Finally a job offer, but terrible commute

[Anonymous]

Laid off several months ago, navigating a terrible job market in my late 40s. Finally have an offer for a decent job, but the commute is terrible. At least an hour of heavy interstate traffic each way, potentially longer in the evening. I’ve been working from home for five years, so this will be a huge adjustment. After six months, I can do two days a week from home, but I’m still questioning whether doing this drive three days a week is even sustainable.

We will be fine financially if I don’t take it, but I like working. With the job market the way it is, I’m afraid I’ll never have a job again if I don’t take this one. (Unless I completely pivot to a new field, but I don’t even know what that would be.) The longer I’m out of work, the more useless and isolated I feel.

What would you do?

[Anonymous]

Not enough information here to weigh in. Do you have a family and kids who will be impacted by this commute? Are you the mom or dad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Laid off several months ago, navigating a terrible job market in my late 40s. Finally have an offer for a decent job, but the commute is terrible. At least an hour of heavy interstate traffic each way, potentially longer in the evening. I’ve been working from home for five years, so this will be a huge adjustment. After six months, I can do two days a week from home, but I’m still questioning whether doing this drive three days a week is even sustainable.

We will be fine financially if I don’t take it, but I like working. With the job market the way it is, I’m afraid I’ll never have a job again if I don’t take this one. (Unless I completely pivot to a new field, but I don’t even know what that would be.) The longer I’m out of work, the more useless and isolated I feel.

What would you do?

Move closer to the job. Duh.

[Anonymous]

Are you a morning person? Can you "beat the rush"?

The commute will be a rude shock and you will become grumpier if it cuts into your day/sleep.

Some people actually like the solitude of commuting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not enough information here to weigh in. Do you have a family and kids who will be impacted by this commute? Are you the mom or dad?

How is this relevant to anything explain it to me like I am six I really wanna know thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you a morning person? Can you "beat the rush"?

The commute will be a rude shock and you will become grumpier if it cuts into your day/sleep.

Some people actually like the solitude of commuting.

Nobody likes to commute for an hour, and longer commutes have been shown to make people less healthy. That said, the job market in this area is terrible, and 1 hour each way is sadly not so unusual in this area due to traffic. Can you take public transportation or move closer to the job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not enough information here to weigh in. Do you have a family and kids who will be impacted by this commute? Are you the mom or dad?

How is this relevant to anything explain it to me like I am six I really wanna know thank you

I didn't post this, but I assume what the PP was trying to say--is that sometimes adults need to suck it up and take jobs they would rather not take because there are bills to pay and children to feed.

[Anonymous]

Take it. Spend one night a week at a hotel near the job if you can't handle the commute. The night you are at the hotel, spend the evening looking for and applying for other jobs.

[Anonymous]

If you can work from home two days a week make those Mondays and Fridays and get a hotel near the office on Wednesdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not enough information here to weigh in. Do you have a family and kids who will be impacted by this commute? Are you the mom or dad?

How is this relevant to anything explain it to me like I am six I really wanna know thank you

I didn't post this, but I assume what the PP was trying to say--is that sometimes adults need to suck it up and take jobs they would rather not take because there are bills to pay and children to feed.

No, not do believe PP was trying to suggest something about the difference in the value of mothers versus fathers. Because I think PP is a shitty person.

[Anonymous]

Realistically it seems like if you don’t take this job, you are retired. Or a SAHM if you have kids. That’s fine, but it sounds like you want to work.

I would take it and try it for a year. It will be a big adjustment but you may find it worth it, plus it is so much easier to find a job when you have one so you may not have to stay long.

[Anonymous]

Take it, keep looking.

[Anonymous]

If it’s a job you’ll like, I’d take it. I did the same last year and now down to two days a week in the office. You can do anything for six months.

To make it more palatable I work for gf hours to shorten the commute and I joined a new gym that also has a branch near the new job so it’s f traffic is worse than usually I just hang out and work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can work from home two days a week make those Mondays and Fridays and get a hotel near the office on Wednesdays.[/quot

Op, if required three days per week in office.
Do Monday for sure, Mondays has most holidays.
I would do MTW in office and work from home TF.

[Anonymous]

My brother in law loves his job and I have never heard him complain about his hour plus of interstate driving each way. I'd try it and see. You might love podcasts or books on tape and not mind the drive so much.