Anyone left a cushy but dead-end fully remote job for better prospects and a 3 hour commute? How did it go?
UK based, potentially moving from private fully remote to public sector, London hybrid (2-3 days a week but verbally described as "very flexible").
I'm after advice from people who've left a comfortable but dead-end WFH job for something with more purpose, growth and opportunity.
I've been fully remote for years. Super comfortable job, I'm very good at it and love the work when I'm left alone to do it. I don't want to come across entitled, but I still feel unsatisfied and incredibly frustrated.
The problem is it's a dead end career wise and the company culture is dishonest and corporate in all the cliche ways. I've been lied to multiple times by HR and management about progression and pay, passed over for promotion, and rewarded with more work and responsibility for being a high performer. It's become clear I'm too valuable in my current position to be moved anywhere else.
Most of all, I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. I'm the last one left in the UK on our team, having survived three waves of layoffs, and our department head, through 'initiatives' is looking to replace us with AI or offshoring.
I've now got an offer for a senior role in a central government digital department with a strong reputation in my industry. Pays about the same, but the pension is roughly three times what I get now, more job security and I'd actually learn and grow, with real opportunity after.
The catch: the office is in London and I'm about 3 hours door to door. Could be anywhere from 1 to 3 days a week in office, still waiting on the exact expectation. I've done the maths and it works, even in the worst case.
I'm mid 30s and realistic that it won't be a cakewalk and I'll lose a lot of time to travel. But I feel like staying somewhere that doesn't value me is wasting an opportunity.
On the other side, I know I'd be trading something a lot of people would kill for. The devil I know for one I don't, and it could be just as bad or worse. I know the public sector varies heavily by department and line manager. I'm also aware the civil service has been going through hiring freezes and voluntary redundancy. I'll be possibly working in a digital team under the Department for Science and Innovation.
For anyone who's made this trade in either direction: how did it turn out, and what do you wish you'd known or done differently?
I'm about 85% sure Ill take this job, but want to weigh all things consider and find things I've missed.
Not looking for "just do it lol" or hypotheticals. Lived experience only, please.
Thanks in advance!