Work vs social life

heartorhead89

Hi guys,

So this isn't too much of an issue but it is getting to me. I've been out of college a few years and have been working away from home just outside of Dublin. I have been looking for a new job for a while now and have had one offered to me in another part of the country.

Unfortunately this is still a good three hours away from Galway. The job is a good opportunity but I don't know anyone in the area and would feel like I am starting all over again. I haven't made that many friends while up here in Dublin as I go home the majority of weekends and it's not the easiest. The vast majority of my friends are at home as they didn't need to move for work. I feel like I don't really have any social life during the work week (Or much human contact outside of work for that matter!) and only when I am back home at the weekend do I have anything.

I have two options, follow what is 'best' from a purely career aspect, go where the best jobs are or move back home to Galway and get a job there in a slightly different industry due to the lack of jobs. I just feel like my life outside of work is kind of on pause and wasting away currently and if I was home I would have much more outside of work. I kind of feel what is the point in having XYZ job if you have little life outside of it, am I working to live or living to work. I also feel like the quality of life is markedly better back West, even with rising rents.

Thanks.

funk-you

I've been in exactly the same situation. My advice...go where you're happy with your life. Don't stay anywhere just for a job. All I can think since I got back where I wanted is 'Why the f*ck did I spend so long there just for a job?'

Don't procrastinate. Just do it.

-Funk

shesty

I, however, would say if it's a job that gives good experience to your CV, consider giving it a year and then look around again in Galway.

If the jobs are roughly equivalent in terms of experience etc, then stick with Galway.You have a lot of working life ahead of you yet.

messy tessy

heartorhead89 wrote: »

I haven't made that many friends while up here in Dublin as I go home the majority of weekends and it's not the easiest.

I have two options, follow what is 'best' from a purely career aspect, go where the best jobs are or move back home to Galway and get a job there in a slightly different industry due to the lack of jobs

If it was me, and just looking at this bit alone I would say take the better job.
Like you say you go home most weekends, have you actually tried to make friends in Dublin? Running clubs, cycling or hiking groups could be worth trying. Or search whatever your interest is in meetup groups. Personally I would be more nervous of getting stuck in a job I didn't like/ had little career progression, rather than attempting to make new mates in Dublin.

Best of luck with your decision!

chuckles30

Will the extra experience help you get a job back in Galway eventually? Will you ever get your ideal job in the greater Galway area?

If the opportunities don't/won't ever exist in Galway, then there is no point going further down a road that you will not be able to pursue long term. You'd be better off to make the move back to Galway now and start building your career in a direction that is sustainable in the long term in Galway.

Quality of life, IMO, is far more important than career, but that's just my outlook on life.

I live 'down the country' and would probably have more career options if I were to consider Dublin, but I love my lifestyle here. I'm very much a 'work to live' person.

heartorhead89

Thanks for the fast replies guys!

In response to the question asking have I tried to make friends, I have gone to some meetups but that is it. I could certainly have done a lot more. So doing things instead of going home at the weekends and stuff. The majority of evenings I would just go home and watch TV, so its all my own fault. I just feel even if I really pushed the boat out meeting people, I wouldn't of made the save level of friends I have in Galway, but I suppose that I am just trying to rationalize it really.

In regards to ''Will the extra experience help you get a job back in Galway eventually?" - Yes and no, more no. The specific industry I am in only has a small amount of activity in Galway but as it is a form of engineering, there is always leeway laterally into other sides of engineering with some effort. Not ideal though at all if I planned to go back to Galway at some point, unless I opened my own company.

Oh I forgot to say the other job is down in Cork, so its a good bit away, from what I can see an extra half hour or more than Dublin. I feel I would have more opportunity to meet people in Cork as it is smaller than the Dublin area, but I don't know if the journey back to Galway at the weekends would be too much.

I know there is no 'right' answer here but I really appreciate all the comments so far.

One small caveat is that things do change with time. Lots of people hang around for a year or two after college but many of your peers might be facing the same decision and might move away - the Galway you move back to could be very different.

Ms Doubtfire1

you work to live - you don't live to work. go where you are happy.