Advice on job offer needed

grangegorman · 14-09-2015 03:12PM #1

Hi All,

Advice needed please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sat an interview with the OPW for a position of Engineering Technician back in 2012. Last weekend I received an email from the public appointments office to say that I was next in line for a position in order of merit on the panel. To be honest, at the time back in 2012 I didn't think about getting a job in the future as I came about 14th and didn't really understand the whole put on a panel thing.

The position is full time and pensionable but is in Limerick (not that I haven't anything against Limerick). I'm living in Dublin and currently in full time employment plus my partner works here too. The job very much interests me and would be a great career opportunity but means I would be away Mon-Fri and paying rent in Dublin and Limerick. My partner is completely against the idea as we will not be able to save money/get a mortgage/get married for another few years and she would prefer to stay in Dublin (not that I'm asking her to move). My current employment is on a 6month reoccuring contract and my partner is a teacher who is covering maternity leave. Neither of us have job security and this worries me as I'm 34 and hoping to settle down in the near future. We both moved to Australia for a couple of years because of the recession and struggle to get work when we returned but got luck after a lot of persistance.

I believe that if I took the position in Limerick and got my foot in the door of the OPW, I might be able to transfer to one of the other branches after a while in the position. Recently, I applied for the same position with the OPW in their Dublin/Trim office but didn't even make it to interview stage. I suppose my concern is, if I reject this offer I may not get this type of opportunity again and live to regret it.

If anyone has been in a similar situation, or knows working in the OPW I would be greatful for any advice. (I love my girlfriend more than anything so ditching her is not an option

Thanks

Tefral · 14-09-2015 03:23PM

Jesus OP, feel bad for the situation your in. I suppose I was once in a similar situation just not with the OPW.

I moved away to London for work while my missus stayed in Dublin = didn't take me long to regret it, but I was on a 3 day week in my own job. eventually after a year i got a Job in Limerick (both my other half and my hometown) she was still in Dublin. I halved my wages to come home so that was my comparable situation. Eventually about 6 months later my missus got a job here too. So now we are both back home and life is great. Limerick is such an easy city to get around, no real traffic issues and my quality of life has gone way up.

Do I miss Dublin sometimes? Yes, but I wouldn't trade my situation now for more money (which I have turned down numerous offers to go back to Dublin)

With regards the OPW, i dealt with them on a daily basis and got to know different sections very well. Everyone of them loved their job as I was always chatting to them before meetings or whatever. The job stability is something hard to give up and Limerick is so cheap to live in. You'd rent a 4 bedroom house here for less than 900 a month.

Difficult situation if the missus wont move though, is she from there?

grangegorman · 14-09-2015 03:57PM

Thanks Cronin,

I'm familiar with Limerick and have family living in Killaloe which is not too far from the city. It is certainly hard to dismiss a full time public sector job when I've been through two internships and living on a graduate wages whilst in my thirties. My partner is from Antrim so she has no affiliation with Dublin other than me and a few friends.

I just wish I could win her around to even listen to the benefits of having such a job with security. Decision Decision Decisions.....

Tefral · 14-09-2015 04:35PM

grangegorman wrote: »

Thanks Cronin,

I'm familiar with Limerick and have family living in Killaloe which is not too far from the city. It is certainly hard to dismiss a full time public sector job when I've been through two internships and living on a graduate wages whilst in my thirties. My partner is from Antrim so she has no affiliation with Dublin other than me and a few friends.

I just wish I could win her around to even listen to the benefits of having such a job with security. Decision Decision Decisions.....

Well do the Pros and Cons:
Pros:
Job Security
Good Pension
Career Progression
Cheap to live here
Family Locally (which is major as if ye do have kids that will be a major help)
Easy city to get around - commute is tiny
Whatever else ye can think of.

Cons
Moving further away from her family
Hard to get a job in teaching (isn't that everywhere though)
Moving away from friends.

I think your goosed if you cannot get her on board though, my own experience is that to be honest money doesn't mean anything, ye will make it work anywhere but it would have to be together. Theres a lot it would appear in it for you, not a lot for her.

Tails142 · 14-09-2015 11:47PM

I think that you would need to wait a certain amount of time before you would be eligible to apply for lateral transfer to the Dublin/Trim office if a vacancy did arise - two years is in my head for some reason but I could be wrong.

nikkibikki · 18-09-2015 09:08AM

One thing to think about OP. Ye most likely won't get a mortgage if neither of ye're jobs are secure. When is her job finishing? Could you travel to Limerick on a Monday morning and back Friday evening staying with your family that you mentioned for the 4nights as a temporary measure? Tbh I think you'd be mad not to take it, there's a lot to be said for job security.

Advice on job offer needed

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