making the move: career wise

TheReligion

whoes made a big move at a young age to start a career?

Ive been mulling it over, by big move Im talking perhaps even oppostie ends of the country, north to south or something similar.

Its the missing friends and familly that keeps putting me off and I would imagine the initial feeling of being very much "on your own"

Ive finished Uni and am carrying on with my career aspirations to join the Police Force. Its just a matter of which one. Obviously working for the Police doesnt offer a huge pay packet to begin with, so this could impact on what I do. The easy option is to apply locally and work in my home county Lancashire. Two other forces particularly stand out for me though, those being Greater Manchester (as I used to live there, and its not too far from where I live now) and the Metropolitan Police (as working in London interests me for some reason).

Any usefull advice would be greatly recieved.

ZIDANE

Depends on your situation and why you really want to move? If you can find the same work where you are and in London the move won't affect your career directly - as long as the jobs are the same. You could always move to London later on in life when you are settled in your career.

I've thought about moving - it would certainly give me better options career wise - but then I'd have to start over somewhere new and on my own, which only bothers me slightly, as its having the money to set up that puts me off otherwise I'd go for it. On a harsher cynical note you're going to lose them sometime or have to move on... plus you'll make some more.

Anyway I'm not speaking from experience, I've just been through the same thoughts, I guess I'm also interested...

Redlambs

I don't know how useful I can be, but I moved up north at a young age by myself and it was absolutely dire for the first six months.

Although the career didn't pan out how I'd hoped, I did meet some great people and found United, so it did have a happy ending. I think it's 100% natural to be a bit scared of such a big step, but I've always gone with knowing rather than regretting.

a_devil_inside

McDonalds will take you on

TheReligion

Read the thread please mate instead of coming across like an idiot and trying to be funny, that remark makes no sense at all..

As for the others, thanks for your replies - my reasons for moving would be just for a change - obviously police wise, working for the Met would be alot different than working in Lancashire, as would GMP.

Just a thought - obviously the set up costs would worry me

Rudie

I spent 12 months abroad in the name of my career, after the initial "honeymoon period" of a couple of weeks to a month the home sickness kicks in and novelty of living somewhere new ends, this lasts between 4-7 months before the "acceptance period" starts, this is when you finally accept your new life, find new places away from the tourist spots and should have started a social life again.

However, moving again after the acceptance stage, back home, or elsewhere and the cycle starts all over again.

rednev

I'd play it safe and try to get into either GMP or the Lancashire Police. Once you get on your feet financially, you could always apply for a transfer, should you wish.

roodboy

I moved to London from Manchester after finishing Uni - apart from not getting to as many United games as I used to, I have no regrets - I think it is always good to broaden your horizons and all that

the worst thing that can happen is that you really dont like it and you just move back - you will still learn a lot about yourself even if that happens

TheReligion

As far as Im aware I wouldnt have the opportunity to move back untill Id served my two years probationary period with my chosen force. Then I could apply for a transfer. This is the main stumbling block for me, otherwise I would like to give the Met a go down south and see how I liked it.

Christofaux

Move to Australia, drive a V8, Carry a gun, victimize minorities.

roodboy

well I dont know much about how the Police Force works but if you really hated it that much then i would be suprised if they really made it difficult for you to transfer back to your local force - as long as prove yourself to be upto standard anyway

I guess it depends what kind of person you are - I have always felt quite comfortable moving around and never had issues with homesickness or anything like that - I realise it is not so easy for everyone

Bury Red

Not the same career but I moved down south after University and slotted in with a new social scene straight away. I've since followed career moves halfway around the world and although I've never been that clingy, family wise, it has provided the od moments of strain with the wife's family being so far away but we wouldn't change our decisions if we had the chance again.

As far as a career in the police is concerned GMC and the Met are the two big ones where you can really establish a career and have the best pay scales for senior ranks as the salary is governed by the size of the force (if as I imagine it's in line with the fire service). You may gain quicker promotion later on by flitting to smaller forces whenever vacancies arise but can wreck your career that way for little additional financial reward.

I'd select either Met or GMC now and stick with it through your probation and initial posting and then see where you go from there. I wouldn't worry about making new friends as in either place you'll be lumped in with a similarly aged group of probationers who will form your new social scene, after all, nobody else would want to socialise with a bunch of bizzies anyway . As for family, unless you really live in each others pockets, London and Manchester are hardly that remote, it causes stress with us because we only get back once a year but you could be home every week if you wanted given the way police shifts tend to work.

Alex

Do it man, you can always come back home, always

The Hairdryer

You'll never get rich being a cop.

Ander8on

Becoming a copper dont you have to start off as a bobby on the beat for 2 years, before training in a specific field? Would it not be best for you to do this local for a couple of years before making the decision to leave?

A lad I knew from school studied engineering in college/uni - after becoming fully qualified he got a job doing what he trained for - 6 months later he left it, never to return to engineering because he 'fucking hated it'.

Moving & career choosing are two pivotal points in a persons life, if one of them goes sour, theres a good chance it will affect the other - my advice would be to get some time served first, be 100% sure its what you want to do before planning your life around something.

EspadaYdaga

Fuck them.... what have those cunts ever done for you?

huh?

huh?

Mannheim Red

I was going to say to you that I left home at 17 to start a new job in a different part of the country. Yes, you miss family and friends at first, but you make new ones and the feeling of homesickness soon wears off.
A few years ago I uprooted myself once again and moved abroad and the same thing happened. New friends and different experiences. It all adds up to life.
Whilst I was half way through your post I saw that you want to be a copper and then thought Fuck Off, he's never going to have friends anyway......

busbysaces

Mate, two years is fuck all. Especially when in new surroundings and in a new job.

You'll most probably get the feeling of "what if" if you dont do it.

I lived in Germany for a year for a work placement at uni. Loved it, and it stood me in good stead career wise.

GloryHunter07

One thing i would say is that a move to london may pay better, but the cost of living will be much higher aswell, so your not likely to be better off.

James Parkin

what skills you got?

I started contracting at the age of 18, and still remember the day when I got my first contract offer, and the agency said to me "we have tried our hardest, but can only get the daily rate up to £250"

£250 a day at the age of 18, I couldnt believe my luck. But it did involve me living away from my family and friends 5 days a week. Ended up doing it for the best part of 9 years, and got to work all over the world.

VidaRed

money's not everything

Cold_Boy

Nice.

What kind of contracting?I am 19 and and soon going to do the same.Although yes everything is sppon fed because of my Dad but nonetheless I am quite exited about making money and working on my own.

Cold_Boy

But you know how it works in India,right?

TheReligion

Thanks for all the helpful replies - some of them have really made me have a think about whats best.

Career wise, I feel your right Bury, its a known fact there are more opportunities for promotions within GMP and the MET as the force size is so vast. Saying that maybe Ander8on has a point regarding making the move after I have given my local force a try.

Anyway, I have a few months wait untill Lancs and GMP are next recruiting and untill I can put in my application. Have to wait until March time for them, whereas the MET are constantly recruiting.

James Parkin

telecoms engineering

was meridian and symposium back then, but we are talking 13 yrs ago

now doing cisco, meridian, symposium and redwood, but I am full time now. Still pretty good money though

if you can start studying cisco, you go contracting then, and you can pretty much print your own money