Russia and knew the guy previously employed here and said he went demented due to bleakness.

3. I was led to believe accommodation was included...it's not...and is more than my mortgage here. The money is enough I could handle it.

4. Initial contract is for 6 months but I would've rent my house for a year.

5. Although they paid for flight and hotel I had some additional transport expenses ...about 80 sterling...but won't be paid until July.

6. There is a very intensive medical including a two day fitness test and sleep clinic as well as an intensive medical screen. I have to pay for this upfront. This is in the U.K. they also want a police check from there which is expensive but as I have never lived there ridiculous.

7. My Mam has gone to Australia, and I'm really not happy leaving my dad alone.

8. No one has answered a detailed list of questions I submitted.

Nice dream for a while....

Mod pls update original thread

Tokyo

Okay OP, I've merged your update for a second time. Considering you have made a decision, I presume we can consider this matter closed, and no further updates will be coming, as the thread is now turning into a blog rather than seeking advice, which is not what this forum is for.

~Mike