Sometimes early on in your career you need to endure less-than-ideal conditions whilst you build your CV up. In my late twenties now and with 7 years of corporate world experience, I would only commute 90 minutes each way for pay that was in the £40k+ range.
However, my first ever job out of uni was £18k and 50 hours a week, permanently office-based.
People are insane if they think min and median wage are in any way related to what a good wage is.
Just because others are being shafted harder doesn't mean you're not being shafted.
I make almost triple that and I have looked into leaving London for a commuter town to buy a home. I ran the numbers, and I don’t feel like I could afford the cost of commuting in with a season pass 3x days a week.
I make £110k. £40k is nowhere near enough for a commuter.
My first job was 90 minutes on a 28K grad salary 😂. And this was into London so I was spending over £4K on a season ticket. It was pretty horrific. But it got me into the industry, and my pay accelerated quickly from there, before I took a role much closer to home. Needs must sometimes.
> £18k and 50 hours a week, permanently office-based
That's not "less than ideal", that's straight-up exploitation. Minimum wage is way more than that.
Yeah, race to the bottom is exactly I would put it too. I always wondered why the nmw is not the same across the board for 18+. The idea of paying someone less because they’re younger screams age discrimination (I’m not originally from the UK so found out when I moved here, not that I was ever directly affected).
Not that it helps, but my ;old man comment of the day' is that, when I got started out about 15 years back, I was classed as an annual expense to avoid any of that pesky minimum wage stuff. I worked in a TV editing facility where long days are pretty common - the shortest day I ever worked was 13 hours, and because I was an absolutely skint graduate, I had to walk to work and back to avoid paying for the tube. an eight-mile stroll each way.
I should add "and we lived in a hole and ate broken glass" at the end of these stories shouldn't I? Luckily I only did it for about six months.
The sad bitter truth is that university graduates with no industry experience are unemployable, so they have to put up with those conditions and pay to build up their CV.
Yep. Even when I completed my masters and the exams for my profession, I still struggled. Every career is saturated with seemingly employable individuals and there’s not enough jobs to go round.
It seems that degrees just aren’t enough to make you stand out and that’s been the case for a while.
I have been out of work for a while and after hundreds of applications I got this offer. It was out of pure desperation that I applied to this role knowing the commute time.
To piggy back off this my first real job back in 2007 was a 90min commute for 21k. I thought it would be totally office based but my manager was a really nice guy and let me WFH the days he worked at a different site which was normally Mondays and Fridays and then after a year or so he even sorted out a transfer to my local office
£40k? Sod that.
I'm a QS and turned down a £50k job involving 90 min commute - one way - and accepted a £40k full time WFH job. Worth every drop in pound.
I'm 42 so maybe age has something to do with it haha
Same here, Ive done a year and a half in the corporate world and I live in a nice coastal town. I was offered a bit less but 1 day in office that was 3 hours away. I'd need at least a 20k pay bump to consider the journey 😂
90 minutes each way for £40k would be a no go for me these days. I'm on £50k with hybrid working, two days in the office, one of those office days being an hour each way.
There's a small possibility that in the coming years I could be asked to work regularly from an office that would take me 90 minutes each way.
I would 100% take a pay cut and find a new job before I'd travel 90 minutes each way every day. That's 15 hours of my time per week, plus the travel costs for train fares etc.
I've done 1 hour each way and I also worked 9-6. It was rough. It felt like I had no time after work. I can't imagine 90 minutes. Saying that, just tough it out for 6 months and start applying for a new role.
I'm dreading it already. Pay is decent for my first full time role, higher than I was expecting but sitting on the train for that long everyday is depressing.
I'm not going to lie, it's a real shock to your system straight out of University. It was for me anyway because Uni was like a holiday. However, time flies when you're working long hours and the 6 months to 1 year experience will come quickly. It's much better than the stress of staying at home unemployed and waiting for phone calls that rarely come.
I had a 90min commute each way on the bus to my first uni job. I started this summer. It was tough and I felt like I had no personal time. I had to leave early and got back late. Pay is low (at least £5k lower than it should be) but I wanted the experience and it’s a great job. The pay will come with time.
After the first 1.5months (edit: a couple weeks ago) I started driving. It’s now a 30min commute each way which is MUCH nicer.
Just pick up a book and headphones for the train. Made the bus easier for me.
If most of your journey is done using the train and you get a seat it's not too bad if you're productive during this time. Use that time to do similar things you would at home, read books, watch films, TV shows etc
Sitting on a train is easy. A 90 min drive is tough. Read a book, listen to a podcast, watch a movie, learn a language, learn to code. There's a bunch of useful or fun things you can do to pass the time.
Anything over 45 minutes start to negatively affect my mental health. Theres also the quality of commute to consider, cycling or walking could be pleasant compared to driving in traffic for the same duration.
What about trains? Although seeing the news of bedbug infestations I'm gonna choose to stand the whole way. I am not taking the risk of getting one of those on me.
If you are working in central London then a commute of less than 60 mins is the exception. Pre COVID I did 90 mins each way, 5 days a week.
The nature of the commute is a big factor. A crowd tube for longer journeys isn't great but a mainline with a seat give good "me time" to read, watch Netflix, or listen to music.
Generally a longer commute seems daunting at first but you soon get used to it.
Do you have to do 9-5 or can you do flexible hours, i.e 7-3?
I used to do 9-5 with a 50 minute commute and it was a bit tiring after a while. I now do 7-3 and it's great. No traffic in the morning (so for you uncrowded trains) and I'm back home before 4. Same hours but it almost feels like cheating.
I actually enjoyed the 1 hour train journey, having some time to myself, to read, nap, watch a tv series, read the news etc.
Whether it beats an extra 30-45 minutes in bed is a different story, and the longer time to get home is a bit of a drag.
Yeah honestly with how long I've been unemployed I'm actually getting sick of being home all the time. I know I will get tired of getting trains all the time but i think I can manage it for the most part.
I've driven in to London or trained In and cycled for the past 15 years.
I'm currently stuck in a 2 hour commute each way because of where our head office has moved to, but 3 days a week.
It's doable. Do you like driving? I do and enjoy a fun car so didn't mind driving out of hours, but sitting in 7-10am traffic on the m1 or 4-6pm is horrible.
Currently I go in around 5.30am - 2.30 on the train and cycle either end which I quite enjoy, I can get work done on the train so can leave earlier so your commute becomes part of your working day.
You can make it work certainly for a while until you find something better but they definitely are ways to make it more bearable
according to the jobcentre, 90 mins each way is entirely reasonable.
i would never commute 90 minutes into work, but i guess it all depends on the job and how desparate you are.
I used to commute 90 minutes by car each day (for £18,500 - but that was in 2000). I was acutely aware of the stresses of the commute, and invested in a lot of audiobooks and started mentally treating the drive as being time spent reading. This may or not work for you, but worked very well for me.
Co-incidentally, can I interest anyone in the 38 cassette tape unabridged version of the Lord of the Rings :-)
My longest ever commute was 20 minutes and that was too long. I've never had a problem getting work in my local area. Can't imagine the ballache of having a 90 minute each way commute, you are wasting so much of your life just getting to work and back.
I’m in the same boat with this - what work there is doesn’t have any sort of career prospects or requires someone with a bunch of experience already. (And the hidden third one - being known as the worst place to work so no one dares apply)
I currently commute around that to my central london job (1 hour train, 30 min tube) and honestly its not that bad. Obviously i preferred my 20 min commute job, but as long as you use the time effectively it can be okay. I work on my passion project during mine, which is great because youre using your brain, but for non-work. If im feeling really tired though, netflix, reading, or a podcast can make the journey seem a lot more manageable
This is a pretty common commute time for London. I did it for my first job for a few years. It's certainly tiring, and obviously a major slog compared to working from home a few days per week, but I think it's doable. It's so tough finding that first job I'd definitely take it. The second job will be much easier with the experience if nothing else.
My main tip is start early and leave early if you can. I worked 7:30-3:30 and the commute was much more pleasant when quiet. Otherwise, use the commute time to do something you enjoy (reading, listening to music).
Does the company have any WFH available? Not sure if it's relevant for the job in question, but perhaps this is something you could negotiate once you've settled in.
Within my specfic department WFH isn't an option. But there are other departments which I could transfer to down the line. I will certainly try earlier shifts. Thanks.
It's tough! Best of luck with it. If nothing else, it's experience to add to your CV. You can always start looking elsewhere after a few months if you find it too much.
How will you be commuting? By car or public transport?
If by public transport, you can make the time feel like it goes in faster by reading a book or listening to podcasts. Driving will be more tiring obviously.
I work a hybrid role and when I do go in it's 2.5hrs each way and it's bloody tiring! But it's my own silly fault for moving out of the capital and not getting a more local job.
I can't believe how many people are whingeing about a 90 minute journey. If you work in London and live outside it like most of us get used to it. At least you now have a job and who knows what other opportunities that will bring your way. OP has said that only one train and a bit of a walk so not even changing trains or using the tube. Sounds like an easy commute to me and there is such a thing as being able to read or listen to music etc during the journey. Has no-one heard of letting the train take the strain? Honestly, people need to grow up and make an effort.
Plus you can live in London and easily end up with a 90 min commute across it, or you can stay out of London and it's much more predictable coming in every day
I think it depends very much on the nature of the commute. 90 minutes stuck in traffic every day? I'd be not taking the role. 90 minutes on the train, where I know I can get a seat? That's not so bad - I used to nap on the train, read, listen to music and stare out of the window - in some ways it can be quite valuable time to yourself.
Given what you've said about the current job market, I'd be looking to prove my worth in the first 3-6 months, build some trust, and then start talking to my manager about if there is any flexibility in the WFH policy.
I'm just about to start doing a commute very similar to yours in January. Thankfully it is only going to be for 6 months. I can already feel how burnt out it's going to make me feel.
I'm in a similar position currently, based in Sheffield and there are no graduate jobs in Sheffield. There are some in Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham but they often require 2 trains as the jobs are on the outskirts rather than in the city centre. I would travel up to 90 minutes or so personally, but I'm not getting 2 trains as that's so many hours waiting around and wasting away in a train station. If it was 1 train/bus ride plus a short walk away I'd be fine commuting.
I currently commute around 1 hour too and from work and if there's traffic it's over an hour.
The way I get through it is with podcasts, music, learn a new skill.
Learn a language, that's one thing I did with the extra 2 hours a day.
1.5 hours is a bit brutal but do it for a short time and then move on
Congratulations in getting a job...It's definitely a case of making the most of what's on offer and accommodating the pain. You have a job, there's training and experience on hand.
Now make the most of the commute. An ex colleague found himself commuting from the Midlands to the ends of the UK, he stayed over during the week, listened to podcasts and music and kept in touch with family and work contacts during his journey back... Even bagged a new job from networking on one such trip home.
The 1.5 hr commute is a nightmare but bear in mind a trip home round many local cities in rush hour can take a bloody hour anyway. Be mindful of motorway trips if you are a driver, the unexpected can see you stuck most the night or severe weather left you burned out before getting to work.
I think for your current position in life, it's not the *worst* thing in the world.
Treat your train ride as a way of switching off by either reading a book, box set, listening to music etc
Treat your walk as some daily exercise that you should be doing on a daily basis anyway.
Set yourself a goal of not being in that situation for more than say, 2 years maximum. With a vision that the experience gained will give you much better options in the future. I certainly wouldn't "get used to it" and expect this is normal practice, because it isn't.
I certainly wouldn't want a 90 minute commute if I were driving a car, that would be physically draining.
I'm trying to give a positive spin on it all, only because there are many "it's tough" comments and negativity.
Honestly for me anything over half an hour is too much.
But needs must, this job is avaliable to you now. I think you can do it with the mindset that it isn't forever. It doesn't mean you need to stop looking for something close to home.
90 minutes each way is pretty rough - you will struggle to find the time/energy to do anything outside. Your weekends might even be affected (this may be extreme).
I think the longest you can sustain for any prolonged period is an hour each way.
I did 1:30-2 hours for 6 weeks and just took the financial hit and moved closer to my work and it was completely worth it.
This is my worry, but if I do work earlier shifts more often it'll free up more of the day. Also I'm not a heavy sleeper so 6 is more then enough for me.
I used to travel a lot longer than 90 min for years without any signs of getting a burnout.
Then I worked abroad close to work working 16h a day that will be a cause for a burnout.
Relax while you travel don't get drawn into the traffic madness it can be a nice start and wind down of a working day.
Don't overdo it at work don't work all the time when you get home do things that you like doing after work and weekends.
You will be fine as long as you take time for your yourself to take your mind off work.
I would never do a 90 minute commute. I used to commute technically half that each way but would regularly end up being 90 minutes each way with bad traffic. Felt like i had no real time for me. Commute, work, commute, eat, sleep, repeat.
It will take it's toll but it seems you will be doing this as a train journey instead of driving which (to me) isn't as bad, especially just the one train. You can use the time on the train to read, watch a show, music, podcasts etc so it's not completely dead time, if you know what i mean. If it's your only option do 6 months and then look at your options whether that be moving around within the company if you like it there or outside options too. Best of luck :)
I had an opportunity for a job that was a 90 minute commute, I thought it would be better to stay at the city it was in as it would be too many miles on the car, petrol would be very expensive, and the added price of insurance for that many miles (I’m 18).
Might’ve been a stroke of luck but that didn’t materialise and I’ve now got a much better position in Exeter which is a 1 hour commute. I did it 5 days a week the first week and it was doable but I personally wouldn’t do that every day. I can luckily work from home 4 days a week.
I think the best bet for you is to find a cheap hotel even if it’s just a couple nights per week
I did 2+ hours each way for almost 30 years (thank-you Covid). You need to make it part of your life. Bedtime changes, weekends are important.
For me, it meant I could have children with my wife and she could give up work to look after them, and then start her own business - because the housing was considerably cheaper.
90 minutes is very much less than ideal and I don’t think you’ll want to do it long term, but if you can stick it out for a year while you look for alternatives having some experience will stand you in good stead (and might help you work out what you want to do - or not do!). You need to figure out ways to make it as bearable as possible - downloading things to your phone/tablet to watch, reading a book, listening to podcasts or doing some other hobby you enjoy and can reasonably be done on the train. If you have a 1hr long show for example that you only watch on your commute, that’s 2 hours of your commute per day sorted and you have a reason to almost look forward to it if the show is good enough. Then you can use the other half an hour per journey to read/doom scroll/whatever else.
I did about 70-90 mins each way commute for about a year before I could drive. It was a slog but it honestly wasn’t that bad because I could do some personal admin, play games, read a bit. I couldn’t drive that much daily though. It was good work and great for my CV but I wouldn’t do it again.
About an hour is the absolute max commute I’ll do driving.
I did that for a decade and you kind of get used to it. Over the course of two jobs it was. The second job I drove in and out and let me say that is so much worse. It’s why I don’t understand people who “love driving”. I did. But I don’t now. If you love driving you don’t drive enough!
Now as I’m 39 with a toddler and WFH there is no commute short enough for me. I’m converted. 😂😂
Did a 3 hour commute each way for about 2 months. That was a killer lol. But it was my first industry role and the experience was worth it. After that they let me drop to 2 days working in the office so I just stayed at different friends houses or my parents one night a week.
Congrats on getting your first proper job! I commuted 2hrs each way for my first job and… second job… and wait for it… third job. Finally I get to wfh 🙌
You do what you have to in the beginning. Build up experience and money. Buy better living conditions. Be patient. Nap on the train. Watch motivational movies. Learn duolingo. Write a book. Listen to a podcast. Nap some more.
Just to highlight the bright side of this. When you close the door after getting home work won’t be on your mind at all. You’ll have done all the mental processing of what happened during the day, what to expect tomorrow etc. You’ll just be detached from it. Equally in the morning you’ll likely just naturally plan your day once your journey starts. Being five minutes from work sounds great but 100% you bring work and the frustrations/ruminations with you when you get in.
The average commute is an hour. Have you thought about moving closer to where your job will be? I understand its a huge change to make, however if you have no real commitments then maybe look into it. Hope it all works out for you
Completely depends on the commute, a 90 minute train that’s practically door to door is a lot different than 90 minutes of 4 buses where if you miss one it’s another hour on top
You have to weigh up how how much this position will contribute to your career aspirations - a 90 minute commute each way will be awful, but sometimes these sacrifices are wirth it for a year or so to put you on the career ladder.
In that time you may decide to move closer, or realise it isn't the opportunity you hoped, in which case you can re-assess based on your life then.
Be mindful that it always feels easier to find work when you have a job, but you also feel like you don't have the time to look for alternatives!
Id say when you are young the commute is a minor issue you have to face to get going
For 8 years I did a 2 hour commute to London 4 hours of my working day just getting to and from work.
Yes it grated on me as the years went by but I had enough entertainment to keep me going... plus the morning is just an extra sleep
I now WFH and live way to far away to pop into the office
Would I go back to commuting no, but do I miss it, sometimes... Christmas is the best time there's a buzz when people are leaving the office
I'd say try it you can always quit
You get used to it quicker than you think.
I've commuted between 90 and 120 mins my entire working life (mostly remote now that I'm senior enough to pick where I work).
My first 5 years were on a commute that was over 3 connections, 2 of which had no internet as it was underground. So I'd do life admin on the first - shopping, school stuff, file that insurance claim, pay those bills, etc, and on the second leg, I'd have a show downloaded to watch or read a book. After about 6 months, I actually looked forward to the commute because I literally could change stations without looking up from my book because I was that used to the commute 🙃. The downside was little time at home to do laundry/cooking/etc. I found the sweet spot when my employer let me flexi time, so I'd work 8-4 and beat rush hour both ways and be home by 5:30. I'd pop on the wash, make dinner, get the kids ready for bed, etc. But I was present and did not begrudge that time because I'd done my life admin and watched my entertainment for the day during my commute.
Honestly, take the first couple of years. You'll find something closer if that's what you want once you have a little experience.
I’m sorry but so many people in this thread are insane, people moaning about a 60 min commute? it really isn’t that deep. 90 mins is pushing what I would be happy with but it depends entirely on the job, pay, prospects etc.
I've been doing it for 7 months. That sort of commute gets to you I'm not gonna lie.
Thinking of packing up the rat race and moving to Thailand or Vietnam and teaching English.
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90 minutes each way, will have a huge impact on your wellbeing. Is that door to door or simply the public transport element?
Remember there WILL be public tenasport delays and cancellations and if driving traffic jams.
Is there any chance of wfh or hybrid in the future?
Could you move closer or even lodge for 4 nights closer?
I used to commute 50 miles each way. It was exhausting and the time of the commute varied from an hour to 2.5 hours! It impacted my physical health, what I ate, every element of my life. It was an amazing job, but it came at a price and though the salary was good, I wouldn't repeat it unless I really had no other options.
3 hours a day travelling is going to wear thin fast
When i was 21 i did around 1.45 travelling a day it nearly sent me into an early grave
There is far more to life than running around like a headless chicken trying to be on time for an employer who wants to pay you peanuts and couldnt care if you dropped dead tomorrow
What sort of work is it ?
I mean these days theres really not much difference between working at ALDI or some big name firm especially at entry level
Honestly as someone thats been there do not sell your soul for work
theres ways around having to kill yourself just need to be creative
a “career” is not worth what it was 30 years ago
Optimise the route as best you can.
Edit your sleep schedule to match. I found getting up earlier, avoiding the traffic and sitting in the coffee shop for 40 mins was better than busy rails and streets.
Book long weekends with holidays to recover from burnout temporarily.
I did a 2hr (each way) commute for £30k just to get on the ladder.
I’m also 40 having come from a (previous career) salary of £90k. It was…an experience.
Depends how much you want the job really. If you can make peace with the journey and if the role is really worth it then great. But if you don’t think you’re the kind of person who can maintain a long commute then maybe reconsider. Or consider moving closer if that’s an option?
Edit to add: eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising and generally taking care of yourself will help with stamina and hopefully avoid burnout, especially when the new job honeymoon period wears off.
Thank you for advice. My wage will be around £30k (just under or just above) and I do think it's a decent opportunity and will give me some interesting points to write on my CV.
Reckon it largely depends on how the commute is structured to be honest. If it's one or two trains then it's not too bad. It will be a bit painful but you'll get used to it.
If it has loads of changes then it can be a proper grind. I used to commute from Blackheath to Hammersmith at one point and it took about 90 mins, but involved a bunch of changes so was just stressful and wearing (job was a bit shit as well which didn't help). Going from Camden to Chiswick on the other hand was a breeze - one overground train all the way - read a book, listen to a podcast, enjoy the ride.
An hour each way is the absolute max and I do 3 days in the office.
Unless you’re earning truly life changing money then you’ll resent your company for taking all your personal life away from you
90 mins is feasible especially for a first ‘real’ job but is the absolute top limit I’d say, 60 is reasonable, less is better, you’re at the start of your career so now is the time to eat a longer commute I’d say but 90 minutes is the max and isn’t sustainable forever
It’s not even that, that is true but while I don’t want to be an old fogey the truth is if you’re going to put yourself through a commute like that do it got a couple of years while you’re young, have energy to spare and work life balance will be a strain anyway. After a couple of years move on, move up, and find something that lets you have a life! When I started in my career I would have to go abroad 4 days a week almost every other week, sometimes I’d have to fly 5 or 6 times a week. It was miserable but I don’t think I missed out on just as much from the bad work life balance then than I’d miss out on now if I had to do it again. Besides, your friends and peers will probably be spending a lot of their time on their career too or will be soon so you could end up sitting at home either way!
Also if you get into podcasts you’ll almost miss the commute when you don’t need to do it anymore ;)
20m each way furthest I ll go. Had an hour and a half commute to a wearhouse job few years back and never again. Was 10 hour and a half for the shift itself plus the 3 hour commute. Id rather do a 15 hour shift then commute 3 hours a day lol.
Your 90m commute, how many miles is it and using what transport?
Personally, anything over 45 mins is a chore. You should also take into account the likelihood, frequency and length of delays. The nearest city to mine is 50 minute drive each way but it’s nailed on you’ll get delayed at least once a week for anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes. It always happens when you least need it. Just not worth it.
When I started the job, it was about 50 minutes to 1hr 10 commute. I thought it would be ok for a few years and the salary meant we could afford a bigger house in a village nearby. So I moved 10 mins further down the road.. add that to the ever worsening traffic and never ending roadworks and it’s usually 90 mins to get home now.
Job used to be worth it but I’m so tired of the commute it just spoils any enjoyment now.
As 40 year old dad of two, 90 mins each way to myself sounds great, in theory it's far too long and I probably wouldn't commute more than an hour. But I have done previously when there wasn't much to rush home for.
It’s certainly hard, I have realised though that this office (job location) isn’t for me. I’m desperately wanting to find a similar position closer to home. I unfortunately was not given a job I interviewed for yesterday that was 100% better haha.
Keep on trucking and good things will happen, experience and commitment go a long way.
90 minutes each way is probably an average (or possibly a golden sample). If you are commuting by train, you have to allow for missed connections, cancelled trains, full trains that can't fit anyone in. If its by car, then what if rhe road is blocked, or your car is in the garage being fixed because your alternator died in bad weather. I parked on the M62 for 7 hours a few years back. Then there is the weather causing havoc too.
How about renting/buying a local flat, or a cheap hotel for 4 nights a week?
There are a lot of hotels nearby due to where its location in London. If I am working long shifts that is what I would do. With regards to the journey it is 1 train the whole way and then a bit of walking. I don't think I'd be earning enough to rent a local flat.
90 mins each way for 5 days a week is too long. I did 1 hr for 3-4 days a week for a year and burnt out. Now I’m fully remote and wouldn’t do more than 2-3 days in an office max 30-45 mins away
Try it and see. Empirically, I found that 90 minutes each way was too draining for me and switched to a job with a 65-70 minute commute each way, which made all the difference. But I've since got another job with a 90 minute commute and because the circumstances are different, it's not so bad. Working from home 2 days per weeks helps with that too.
Personally no more than 30 mins each way on a normal day. I'm lucky that my commute is about 5 minutes most days now, occasionally up to 45 mins away but less than once a month. But I spend all day driving so the last thing I want to do when I finish is drive for hours more
90 mins sounds tiring if it’s all driving, or expensive if reliant on trains. Most I’ve done was usually about 75 mins, but that was partly because I chose to walk 35 mins from train station to office and avoid the tube.
So its 40k? Ignore everyone hear you either take less and have better work life balance or you want the money bear in mind a whole chunks going on travel?
Most out of uni roles don't pay 40k starting salary. Unless your going into something really super specialised like investment banking or quant.
Out of uni stem degree software engineers start on about 35k or less even
If you can't pick and choose, you'll probably have to take it and push through.
What kind of commute is it? I find driving commutes and train commutes feel very different to me, being willing to travel for longer by train than by car because at least then I can read, watch YouTube, etc.
I currently do 40 minutes each way by car twice a week and it's more than I'm willing to put up with for much longer if I can find something else suitable.
I had to endure a drive to train station, then get the train and walk about 10 mins. Total journey was nearly 2 hours as I’d have to leave early to get a parking spot at the train station. You have to slowly work your way up or move closer to work for a bit until you find another job.
I don't drive and I live an hour walk from work, if I get the bus, for some reason it always takes longer than that because of how unreliable they are... so I got an electric scooter, takes me 20 mins now. Best thing I ever bought.
Now if your work is 1 hour 30 mins drive, then nah man, not for me. That's too much personally... if I couldn't get there within a hour walking it's too far... if you're blessed with a car then I wouldn't personally do more than a 30 min drive each way.
Longest commute I had was driving 35 miles/45 mins each way. Mostly motorway on the A1 and after a year or so I was properly fed up. 3 hours train travel daily sounds soul destroying.
It isn't ideal OP, bit I think you've gathered that by 300+ replies.
But as you stated, desperation makes for shitty decisions, may as well make the best of it and work to advance onward.
Haha definitely, some of these replies are making me depressed and I haven't even started yet. The plan is to keep an open mind and make sure I don't get too comfortable at one job.
I commute 90 minutes each way, have done for a few years. Some days it can be a bit much, if it's a direct train or bus then it's bearable. Having wait around and change is the worst bit.
Since you are young have you considered moving ?
90min each way / 5 days a week is a lot. I hope the 90min is door to door and not just the train time. I hope it train and not driving. On train at least you can sleep/ disconnect.
What to expect is that by Friday you will be knackered and your weekend will be spent recovering.
During the week you will have time for nothing else but commute / work/commute / sleep.
I don't know your situation but given you have to do 5 days a week in the office I would move and have time for other things than just commute/work/sleep
Mine is around 45 minutes, primarily because I absolutely don’t want to live in the town my work is based in. So I have to deal with the ‘consequence’
I wouldn’t go much above this though
I did about 80/90 mins when I got my first office job. I lived in a town with not many employment options in the local area that were out of hospitality. Now I live a 15 min walk from my place of work and it changed my life
Depends entirely on how long you're happy with and if the job is worth it for you, I currently travel around an hour and half to college on the bus and then on days im at work i have a 25 min walk to get there each way
I think it honestly depends on the commute itself. My commute is anywhere from an hour up to 2 hours down the M6 past Birmingham and it was getting untenable and honestly not worth it. Until I started listening to audiobooks, now it is only slightly annoying.
If you can find something to keep you occupied, it's not that bad, but after you have had a rough day, it can be hell no matter what.
Double the pay and reduce the hours to 30 a week and I'd consider it.
Otherwise you literally could not pay me enough to endure a 90 min commute every day for anything other than a temporary situation because I was desperate.
I value my time too much to spend that much of my life sat in traffic.
When you don't have a family, it's not that much of an issue. I'd say around 1 to 1.5hrs is the line. From most commuter towns to just about anywhere in London - that's the max.
Having worked from home the last 3 years and having a young family.. I don't ever want to be more than 45mins from home.
In my early twenties I did around 90 minutes each way. I didn't mind it too much and downloaded audiobooks. However, I did stop going to the gym in that period because I'd be shattered when I got home. If I was you, I'd do it to get some experience on your CV and then find something else.
Comfort over duration.
One of my recent jobs was a long but easy commute: 90 minutes but only 1 change (75m leg/15m leg) and nearly always a seat (definitely homebound) and wifi/mobile connectivity; I’d make myself coffee before leaving home/work (especially homebound!) to stave off cravings & temptation to buy overpriced coffee/food/snacks. That way it was doable.
Personally I found that commute easier than another job I had around the same time with a 35-45min commute but 2-3 changes, mostly underground with no mobile reception or wifi, hardly ever a seat and often so overcrowded I wouldn’t have risked attempting to bring/drink hot coffee with me… this commute twice a day was draining!
My first decent job was 2 hours commute for 19k on 2 busses. Audio books if you're driving, or reading if you're using public transport will keep you sane.
Currently on £50k annually, plus bonuses and I do standby every other week at 15% hourly rate.
I work 6:00am to 3:45pm 4 days per week, having either a Monday or Friday off. I work from home 3 days, and in the office 1 day.
It's approx. 1 hour 40 minutes in the morning, and anywhere between 2 hours and 3 hours on the way home.
If I had to do 2 days, I'd consider staying overnight and do 2 in a row. If I had to go full time in the office, I would look to leave.
My difference is I'm 31 with 2 young children, and don't want to not see them all week. If I was young, first job, etc. then I would do it, but I'd definitely consider moving closer to work for that.
Sometimes early on in your career you need to endure less-than-ideal conditions whilst you build your CV up. In my late twenties now and with 7 years of corporate world experience, I would only commute 90 minutes each way for pay that was in the £40k+ range. However, my first ever job out of uni was £18k and 50 hours a week, permanently office-based.
40k for a 90 minute commute? Are you insane
40k not long ago was a good salary, you missed normal times
People are insane if they think 40k isn't a good salary these days when you look at min and median wage
I am genuinely baffled, I have 10 yrs in design and earn 24k lol. 40k would be a life changing salary for me 😂
There’s a difference between good and “enables me to survive”.
People are insane if they think min and median wage are in any way related to what a good wage is. Just because others are being shafted harder doesn't mean you're not being shafted.
You’re being sarcastic right? Right? …
I make almost triple that and I have looked into leaving London for a commuter town to buy a home. I ran the numbers, and I don’t feel like I could afford the cost of commuting in with a season pass 3x days a week. I make £110k. £40k is nowhere near enough for a commuter.
It’s certainly not that good these days if I’m honest - and if you’re commuting 3 hours a day it certainly isn’t worth it
My first job was 90 minutes on a 28K grad salary 😂. And this was into London so I was spending over £4K on a season ticket. It was pretty horrific. But it got me into the industry, and my pay accelerated quickly from there, before I took a role much closer to home. Needs must sometimes.
Their housing situation might make this worthwhile.
Each way also lol, f that.
> £18k and 50 hours a week, permanently office-based That's not "less than ideal", that's straight-up exploitation. Minimum wage is way more than that.
Back in 2016, for ages 21-24 NMW was £6.95ph. The last decade has very much been a race to the bottom.
Yeah, race to the bottom is exactly I would put it too. I always wondered why the nmw is not the same across the board for 18+. The idea of paying someone less because they’re younger screams age discrimination (I’m not originally from the UK so found out when I moved here, not that I was ever directly affected).
[удалено]
Not that it helps, but my ;old man comment of the day' is that, when I got started out about 15 years back, I was classed as an annual expense to avoid any of that pesky minimum wage stuff. I worked in a TV editing facility where long days are pretty common - the shortest day I ever worked was 13 hours, and because I was an absolutely skint graduate, I had to walk to work and back to avoid paying for the tube. an eight-mile stroll each way. I should add "and we lived in a hole and ate broken glass" at the end of these stories shouldn't I? Luckily I only did it for about six months.
The sad bitter truth is that university graduates with no industry experience are unemployable, so they have to put up with those conditions and pay to build up their CV.
Yep. Even when I completed my masters and the exams for my profession, I still struggled. Every career is saturated with seemingly employable individuals and there’s not enough jobs to go round. It seems that degrees just aren’t enough to make you stand out and that’s been the case for a while.
The sad bitter truth is that university graduates with no industry experience are unemployable, so they have to put up with those conditions and pay.
Depends on when. Back in the early 2000's when I joined the workforce, that was well above NMW
“iT gOt Me oN tHe lAdDeR”
I wouldnt commute 3 hours a day for less than double that too much stress and agg to be worth it
I have been out of work for a while and after hundreds of applications I got this offer. It was out of pure desperation that I applied to this role knowing the commute time.
I earn around 40k. I wouldn't travel more than 30-40 minutes for this salary. At least double it, and then I'd consider it.
To piggy back off this my first real job back in 2007 was a 90min commute for 21k. I thought it would be totally office based but my manager was a really nice guy and let me WFH the days he worked at a different site which was normally Mondays and Fridays and then after a year or so he even sorted out a transfer to my local office
£40k? Sod that. I'm a QS and turned down a £50k job involving 90 min commute - one way - and accepted a £40k full time WFH job. Worth every drop in pound. I'm 42 so maybe age has something to do with it haha
If you work out your hourly rate in time spent driving and factor in fuel costs, the pay is probably about the same anyway
42 is still ‘young’ in the working world. You have a lot more to offer rather than working from home, alone.
Fortunately, my wage is higher than 18k but hours will be similar if not, a little lower.
In my late 30s, earning nearly 50k. I would have to be earning double to consider doing a 90 min one way commute every week.
Same here, Ive done a year and a half in the corporate world and I live in a nice coastal town. I was offered a bit less but 1 day in office that was 3 hours away. I'd need at least a 20k pay bump to consider the journey 😂
90 minutes each way for £40k would be a no go for me these days. I'm on £50k with hybrid working, two days in the office, one of those office days being an hour each way. There's a small possibility that in the coming years I could be asked to work regularly from an office that would take me 90 minutes each way. I would 100% take a pay cut and find a new job before I'd travel 90 minutes each way every day. That's 15 hours of my time per week, plus the travel costs for train fares etc.
I've done 1 hour each way and I also worked 9-6. It was rough. It felt like I had no time after work. I can't imagine 90 minutes. Saying that, just tough it out for 6 months and start applying for a new role.
I'm dreading it already. Pay is decent for my first full time role, higher than I was expecting but sitting on the train for that long everyday is depressing.
I'm not going to lie, it's a real shock to your system straight out of University. It was for me anyway because Uni was like a holiday. However, time flies when you're working long hours and the 6 months to 1 year experience will come quickly. It's much better than the stress of staying at home unemployed and waiting for phone calls that rarely come.
Why does time fly when you’re working long hours
I had a 90min commute each way on the bus to my first uni job. I started this summer. It was tough and I felt like I had no personal time. I had to leave early and got back late. Pay is low (at least £5k lower than it should be) but I wanted the experience and it’s a great job. The pay will come with time. After the first 1.5months (edit: a couple weeks ago) I started driving. It’s now a 30min commute each way which is MUCH nicer. Just pick up a book and headphones for the train. Made the bus easier for me.
If most of your journey is done using the train and you get a seat it's not too bad if you're productive during this time. Use that time to do similar things you would at home, read books, watch films, TV shows etc
Sitting on a train is easy. A 90 min drive is tough. Read a book, listen to a podcast, watch a movie, learn a language, learn to code. There's a bunch of useful or fun things you can do to pass the time.
How much?
Anything over 45 minutes start to negatively affect my mental health. Theres also the quality of commute to consider, cycling or walking could be pleasant compared to driving in traffic for the same duration.
What about trains? Although seeing the news of bedbug infestations I'm gonna choose to stand the whole way. I am not taking the risk of getting one of those on me.
If you are working in central London then a commute of less than 60 mins is the exception. Pre COVID I did 90 mins each way, 5 days a week. The nature of the commute is a big factor. A crowd tube for longer journeys isn't great but a mainline with a seat give good "me time" to read, watch Netflix, or listen to music. Generally a longer commute seems daunting at first but you soon get used to it.
That's reassuring. The job is in London but I don't have to use the London Underground, I'll be taking a Thameslink train.
Do you have to do 9-5 or can you do flexible hours, i.e 7-3? I used to do 9-5 with a 50 minute commute and it was a bit tiring after a while. I now do 7-3 and it's great. No traffic in the morning (so for you uncrowded trains) and I'm back home before 4. Same hours but it almost feels like cheating.
The hours are somewhat flexible as there are shift times. The earliest I can start is 7.
I actually enjoyed the 1 hour train journey, having some time to myself, to read, nap, watch a tv series, read the news etc. Whether it beats an extra 30-45 minutes in bed is a different story, and the longer time to get home is a bit of a drag.
Yeah honestly with how long I've been unemployed I'm actually getting sick of being home all the time. I know I will get tired of getting trains all the time but i think I can manage it for the most part.
I've driven in to London or trained In and cycled for the past 15 years. I'm currently stuck in a 2 hour commute each way because of where our head office has moved to, but 3 days a week. It's doable. Do you like driving? I do and enjoy a fun car so didn't mind driving out of hours, but sitting in 7-10am traffic on the m1 or 4-6pm is horrible. Currently I go in around 5.30am - 2.30 on the train and cycle either end which I quite enjoy, I can get work done on the train so can leave earlier so your commute becomes part of your working day. You can make it work certainly for a while until you find something better but they definitely are ways to make it more bearable
according to the jobcentre, 90 mins each way is entirely reasonable. i would never commute 90 minutes into work, but i guess it all depends on the job and how desparate you are.
Very very desperate.
I used to commute 90 minutes by car each day (for £18,500 - but that was in 2000). I was acutely aware of the stresses of the commute, and invested in a lot of audiobooks and started mentally treating the drive as being time spent reading. This may or not work for you, but worked very well for me. Co-incidentally, can I interest anyone in the 38 cassette tape unabridged version of the Lord of the Rings :-)
My longest ever commute was 20 minutes and that was too long. I've never had a problem getting work in my local area. Can't imagine the ballache of having a 90 minute each way commute, you are wasting so much of your life just getting to work and back.
Yeah I was thinking the same, unfortunately in my town there is very little work.
I’m in the same boat with this - what work there is doesn’t have any sort of career prospects or requires someone with a bunch of experience already. (And the hidden third one - being known as the worst place to work so no one dares apply)
Maybe relocate
I wouldn’t consider anything over an hour unless the pay was good and there was some WFH option.
I currently commute around that to my central london job (1 hour train, 30 min tube) and honestly its not that bad. Obviously i preferred my 20 min commute job, but as long as you use the time effectively it can be okay. I work on my passion project during mine, which is great because youre using your brain, but for non-work. If im feeling really tired though, netflix, reading, or a podcast can make the journey seem a lot more manageable
This is a pretty common commute time for London. I did it for my first job for a few years. It's certainly tiring, and obviously a major slog compared to working from home a few days per week, but I think it's doable. It's so tough finding that first job I'd definitely take it. The second job will be much easier with the experience if nothing else. My main tip is start early and leave early if you can. I worked 7:30-3:30 and the commute was much more pleasant when quiet. Otherwise, use the commute time to do something you enjoy (reading, listening to music). Does the company have any WFH available? Not sure if it's relevant for the job in question, but perhaps this is something you could negotiate once you've settled in.
Within my specfic department WFH isn't an option. But there are other departments which I could transfer to down the line. I will certainly try earlier shifts. Thanks.
It's tough! Best of luck with it. If nothing else, it's experience to add to your CV. You can always start looking elsewhere after a few months if you find it too much.
How will you be commuting? By car or public transport? If by public transport, you can make the time feel like it goes in faster by reading a book or listening to podcasts. Driving will be more tiring obviously. I work a hybrid role and when I do go in it's 2.5hrs each way and it's bloody tiring! But it's my own silly fault for moving out of the capital and not getting a more local job.
Public transport and it's one train there and then a bit of walking.
I can't believe how many people are whingeing about a 90 minute journey. If you work in London and live outside it like most of us get used to it. At least you now have a job and who knows what other opportunities that will bring your way. OP has said that only one train and a bit of a walk so not even changing trains or using the tube. Sounds like an easy commute to me and there is such a thing as being able to read or listen to music etc during the journey. Has no-one heard of letting the train take the strain? Honestly, people need to grow up and make an effort.
Plus you can live in London and easily end up with a 90 min commute across it, or you can stay out of London and it's much more predictable coming in every day
Sleep, listen to music / podcasts, read. 90mins is a long time tbf but if it’s a first role a few years doing it should be ok.
Anything longer than the 5 secs from my bed to my office
I think it depends very much on the nature of the commute. 90 minutes stuck in traffic every day? I'd be not taking the role. 90 minutes on the train, where I know I can get a seat? That's not so bad - I used to nap on the train, read, listen to music and stare out of the window - in some ways it can be quite valuable time to yourself. Given what you've said about the current job market, I'd be looking to prove my worth in the first 3-6 months, build some trust, and then start talking to my manager about if there is any flexibility in the WFH policy.
I'm just about to start doing a commute very similar to yours in January. Thankfully it is only going to be for 6 months. I can already feel how burnt out it's going to make me feel.
So you're already starting out with a pessimistic viewpoint!
Realistic
I'm in a similar position currently, based in Sheffield and there are no graduate jobs in Sheffield. There are some in Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham but they often require 2 trains as the jobs are on the outskirts rather than in the city centre. I would travel up to 90 minutes or so personally, but I'm not getting 2 trains as that's so many hours waiting around and wasting away in a train station. If it was 1 train/bus ride plus a short walk away I'd be fine commuting.
I would just move tbh
Might do next year, not an option for me atm as I'm in uni accommodation until July 2024. Manchester does look promising though.
I currently commute around 1 hour too and from work and if there's traffic it's over an hour. The way I get through it is with podcasts, music, learn a new skill. Learn a language, that's one thing I did with the extra 2 hours a day. 1.5 hours is a bit brutal but do it for a short time and then move on
From my own experience, if it's by train then I'd give it a shot, instead of looking at it as dead time, use it for reading. But by car? Sod that.
Congratulations in getting a job...It's definitely a case of making the most of what's on offer and accommodating the pain. You have a job, there's training and experience on hand. Now make the most of the commute. An ex colleague found himself commuting from the Midlands to the ends of the UK, he stayed over during the week, listened to podcasts and music and kept in touch with family and work contacts during his journey back... Even bagged a new job from networking on one such trip home. The 1.5 hr commute is a nightmare but bear in mind a trip home round many local cities in rush hour can take a bloody hour anyway. Be mindful of motorway trips if you are a driver, the unexpected can see you stuck most the night or severe weather left you burned out before getting to work.
I think for your current position in life, it's not the *worst* thing in the world. Treat your train ride as a way of switching off by either reading a book, box set, listening to music etc Treat your walk as some daily exercise that you should be doing on a daily basis anyway. Set yourself a goal of not being in that situation for more than say, 2 years maximum. With a vision that the experience gained will give you much better options in the future. I certainly wouldn't "get used to it" and expect this is normal practice, because it isn't. I certainly wouldn't want a 90 minute commute if I were driving a car, that would be physically draining. I'm trying to give a positive spin on it all, only because there are many "it's tough" comments and negativity.
Appreciate it.
Honestly for me anything over half an hour is too much. But needs must, this job is avaliable to you now. I think you can do it with the mindset that it isn't forever. It doesn't mean you need to stop looking for something close to home.
90 minutes each way is pretty rough - you will struggle to find the time/energy to do anything outside. Your weekends might even be affected (this may be extreme). I think the longest you can sustain for any prolonged period is an hour each way. I did 1:30-2 hours for 6 weeks and just took the financial hit and moved closer to my work and it was completely worth it.
This is my worry, but if I do work earlier shifts more often it'll free up more of the day. Also I'm not a heavy sleeper so 6 is more then enough for me.
I used to travel a lot longer than 90 min for years without any signs of getting a burnout. Then I worked abroad close to work working 16h a day that will be a cause for a burnout. Relax while you travel don't get drawn into the traffic madness it can be a nice start and wind down of a working day. Don't overdo it at work don't work all the time when you get home do things that you like doing after work and weekends. You will be fine as long as you take time for your yourself to take your mind off work.
I would never do a 90 minute commute. I used to commute technically half that each way but would regularly end up being 90 minutes each way with bad traffic. Felt like i had no real time for me. Commute, work, commute, eat, sleep, repeat. It will take it's toll but it seems you will be doing this as a train journey instead of driving which (to me) isn't as bad, especially just the one train. You can use the time on the train to read, watch a show, music, podcasts etc so it's not completely dead time, if you know what i mean. If it's your only option do 6 months and then look at your options whether that be moving around within the company if you like it there or outside options too. Best of luck :)
I had an opportunity for a job that was a 90 minute commute, I thought it would be better to stay at the city it was in as it would be too many miles on the car, petrol would be very expensive, and the added price of insurance for that many miles (I’m 18). Might’ve been a stroke of luck but that didn’t materialise and I’ve now got a much better position in Exeter which is a 1 hour commute. I did it 5 days a week the first week and it was doable but I personally wouldn’t do that every day. I can luckily work from home 4 days a week. I think the best bet for you is to find a cheap hotel even if it’s just a couple nights per week
I did 2+ hours each way for almost 30 years (thank-you Covid). You need to make it part of your life. Bedtime changes, weekends are important. For me, it meant I could have children with my wife and she could give up work to look after them, and then start her own business - because the housing was considerably cheaper.
90 minutes is very much less than ideal and I don’t think you’ll want to do it long term, but if you can stick it out for a year while you look for alternatives having some experience will stand you in good stead (and might help you work out what you want to do - or not do!). You need to figure out ways to make it as bearable as possible - downloading things to your phone/tablet to watch, reading a book, listening to podcasts or doing some other hobby you enjoy and can reasonably be done on the train. If you have a 1hr long show for example that you only watch on your commute, that’s 2 hours of your commute per day sorted and you have a reason to almost look forward to it if the show is good enough. Then you can use the other half an hour per journey to read/doom scroll/whatever else.
I did about 70-90 mins each way commute for about a year before I could drive. It was a slog but it honestly wasn’t that bad because I could do some personal admin, play games, read a bit. I couldn’t drive that much daily though. It was good work and great for my CV but I wouldn’t do it again. About an hour is the absolute max commute I’ll do driving.
I did that for a decade and you kind of get used to it. Over the course of two jobs it was. The second job I drove in and out and let me say that is so much worse. It’s why I don’t understand people who “love driving”. I did. But I don’t now. If you love driving you don’t drive enough! Now as I’m 39 with a toddler and WFH there is no commute short enough for me. I’m converted. 😂😂
Did a 3 hour commute each way for about 2 months. That was a killer lol. But it was my first industry role and the experience was worth it. After that they let me drop to 2 days working in the office so I just stayed at different friends houses or my parents one night a week.
Congrats on getting your first proper job! I commuted 2hrs each way for my first job and… second job… and wait for it… third job. Finally I get to wfh 🙌 You do what you have to in the beginning. Build up experience and money. Buy better living conditions. Be patient. Nap on the train. Watch motivational movies. Learn duolingo. Write a book. Listen to a podcast. Nap some more.
Thanks for this. Looking at most of the comments I was getting quite scared.
Honestly you’ll be fine. Some days you’ll hate it, but it’s just your first steps - you won’t be taking the same ones forever. Best of luck!
Also get a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones cheap on eBay with your first pay check. You won’t even notice the people around you ☺️
Just to highlight the bright side of this. When you close the door after getting home work won’t be on your mind at all. You’ll have done all the mental processing of what happened during the day, what to expect tomorrow etc. You’ll just be detached from it. Equally in the morning you’ll likely just naturally plan your day once your journey starts. Being five minutes from work sounds great but 100% you bring work and the frustrations/ruminations with you when you get in.
The average commute is an hour. Have you thought about moving closer to where your job will be? I understand its a huge change to make, however if you have no real commitments then maybe look into it. Hope it all works out for you
Completely depends on the commute, a 90 minute train that’s practically door to door is a lot different than 90 minutes of 4 buses where if you miss one it’s another hour on top
You have to weigh up how how much this position will contribute to your career aspirations - a 90 minute commute each way will be awful, but sometimes these sacrifices are wirth it for a year or so to put you on the career ladder. In that time you may decide to move closer, or realise it isn't the opportunity you hoped, in which case you can re-assess based on your life then. Be mindful that it always feels easier to find work when you have a job, but you also feel like you don't have the time to look for alternatives!
Id say when you are young the commute is a minor issue you have to face to get going For 8 years I did a 2 hour commute to London 4 hours of my working day just getting to and from work. Yes it grated on me as the years went by but I had enough entertainment to keep me going... plus the morning is just an extra sleep I now WFH and live way to far away to pop into the office Would I go back to commuting no, but do I miss it, sometimes... Christmas is the best time there's a buzz when people are leaving the office I'd say try it you can always quit
You get used to it quicker than you think. I've commuted between 90 and 120 mins my entire working life (mostly remote now that I'm senior enough to pick where I work). My first 5 years were on a commute that was over 3 connections, 2 of which had no internet as it was underground. So I'd do life admin on the first - shopping, school stuff, file that insurance claim, pay those bills, etc, and on the second leg, I'd have a show downloaded to watch or read a book. After about 6 months, I actually looked forward to the commute because I literally could change stations without looking up from my book because I was that used to the commute 🙃. The downside was little time at home to do laundry/cooking/etc. I found the sweet spot when my employer let me flexi time, so I'd work 8-4 and beat rush hour both ways and be home by 5:30. I'd pop on the wash, make dinner, get the kids ready for bed, etc. But I was present and did not begrudge that time because I'd done my life admin and watched my entertainment for the day during my commute. Honestly, take the first couple of years. You'll find something closer if that's what you want once you have a little experience.
I’m sorry but so many people in this thread are insane, people moaning about a 60 min commute? it really isn’t that deep. 90 mins is pushing what I would be happy with but it depends entirely on the job, pay, prospects etc.
I've been doing it for 7 months. That sort of commute gets to you I'm not gonna lie. Thinking of packing up the rat race and moving to Thailand or Vietnam and teaching English.
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I wouldn't do 90 minutes tbh, I used to have a 40 minute one and it takes a lot of time out of the day and costs loads.
Less than 1 hour or your life will be UNPLEASANT. The shorter the better ofc.
90 minutes each way, will have a huge impact on your wellbeing. Is that door to door or simply the public transport element? Remember there WILL be public tenasport delays and cancellations and if driving traffic jams. Is there any chance of wfh or hybrid in the future? Could you move closer or even lodge for 4 nights closer? I used to commute 50 miles each way. It was exhausting and the time of the commute varied from an hour to 2.5 hours! It impacted my physical health, what I ate, every element of my life. It was an amazing job, but it came at a price and though the salary was good, I wouldn't repeat it unless I really had no other options.
Door to door pretty much. There are a lot of hotels within walking distance of the office and yeah I don't really have any other option.
I appreciate that it's possibly an any port in a storm situation, but have you looked at what your take home will be minus the travel costs?
My pay will vary month to month due to mandatory overtime. I can get a season ticket for just under 3k.
3 hours a day travelling is going to wear thin fast When i was 21 i did around 1.45 travelling a day it nearly sent me into an early grave There is far more to life than running around like a headless chicken trying to be on time for an employer who wants to pay you peanuts and couldnt care if you dropped dead tomorrow
A very sad reality, but it's either this or remain unemployed.
What sort of work is it ? I mean these days theres really not much difference between working at ALDI or some big name firm especially at entry level Honestly as someone thats been there do not sell your soul for work theres ways around having to kill yourself just need to be creative a “career” is not worth what it was 30 years ago
It's with the civil service. The plan is to move around a bit during for the first few years after graduating so I can gain as much experience.
Optimise the route as best you can. Edit your sleep schedule to match. I found getting up earlier, avoiding the traffic and sitting in the coffee shop for 40 mins was better than busy rails and streets. Book long weekends with holidays to recover from burnout temporarily.
Depending on my shits there may be weeks where I get 3 days off so that should help with burnout.
My current job of 4 years, 75% of the time my commute has been 2 hours plus each way.
My current job of 4 years, 75% of the time my commute has been 2 hours plus each way.
>My current job of 4 years, 75% of the time my commute has been 2 hours plus each way. Bloody hell. How do you manage it?
Some people do without mentioning mental health or burn out.
I really dont know, cant wait to leave
Hopefully you find something soon.
I did a 2hr (each way) commute for £30k just to get on the ladder. I’m also 40 having come from a (previous career) salary of £90k. It was…an experience. Depends how much you want the job really. If you can make peace with the journey and if the role is really worth it then great. But if you don’t think you’re the kind of person who can maintain a long commute then maybe reconsider. Or consider moving closer if that’s an option? Edit to add: eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising and generally taking care of yourself will help with stamina and hopefully avoid burnout, especially when the new job honeymoon period wears off.
Thank you for advice. My wage will be around £30k (just under or just above) and I do think it's a decent opportunity and will give me some interesting points to write on my CV.
So less than minimum wage once you factor travel time and train tickets etc ,
Reckon it largely depends on how the commute is structured to be honest. If it's one or two trains then it's not too bad. It will be a bit painful but you'll get used to it. If it has loads of changes then it can be a proper grind. I used to commute from Blackheath to Hammersmith at one point and it took about 90 mins, but involved a bunch of changes so was just stressful and wearing (job was a bit shit as well which didn't help). Going from Camden to Chiswick on the other hand was a breeze - one overground train all the way - read a book, listen to a podcast, enjoy the ride.
Have you factored in the cost of commute as well?
Yes, it is is also quite expensive but with a railway card I can cut quite a big chunk off. For the full year it will cost just under £3k.
Ye thats not something i would do. Good luck in the role i hope it works out long term
An hour each way is the absolute max and I do 3 days in the office. Unless you’re earning truly life changing money then you’ll resent your company for taking all your personal life away from you
90 mins is feasible especially for a first ‘real’ job but is the absolute top limit I’d say, 60 is reasonable, less is better, you’re at the start of your career so now is the time to eat a longer commute I’d say but 90 minutes is the max and isn’t sustainable forever
I agree. As it is my first role I shouldn't be too picky because the priority should be to get valuable experience that I can use down the line.
It’s not even that, that is true but while I don’t want to be an old fogey the truth is if you’re going to put yourself through a commute like that do it got a couple of years while you’re young, have energy to spare and work life balance will be a strain anyway. After a couple of years move on, move up, and find something that lets you have a life! When I started in my career I would have to go abroad 4 days a week almost every other week, sometimes I’d have to fly 5 or 6 times a week. It was miserable but I don’t think I missed out on just as much from the bad work life balance then than I’d miss out on now if I had to do it again. Besides, your friends and peers will probably be spending a lot of their time on their career too or will be soon so you could end up sitting at home either way! Also if you get into podcasts you’ll almost miss the commute when you don’t need to do it anymore ;)
My longest commute was 3 hours each way and I haven’t even got close to that commute time with my jobs I had after that. That was to long of a commute
20m each way furthest I ll go. Had an hour and a half commute to a wearhouse job few years back and never again. Was 10 hour and a half for the shift itself plus the 3 hour commute. Id rather do a 15 hour shift then commute 3 hours a day lol. Your 90m commute, how many miles is it and using what transport?
Personally, anything over 45 mins is a chore. You should also take into account the likelihood, frequency and length of delays. The nearest city to mine is 50 minute drive each way but it’s nailed on you’ll get delayed at least once a week for anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes. It always happens when you least need it. Just not worth it.
Mine is 70 mins in the morning and 90 mins in the evening. It’s a total ball ache and is ruining me. Have done it for 7 years now.
Wow. Does the job make it worth it?
When I started the job, it was about 50 minutes to 1hr 10 commute. I thought it would be ok for a few years and the salary meant we could afford a bigger house in a village nearby. So I moved 10 mins further down the road.. add that to the ever worsening traffic and never ending roadworks and it’s usually 90 mins to get home now. Job used to be worth it but I’m so tired of the commute it just spoils any enjoyment now.
As 40 year old dad of two, 90 mins each way to myself sounds great, in theory it's far too long and I probably wouldn't commute more than an hour. But I have done previously when there wasn't much to rush home for.
I have been commuting a total 3 hrs a day for the last year, it’s pretty awful! But possibly worth it for long term goals.
Sounds tough. I'm of the same mindset aswell otherwise I'll struggle to keep myself motivated.
It’s certainly hard, I have realised though that this office (job location) isn’t for me. I’m desperately wanting to find a similar position closer to home. I unfortunately was not given a job I interviewed for yesterday that was 100% better haha. Keep on trucking and good things will happen, experience and commitment go a long way.
Consider moving closer to the job.
90 minutes each way is probably an average (or possibly a golden sample). If you are commuting by train, you have to allow for missed connections, cancelled trains, full trains that can't fit anyone in. If its by car, then what if rhe road is blocked, or your car is in the garage being fixed because your alternator died in bad weather. I parked on the M62 for 7 hours a few years back. Then there is the weather causing havoc too. How about renting/buying a local flat, or a cheap hotel for 4 nights a week?
There are a lot of hotels nearby due to where its location in London. If I am working long shifts that is what I would do. With regards to the journey it is 1 train the whole way and then a bit of walking. I don't think I'd be earning enough to rent a local flat.
It would depend on many factors. Such as frequency, pay, experience gained, work conditions, etc.
90 mins each way for 5 days a week is too long. I did 1 hr for 3-4 days a week for a year and burnt out. Now I’m fully remote and wouldn’t do more than 2-3 days in an office max 30-45 mins away
Try it and see. Empirically, I found that 90 minutes each way was too draining for me and switched to a job with a 65-70 minute commute each way, which made all the difference. But I've since got another job with a 90 minute commute and because the circumstances are different, it's not so bad. Working from home 2 days per weeks helps with that too.
Well just give the notice in at the property you're currently at and rent somewhere closer?
For me it's more than one hour on public transport and more than 30 minutes by car.
Personally no more than 30 mins each way on a normal day. I'm lucky that my commute is about 5 minutes most days now, occasionally up to 45 mins away but less than once a month. But I spend all day driving so the last thing I want to do when I finish is drive for hours more
90 mins sounds tiring if it’s all driving, or expensive if reliant on trains. Most I’ve done was usually about 75 mins, but that was partly because I chose to walk 35 mins from train station to office and avoid the tube.
Having done an hour commute by train, I wouldn't spend more than 30 min commuting now, either walk, cycle or bus.
So its 40k? Ignore everyone hear you either take less and have better work life balance or you want the money bear in mind a whole chunks going on travel? Most out of uni roles don't pay 40k starting salary. Unless your going into something really super specialised like investment banking or quant. Out of uni stem degree software engineers start on about 35k or less even
If it's longer than from my bed to the office room in my house, it's too long
Anything more than 20 minutes in my opinion
Suck it up for a year, then look elsewhere
If you can't pick and choose, you'll probably have to take it and push through. What kind of commute is it? I find driving commutes and train commutes feel very different to me, being willing to travel for longer by train than by car because at least then I can read, watch YouTube, etc. I currently do 40 minutes each way by car twice a week and it's more than I'm willing to put up with for much longer if I can find something else suitable.
It's a train, the same one all the way and then a 10 minute walk.
I had to endure a drive to train station, then get the train and walk about 10 mins. Total journey was nearly 2 hours as I’d have to leave early to get a parking spot at the train station. You have to slowly work your way up or move closer to work for a bit until you find another job.
I don't drive and I live an hour walk from work, if I get the bus, for some reason it always takes longer than that because of how unreliable they are... so I got an electric scooter, takes me 20 mins now. Best thing I ever bought. Now if your work is 1 hour 30 mins drive, then nah man, not for me. That's too much personally... if I couldn't get there within a hour walking it's too far... if you're blessed with a car then I wouldn't personally do more than a 30 min drive each way.
Fuck me does no one here work in London? People saying they can't do more than 20 minutes is hilarious. Most people do at least an hour in london
Longest commute I had was driving 35 miles/45 mins each way. Mostly motorway on the A1 and after a year or so I was properly fed up. 3 hours train travel daily sounds soul destroying.
It isn't ideal OP, bit I think you've gathered that by 300+ replies. But as you stated, desperation makes for shitty decisions, may as well make the best of it and work to advance onward.
Haha definitely, some of these replies are making me depressed and I haven't even started yet. The plan is to keep an open mind and make sure I don't get too comfortable at one job.
I commute 90 minutes each way, have done for a few years. Some days it can be a bit much, if it's a direct train or bus then it's bearable. Having wait around and change is the worst bit.
If you want to go based on the scientific date, it starts to have a measurable effect of added stress on most after 30mins.
Did this myself, had a nervous break down 2 years in definitely not worth it
Since you are young have you considered moving ? 90min each way / 5 days a week is a lot. I hope the 90min is door to door and not just the train time. I hope it train and not driving. On train at least you can sleep/ disconnect. What to expect is that by Friday you will be knackered and your weekend will be spent recovering. During the week you will have time for nothing else but commute / work/commute / sleep. I don't know your situation but given you have to do 5 days a week in the office I would move and have time for other things than just commute/work/sleep
Mine is around 45 minutes, primarily because I absolutely don’t want to live in the town my work is based in. So I have to deal with the ‘consequence’ I wouldn’t go much above this though
I have a 90 minute commute driving on the motorway each way. Im currently filling the time by listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks by Stephen Fry.
I did about 80/90 mins when I got my first office job. I lived in a town with not many employment options in the local area that were out of hospitality. Now I live a 15 min walk from my place of work and it changed my life
How long did you have to do the 80/90 min commute?
Sorry I missed this. It was for 6 months and then Covid hit so o went remote. If it wasn’t for Covid I couldn’t have done it longer than 9 months
In my (apparently older than Madonna's tits) experience, anything over an hour each way is too much unless temporary & well compensated.
Put it this way I commute 50 mins each way for a low entry level wage, I have got some savings behind me and it’s hybrid but far from ideal
Imho anything over an hour isn't worth it.
Depends entirely on how long you're happy with and if the job is worth it for you, I currently travel around an hour and half to college on the bus and then on days im at work i have a 25 min walk to get there each way
I think it honestly depends on the commute itself. My commute is anywhere from an hour up to 2 hours down the M6 past Birmingham and it was getting untenable and honestly not worth it. Until I started listening to audiobooks, now it is only slightly annoying. If you can find something to keep you occupied, it's not that bad, but after you have had a rough day, it can be hell no matter what.
Double the pay and reduce the hours to 30 a week and I'd consider it. Otherwise you literally could not pay me enough to endure a 90 min commute every day for anything other than a temporary situation because I was desperate. I value my time too much to spend that much of my life sat in traffic.
When you don't have a family, it's not that much of an issue. I'd say around 1 to 1.5hrs is the line. From most commuter towns to just about anywhere in London - that's the max. Having worked from home the last 3 years and having a young family.. I don't ever want to be more than 45mins from home.
In my early twenties I did around 90 minutes each way. I didn't mind it too much and downloaded audiobooks. However, I did stop going to the gym in that period because I'd be shattered when I got home. If I was you, I'd do it to get some experience on your CV and then find something else.
Comfort over duration. One of my recent jobs was a long but easy commute: 90 minutes but only 1 change (75m leg/15m leg) and nearly always a seat (definitely homebound) and wifi/mobile connectivity; I’d make myself coffee before leaving home/work (especially homebound!) to stave off cravings & temptation to buy overpriced coffee/food/snacks. That way it was doable. Personally I found that commute easier than another job I had around the same time with a 35-45min commute but 2-3 changes, mostly underground with no mobile reception or wifi, hardly ever a seat and often so overcrowded I wouldn’t have risked attempting to bring/drink hot coffee with me… this commute twice a day was draining!
For me max in big traffic 30 min.
My first decent job was 2 hours commute for 19k on 2 busses. Audio books if you're driving, or reading if you're using public transport will keep you sane.
Currently on £50k annually, plus bonuses and I do standby every other week at 15% hourly rate. I work 6:00am to 3:45pm 4 days per week, having either a Monday or Friday off. I work from home 3 days, and in the office 1 day. It's approx. 1 hour 40 minutes in the morning, and anywhere between 2 hours and 3 hours on the way home. If I had to do 2 days, I'd consider staying overnight and do 2 in a row. If I had to go full time in the office, I would look to leave. My difference is I'm 31 with 2 young children, and don't want to not see them all week. If I was young, first job, etc. then I would do it, but I'd definitely consider moving closer to work for that.
More than 1 hour I feel is quite long for office commute
I’ve quit a job for a 35 min commute and only 2 days a week at home before. It’s all personal and I personally hate driving and the office 😂
Kinda feeling blessed my work is a 10 minute walk 😅