So, where should I move to?

[matgb]

OK, posting this one behind a lock for now but...

Spoke to my boss Thursday, he asked me to give him a final decision Monday (tomorrow). My decision? I'll be finishing my current job in December. I'm due a performance bonus, and he's also talking about arranging some sort of pay-off. I'll make sure I've got full details before I give him my decision, of course, but overall, fairly relaxed and happy. It gives me 5 months to finish off, handover, train a replacement and get a new job. Plus, a pay-off will give me enough cash (just) to move somewhere where I'll be happier.

So, 2 questions for you, my wonderful friends list.

Where should I move to?

Let's face it, I'm not actually stuck on any one location, nor am I really that bothered about specific location. Current ideas in my head, in order:

1. London
2. Exeter
3. Leeds
4. Edinburgh
5. Germany
6. Anywhere else

London is my most likely choice, but let's be honest, it's also the most scary and would be the biggest change. I've got a lot of friends there already, and even more that I know through LJ that I suspect would be good friends. Amenities are there, culture is there, I know that I'd be able to find many many things to do easily. Biggest worry would be running out of money, but I'm like that anyway.

Exeter is the safe, familiar option. It's close to my family, it's (almost) big enough to have things to do, and I know I could kick-start more things to do. I've got a large number of friends there, and I'll never be short of things to do that I'll enjoy. Thing is, most of those things will be same-old same-old, I lived there for nearly 5 years already, and worked there for 2 years before that.

Leeds I only slightly know, but I know of people there, and friends of friends live there that I know I'll like. It's a reasonable sized city with a decent history, and I know I like northern cities. It wins out over Manchester purely because of said friends' friends (and The Wendy House of course).

Edinburgh is a wildcard. I've never even been there, never crossed the border (need to do something about that). But. I know people up there, it has a great history and culture, the climate is more agreeable to me and, well, a city is a city, regardless, right?

Germany? Pipedream. I love visiting, and I have many friends across the country now, but I doubt it would happen. Given my employers, it remains an option though, moving to head office/Munich might be a plan to look into.

Elsewhere? Suggestions welcome. Must have a big enough population density to support a diverse cultural life (ie I want Rock clubs and theatres, decent bookshops, etc.).

Question 2?

Gissa job?

More seriously, I've never actually had to look for and apply for a job properly before. I've been incredibly lucky, and every job I've taken I've been offered or been promoted into. So, might as well ask people out there that might possibly know someone offering a decent job. I'll also likely be putting copies of my CV up for feedback over the next few months, I'll need to start in January, but could start earlier if a transitional arrangement could be made.

What I'm looking for:

• A challenge - I like troubleshooting and problem solving, I'm good at trouble shooting and problem solving, I've got my current job to the point that they need a competent administrator, I've solved the big problems.


• Involving use of computers, but not back end coding - Let's face it, I'm pretty good at getting computers to do what I need, but not good at actually making the applications. My web coding skills are doubtful at best, but I can SEO a site to get some stupid-good Google results ('this royal throne of kings' 'this other Eden' and tony blair murdering bastard are two genuine recent hits, that's without really trying) and I can analyse the usage and usability of a site, at least to a basic level.


• Market analysis and positioning - My current job has seen me turn around a dismal makret position and the school is now market leader within Torbay, the former two are following our lead and copying my ideas now, and the also-rans are simply chasing me. I can look at the sales stats, look at the market position, and both predict and affect the results reasonable easily. Same applies to politics, for example; I can see what Cameron is up to, and can see what the Lib Dems need to do, I can even see a way that Labour could hold on. No idea if I'm right, but the analysis and reasoning is sound. Most employers, whether public or private sector, could do with knowing where they stand, how people will react to changes, and how they can affect those reactions. I'm good at that sort of thing. I enjoy it.


• People contact - given that I likely have a mild form of Aspbergers, I've worked hard over the years to be good at dealing with people. I'm good at "sales" because I'm good at figuring out what the customer genuinely needs, and persuading them of that, rather than simply selling them expensive product X or giving them easy product Y. Same applies in offices or similar, making sure that complaining person X gets what they need rather than what they think they want is something I'm fairly good at; see problem solving/troubleshooting, above.


• Writing (especially for the web) - There's a knack to writing things online that is different to writing things for print, just as a newspaper column is written differently to writing for an academic journal. I seem to be good at online writing. I enjoy putting my thoughts down, explaining my analysis, etc. I'd love to have it as part of my job. but not all of it.

So, I'm happy to move to anywhere in the country (or Europe), and I want a job that's an interesting challenge I have good transferable skills, but I want out of the industry I'm currently in. Something that interests me in some way would be good, I'm not sure (yet) that I want a direct move into politics of some sort but there is an appeal (it's what my BA is in after all).

Any ideas or suggestions gladly received; I'm not going to start actively looking for a bit, I've got 5 months and I want to relax a little and clear my head.

Summary

I need to figure out where I want to live, and figure out what I want to do. Your advice and opinion welcome.

For now, it's time to shower & shave, eat and get out the door, it's about time I saw my friends in Exeter.

Comments

[freddiefraggles.livejournal.com]

"...it's about time I saw my friends in Exeter."

Yes it is! :(

I have no other useful things to suggest as I am a) younger than you and b) inexperienced in the workplace, to say the least. I've worked for my dad. Go me!

[matgb]

That icon is cool. And friends were seen, even if not you/ Mark/ others.

Will probably come up next weekend as well, possibly come up Saturday, do stuff, crash somewhere then do GameSoc stuff Sunday, then I'll have time to see multiple people, which'd be cool.

[jackthomas.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should start to look for jobs in all of those places, and see where the sticky threads of time and fate take you.

It is your destiny...

In regards to Germany/Scotland and companys with ethics I know you can get behind try looking into Gortex - http://www.gore-careers.eu.com/e_index.html

They opperate a really interesting structure - job titles don't exist, they don't have business units of more than 150 people, a lot is decided by groups and naturally evolving stuctures within the company. Pay is determined through comitee etc. SOunds rather like a wonderful social experiment - I keep checking to see if they need someone with my skills - but no luck yet!

Any how they seem to be keen on people just submitting details and seeing how it goes.

Good luck anyway fella.

[matgb]

Looks interesting actually, worth a more in depth look when I'm not half asleep. Thx.

[nwhyte]

The single best book I've ever read on career change is What Color Is Your Parachute?, by Richard Nelson Bolles. The writing style is a bit American and evangelical Christian, but if you can get past that to the self-assessment bits, and the ideas of how to strategise to get the ideal job, it is well worth the investment. To summarise the approach:

1. Know your best and most fulfilling transferable skills.
2. Know what kind of work you want to do and what field you would most enjoy working in.
3. Talk to people who are doing the work you want to do. Find out how they like the work, how they found their job.
4. Do some research, then, in your chosen geographical area on those organizations which interest you, to find what they do and what kinds of problems/challenges they or their industry are wrestling with.
5. Then identify and seek out the person who actually has the power to hire you for the job you want; use your personal contacts – everyone you know – to get in to see him or her.
6. Show this person with the power to hire you how you can help the company solve its problems/needs/challenges and how you would stand out as one employee in a hundred.
7. Don't take rejection personally. Remember, there are two kinds of employers out there: those who will be bothered by your handicaps – age, background, inexperience, etc. – and those who won't be and will hire you, so long as you can do the job. If you get rejected by the first kind of employer, keep persevering until you find the second.
8. In all of this, cut no corners and take no shortcuts.

Anyway that's my 2p worth.

[matgb]

That's actually a nice little plan of action, for which I thank you.

Haven't really got a clue where to stary, although I think the post above is part 1 so my instinct must be telling me things. Much appreciated, thanks.

[vodex.livejournal.com]

I'll second the parachute book fer sure. And I think London, but I'm biased as I've just moved there. The scope of it all is amazing, I'm starting to think I have missed out by *not* living here the past 15 years.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

In terms of challenging and interesting techie stuff, of those options I'd be wary of Exeter, though you should know it better than me! My friends Russ and Josh (not on LJ, that I know of) have both spent large amounts of time in Exeter trying to get interesting techie jobs (Josh because he was born there, Russ because he got a job at some web design company there when he was unemployed in Ipswich), and both have had trouble advancing their careers there. Josh decided to go back to school and then University, Russ had been looking elsewhere though without much motivation. My ex has had trouble in much of south Devon getting interesting techie jobs (has the skills, but the personality work-wise is a little... lacking, mind) - currently in Plymouth, I believe.

Of course, if you were getting a job elsewhere but could remote work, or work from home (e.g. for the web bit), it's all different, though.

[matgb]

Ah, no, not a techie. Have friends that are (including one that is one by mistake (his MA is effectively political theory).

I effectively want to do sales, marketing or analysis, where I can be a decent, informed end-user, with a tech team that lets me get on with it and fixes problems

I'm more likely to go for London as an option, but, well, just spent the day in Exeter with friends, I really like my Exeter friends.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. I was probably reading more into the web-writing and computer-use bits than was warranted, though I guess the sort of marketing/analysis job could take you towards web/media-companies that get contracted to put up sites for campaigns, charities or companies, that sort of thing.

Don't know much at all about what Exeter is like for other job sectors. I do know that I get lost whenever I drive there, though.

[matgb]

Everyone gets lost driving in Exeter. I still do, and I lived there for years. They seem to believe that signposts should only point to obscure districts and neighbouring villages, I asked a cllr on the Highways committee to fix it once, she didn't get very far.

Might have been because we were trying to put up "way out" signs but, well. Web marketing/design companies are one of the things I'll be looking at (partially linked to the mentioning of Edinburgh, devils_kitchen was looking for a sales/management guy a few months back, he might still be).

But I think I did over emphasise the computer stuff above; I've spent the last 4 years wrestling with a 14 year old database OS, so I know I'm good using the things, but I'd like to use stuff that "just works".

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

(partially linked to the mentioning of Edinburgh, [info]devils_kitchen was looking for a sales/management guy a few months back, he might still be)

A friend kept trying to convince me I should've gone to Edinburgh for university. Maybe I'd've enjoyed it, I dunno. The only thing I know about the city job-wise is the office my employer has there. (Sadly, all proper techie jobs, pretty much.) The two or three other people I've known in Edinburgh have dahn sarf in the last few years. Though with the Scottish Parliament and things, I'd imagine there's a growing political scene for things like consulting and political agencies, NGOs etc. (If I wasn't doing a vaguely techie job like I am now - documentation, websites, manuals, specifications etc. for an IT company - it'd probably be the area I'd think about looking towards.)

but I'd like to use stuff that "just works"

Ooh, me too. Sadly, I need to find the time at some point to understand a few hundred lines of ASP after the ASP-fluent web developer in my department left, or we have no hope of maintaining it. (I can read VBScript usually, I just can't write it. Unfortunately, given it's central to our website, I can't get away with that really.)

[karis-uk.livejournal.com]

There are pros and cons to moving to all the places you've mentioned - but as you say you have never been to Edinburgh I'll give you a word of warning - visit it before it becomes a viable option. Yes it has culture and the like, but I've always found it bland, boring and expensive, not to mention full of tourists in a way that stands out more so than on the streets of London. But then I lived in Glasgow, which was a much more interesting place in my opinion.
If you are inclined to go towards London, then don't forget that the entire surrounding radius of the city can give you the advantages without the 'scary' factor. Reading's 50 miles away, but takes half an hour on the train to get to the city centre (quicker than a lot of tube journeys' from within the zones) so you get all the benefits with slightly cheaper rent prices etc - and if you go in any direction from the City you will find places like that.
I would think that your best option would be to start seeing what the job situation is like and narrowing down where you want to live from that. You're planning well ahead though, so it isn't like you have to rush any decisions, which is a good thing :-)

[raksaksa.livejournal.com]

How about the European Parliament?

Also...consider this reply the invasion of your journal to invite you to my BBQ!!
You can read about it in my journal...the basic plan hasn't changed too much.

All I basically need to know is if you still want to come, and if so when...on the 12th or the 19th (or both). Could you let me know by Friday morning at the latest please, as I'll be heading out to get the food that afternoon/evening.

I'll provide more details upon receiving the RSVP concerning when & where we meet, house directions, etc...

[matgb]

K, cool, meant to sort things earlier, but have arranged a place to crash, so will be there this Saturday (12th).

As I'm vege, d'you want me to bring some Quorn stuff?

[raksaksa.livejournal.com]

I think the budget will stretch to some Quorn stuff...so don't worry about it. :)

[matgb]

Cool, let me know if there is anything I can bring to help out.

[pinkshifter.livejournal.com]

I know it's a bit ahead of your planned schedule but there are currently a few jobs going in HQ which might be of interest to you

http://www.libdems.org.uk/jobs.html

If you want any background on these or any other LD post then give me a shout