Career Advice - Which Job to Choose?

Hi Everyone,

I always wanted to experience a new country and hence applied for UK Roles.

After a lot of applications and hard work, I am lucky to have received a job in London with a global company offering sponsorship.

However, I have also received an Australian job offer which is 15-20% higher than the UK Role with the bonus of it being remote (but can't work from overseas alas :/).

With the pound tanking and the possibility of UK going to recession, this is making it difficult for me to come to a conclusion.

On one hand experience a new workplace and on the other better pay.

Just wondering everyone's thoughts?

Thanks!

Poll Options

  • 145
    Take the UK Position
  • 265
    Take the Australian Position.

Comments

  • +36

    Money isn’t everything, do which ever will give you the easiest life style with less pressure.

    • +36

      the easiest life style with less pressure.

      100% NOT UK then. There's many a reason why we're all coming over here in droves.

      • +2

        more money being the main one

        • +20

          Nah, pommies just love pickin’ fruit.

      • +6

        Australia as a whole is generally pretty affordable and liveable if you don’t need to live smack bang in or only a few suburbs out of the CBD. Wages generally pay enough across most professions to live comfortably (depending on what you require to attain your own comfort that is)

        Thats why many people from the UK and abroad move here i guess.

        • +2

          Agree. Levels of disposable and discretionary income are high by international standards. As a family, we certainly don't struggle and we're just normal working people.

      • what reasons btw ?

      • If OP loves travelling especially Europe then I say go for UK! Europe is basically the backyard haha

    • +7

      if you plan to travel- then UK is best place- dont worry about the money - experiences beat money most days…

      • +3

        This. So easy to travel anywhere and experience so many cultures, foods etc.

        As a pair of UK expats (20 years here, approaching 60 yrs old) it's the biggest things we miss, followed closely by decent pubs.

    • out of all the places i have worked in London was even worse than Paris. Australia is great but i can i understand the urge to go see elsewhere

    • +3

      A person in their 20's should not be looking for an easy life style with less pressure. There is time for that in your 50's.

      Choose the more challenging path. Have an adventure. Push yourself and see what your truly capable of.

      There are so many more rewards in life beyond money, you won't see any of them taking the easy option.

  • +45

    You would be mad not to experience working in another country while you’re young and have the opportunity.

    • +6

      This. Even though I came back at 30, barely a penny to my name, zero super, still had my HECS debt, fast forward a few years my career went nuts because I'd also spent that time overseas working incredibly hard, I have tonnes of international experience and walked into my first job back in Australia and haven't looked back.

      It's worth having a long term plan. Although it will inevitably fall apart, make sure your skills are transferable between countries and how to transfer them or you have a backup plan on what work you want to do. I did a lot of extra education for qualifications that I didn't realise I'd need to do.

      I would have also probably done better if I didn't have to sell all my crypto when I had visa issues, I learned a very important lesson on the difference between a visa renewal and a visa extension. Fortunately I had a couple of thousand bitcoin to sell to get me through that time. They're not worth much anymore, right?

      • I had a couple of thousand bitcoin to sell to get me through that time. They're not worth much anymore, right?

        2,000 bitcoin at todays prices is around $60m! You must be doing alright to consider a cheeky $60m, ‘not worth much’

        • +7

          If I think about how much they're actually worth I tend to get a headache.

          I sold mine for <$10 each in 2011. And I sold ALL of them, I needed to pay rent, bills, leave the country and reenter to renew a visa, lot of expenses. Crypto in my mind was a novelty that had run it's course (they had gone from being worth basically nothing that I mined on my home computer for fun to thousands of dollars, pretty crazy at the time).

          Kind wish I kept a few though.

          • @freefall101: Just wow!

          • +1

            @freefall101: well done for not getting that get to you, some people can't get over the idea they missed out on a fortune that big and can't move forward in their lives. like that guy who's got a few 00 million sitting in a hard drive in a council dump

  • +9

    If you have no dependants or local ties keeping you from working oseas, I'd take the UK job

    Though I'd also not let strangers on the internet weigh in on my life choices :)

  • +6

    I have an an english passport and still wouldn't work over there. Life so much better here

    • Could you explain in what way? I never worked in the Europe, but have US experience and wished I worked in UK before I moved to Aus. I had to choose between these and chose Aus.

      • weather sucks
        expensive
        poor xe rate
        and the weather really really sucks

      • +1

        From what I've seen when I was over there there's not much to do unless you spend lots of money, beaches and weather suck, general uncleanliness with lots of rubbish and the people are not very friendly with big egos trying to one up each other with cars etc.

        • isnt the ego thing also here?! but yeah the filth and uncleanliness really got to me, as well as massive rents for small crappy living spaces.

          • @juki: Not really. Unless you go to places where enthusiasts generally meet up. From what I see, most people living here just look at a nice car and say "nice car" then move on.
            Occasionally, you'll see the lambo/maserati/ferrari owners go around with their expensive cars, but they're not impressing very many people. Not to mention, revving said cars in public are an annoyance to many (including myself). There's no need to expose others to noise pollution just to prove that you can afford a tank of 98 RON petrol.

            • +1

              @jatyap: no i mean the tradies like showing off to each other who has the biggest boat, ute ect… of course nobody cares but themselves and maybe a few kids
              meh in any case it was just to comment on the showing off, people do that anywhere, from my experience you could walk the streets in England with a feather duster up your butt, you'd be lucky someone notices

    • +1

      me too
      only good thing for me is the EPL.
      weather sucks ass, the long dark winters, crammed living, id rather just go over 4 weeks a year for a holiday.

  • I'm assuming that by saying 'global company' it's finance or similar. If that's the case, and you have no other pathways to UK citizenship (and you desire that), then take the UK job.

    Just be aware of what your lifestyle is likely to be like in London on the pay scale you're on (and adjust for any savings you want to make).

    Also, understand how to get into the NHS and the limitations of reciprocity - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/reciprocal-health-care-…

  • +1

    What level of salary are we talking about here?

    How much is 15-20% going to change your life?

    • +1

      Mid Level roles. Something like 20k Difference.

      15-20% will make no difference to my life tbh.

      • +9

        You just answered your own question mate.

        If 15-20% will make no difference in your life.. and the UK role will (presumably positive difference) then go for it.

        Nothing beats the experiece of working and living overseas, you can leverage that expereince when you come back as well.

      • Just be aware depending where in the UK you are working the cost of living there can be way more expensive.

        • +2

          Yup. Which can make that 15-20% a very easy 50%

      • before tax or after tax? Aus will slug you big time on tax. Clearly other (and probably more important) factors to the decision than just $$ but if you're assessing the $$ part of it, you need to factor in cost of living and actual cash after tax and expenses.

  • +5

    pound tanking is a good thing if you got savings in Aud

    you'll need your Aud savings as London cost of living + runaway inflation , are much worse than here

    having said that , i would still pursue my dream life regardless of the $$$ setbacks

  • +4

    Money is not everything. If you want to experience UK, then go for that.

  • +22

    Work on your grammar first, my advice

    • +3

      JV?

      • +16

        JV you’ve done it again!

    • Thats the first thing i noticed. I feel guilty but its too much of an irritant

      • +3

        Thats

        its

        Hmm…

  • +2

    With the pound tanking and the possibility of UK going to recession,

    Might not just be the UK going into recession.

    If you really want to live and work in another country, just go for it. If it doesn't turn out how you thought it would just come back.

  • +14

    I always wanted to experience a new country and hence applied for UK Roles.

    Go scratch that itch! If you don't, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Do it while you're still young and with no/little commitments.

    After a trip to Japan, I always wanted to live there one day. I got that opportunity in 2009 right after the GFC which was the worse time to go, but I went anyway and lived there for over a year, the memories from it will forever live in my heart.

    If things don't work out, you can always come back.

  • +7

    I've been advised not to offer advice.

    • +4

      OP would be well advised not to be advising on grammar.

      • Yes, even if he really loves his grammar, not to mention grampop too.

  • +1

    Become chief procurement executive for Apple. You get to race cars, play golf all day, and play with big (profanity).

    • +1

      Don't forget the mint suit

  • +1

    Take the UK job, travel, have fun, new experiences etc etc. 20% pay difference is nothing in the scheme of life experiences.

  • +6

    As a young snapper from the UK I migrated to Australia and found a high paying job here 50 years ago. I had a great boss in the UK and was offered multiple trips to Africa to do aeorsurvey work. I turned them down as I was waiting to get the OK to come to Australia. I felt rather sheepish telling my great boss I was off downunder, and he offered me a great job in Europe which I turned down, it was VERY appealing!.

    I confirmed my intention to go to Australia, he said I was doing the right thing, despite wanting me to remain working for him!. His final words were " If you don't go you will never know" and wished me a great life in Australia, indeed his reference gave me a fantastic long term job here for 32years.

    I always think of that film "Sliding Doors" it worked for me!. So in considering your UK job offer it could be the start of a whole new experience, your choice!. Good Luck

  • +2

    It really depends what you’re into. Personally I find the UK to be miserable (I’m a dual citizen). I do see the appeal of it being close to Europe and having the benefits of what you get with a high population in terms for food, music, city life etc. If English is the only language you speak well enough to work in, it’s also limits places you can work overseas. I know a lot of people go and don’t come back (at least for a long time), so obviously they love it. Maybe follow your gut instinct (if you’re getting one). If this opportunity to work overseas doesn’t work out, there will be others. If it’s something you want to do, definitely do it at some point.

  • +2

    It doesn't look like career advice is what you're looking for

    If you've always wanted to work overseas, go for it, there may not be another opportunity to do so. You may get over there and hate it, and if so, you can always come back. If you love it on the other hand, the money will likely come

    You can always make more money

  • +4

    I did a working holiday in the UK in 2008.. yep, smack bang in the GFC. It was SO hard to get a job (in IT). Took a personal contact to get a job, paying £24k, dropping by 10% after a few months to keep the company afloat. It was a bad time to go. Do I regret it? HELL NO !!!! The job was meh, but the amount of experiences and travel that I did in my time there I would never trade. It will be easier for you to take AUD over there, and you can always save your sterling for when the exchange rate improves. You CAN live cheaply there, I still had over £5k saved up by the time I came back 2 years later. I don't know anyone who has regretted gaining that experience while they could. It's way way harder with a family or partner to move and do something like this. And if you hate it.. you can always come home!

  • Will you still be able to save money whilst working abroad? You may get to experience how the other half live, travel to other countries in Europe etc. however, when it’s time to come back home (assuming that’s the end game, eventually) and you have nothing to show for, then reality sets in. What are your financial circumstances? I’ve had several friends who took the OS route, ended living in sticks-vill when they came back home to settle down cause they couldn’t afford anything else decent - regrets, yes, albeit they never admitted it? I think there is ample time to do travel when your older. Not sure how much work experience OS gives you as an advantage when you come back home.

    • How do you know they regret it if they havent admitted it?

      • +1

        Projection, obviously

        • Sounds like he regrets not going with them.

    • +2

      lol man, you have it completely backwards.

      You will never get back those best years of life that you threw away saving hard for your nice house, while your mates were off traveling the world.

      • +1

        My thoughts exactly. By travelling in the older years he is referring to a european river cruise in Vienna or a city bus tour with a 2hour stopover in a major city in your twilight years.

  • +1

    I had a working holiday to the UK 21 years ago when the exchange rate was 3:1. Managed to score a good paying IT job, 35 hour week. The work was boring but I absolutely loved living and working over there, played cricket for the season - it was awesome. If you don't do it now you may never get the chance later, go for it.

  • +4

    The Ozb community has spoken and….we are no help

    • +1

      i just casted my vote to make sure votes are same on either side

  • +5

    UK - Work harder, for less money, in a miserable country with extremely high cost of living (London)

    AUS - Work from home, for more money, in a potentially low-cost of living area (depending where you wish to live) without losing your network of family and friends.

    Hmmmmm…

    • I live in the lowest cost city in Australia and am an expat in this city. Let’s just say, it’s not easy being an expat….

      • I never heard about being an "expat in a city"… so you are just from another city in AU?

        • I thought an expat from another country, with added social difficulty of being in a smaller city?

  • +4

    I’d probably take the Aussie job and blow the extra money earned on an awesome Europe trip using annual leave.

    You need a LOT of money to live well in any major European city so unless the job was paying mega bucks you will be living in pretty ordinary accomodation. Yes you can do long weekend trips quite easily which is cool but you still have to come back to the work grind. I think you really need to weigh up how much travel you will realistically get done while living there because most people I know who have gone over have done way less travel than they anticipated (that being said, most of them have been based in London and there is so much to do there alone so not necessarily a bad thing) - and you need to weight up what your day to day lifestyle will be like on your salary there vs in Oz. Energy costs are doubling or tripling in the UK so it’s going to be an expensive few years there.

    That being said, if you’re young and single there is no harm really in going for a year or two and having a crack. Bear in mind you might not get that kind of Oz job offer when you get back because the job market is insanely competitive right now and it can’t last forever.

    • I read somewhere that the UK government was capping the energy bill for the next 2 years.

  • Which job is better for your career? Why is the country you live in for this job (which may only last 3 years) determine the rest of your life

  • +3

    How old are you if I may ask? Go work overseas while you are still young. I made the move from Australia to Europe and Im enjoying it, getting to speak French, English and German.

    Those weekend getaways to another country, landscape and culture is something you will not experience in Oz.

    Better to try and fail than not to try and have regrets later on in life. If it doesnt work out, you can still move back to Oz and find another job.

    At the end of the day dont take career and life advice from strangers on the internet.

    • I am mid 20’s

      • +4

        Good age for adventure. Weekend Getaways to another country or city. Winter ski trips to France and Switzerland.

        The fact that just about everyone stops and takes a break in summer and winter every year is not something that happens in Oz.

        People who have done the move will tell you to give a try. Nothing better than getting out of your comfort zone and experience a new culture and way of life.

      • +4

        Dude pack up and leave to the UK asap. You will regret not taking that opportunity.

      • +1

        Book your tickets now.

        You will never regret anything more in your life than if you let this opportunity go.

  • +1

    If you ask me what i remember in the year 2019—-i'd say my travel to vietnam and that was it..so that might answer your q

  • Just a small bit of career advice, use a spell checker on your CV, and make sure it's on the right language (English Australia). Some people can be really anal about spelling and attention to detail in a lot of roles

  • +1

    Go to UK and get a nice blonde POM

  • -1

    UK economy is going to be a circus act soon. Wouldn't be surprised if you get let go if things go South there.

  • +3

    UK for sure. Bang some euro chicks.

  • +2

    Why someone would consider going to the UK instead of remaining in Australia (not to mention the bigger salary and work from home) is beyond me. But I suppose some people need to go find it out for themselves.

  • +1

    Can I point out that you started your post with "I always wanted to experience a new country"…
    Sounds like you have just that opportunity.

  • As long as you don't start a family, you'll be able to come back easily if it doesn't work out.
    Have you looked at the wage they're offering vs. cost of living where you'd be in the UK?
    With working on-site you'll also have the opportunity to learn more as it is easier to ask questions.

  • +2

    If you work in IT, Finance or Law the job opportunities and pay are much better than here. If you're in teaching or healthcare you'll be on the lowest pay scale and stressed. London is as expensive as Sydney if not more so you can base your costs on that. Travelling is much easier over there. 2 hour flight and you're in a different country with totally different culture and food.
    I spent my mid 20's in London. Best experience of my life, wouldn't change it for the world. Based on that I would say go for it you'll have a blast.

    • I work in IT.

      The pay is actually lower in UK for IT despite the London job market being on fire atm. The UK offer seems very reasonable for my years of experience.

      Unfortunately, just doesn't compare to the Australian one with the UK wages being on average lower.

      • Have you factored in your nett pay after taxes, comparing UK to Oz? Ive never worked in the UK. You need to look at the cost of living and decide which job is better.

        After I landed a job in Europe, I remember having last minute cold feet and doubting my decision. Thats normal.

        • Oz net pay is better as I am taxed at 32.5% as compared to 40% in the UK.

  • +4

    I would forget about money at this stage and think more of life experience

    I have amazing memories of my years spent working in London when I was young and the good times I had and people I met, (one of whom I am now married to), incl. having such easy access to Europe (Paris, Amsterdam or Barcelona for the weekend?)

    There is more to life then just work and you are only young once and need to make the most of it

    If you don't like it come home

  • +2

    If you are young, minimal commitments and family ties in Australia, 100% go to the UK. Make the most of it whilst you can. You'll have a deeper and more varied experience than being in Australia. As others have said, easy access to Europe vs flying 6hrs across Australia to be in the same country.

  • +1

    tough call

    Uk/Europe good to experience, but awful place to live weather wise. I grew up in England and lifestyle of Australia is alot better
    Australia on the other hand has zero places to get to in under 8 or so hours to experience new countries unless you want to visit NZ,PNG, or Solomon Islands).

    I'd take Aus job, use extra money for 4 week vacation in England during June or so

    UK used to be good as strong pound meant better salaries and that was the cost of poorer weather, now it has nothing going for it imho.

  • +6

    Weather I don't think should be a factor. The right clothing sorts that out. Australians are strangely obsessed with weather. Plenty of the world gets by just fine with cooler climates.

    UK advantages include the culture, proximity to Europe, US, North Africa etc. Its a great place to visit and as a base to see many other places. Top level sport with better atmospheres than you will ever find here, major bands play London all the time, Glastonbury the king of music festivals (even if it has become more commercial), the best pubs in the world (not reliant on gambling for customers like here), a great comedy and theatre scene, amazing historical sites, true and embedded cultural diversity, public transport that actually makes owning a car optional, you can get a train to central Paris etc. The lifestyle is of course different to here, especially places like Sydney which rely on the good climate (and therefore lack much in the way of culture) but I wouldn't say its worse. Or at least it wasn't before the gross mismanagement of the UK in the last few years. The gallows humour, banter and sarcasm in the UK is also unmatched.

    Disadvantages are the totally inept government that has destroyed the economy over the last few years, first with brexit and its got steadily worse since. It has created division and bitterness over there and the cost of living has gone through the roof. I grew up in the UK and its easily the worst government I've ever seen there. I'd never go back to live unless things changed dramatically but it remains a great place to visit.

    I ended up in Australia permanently due to making a decision to quit a job I didn't like and travel for a while. Best decision I ever made. The experience of travelling and living overseas for a period is life changing and you never know where it might take you.

  • +2

    I read a book about going backpacking before I committed to doing it. One line I always remember from it is "don't worry about whether your trip will work out, just go".

  • +2

    Unless you're getting expat package in London don't bother. But if this is part of a timeline and you have a date range in mind say 2 years and that the WORK experience you gain there will help your career significantly, then it's worth a shot.

    If it's just the general experience to work there and travel Europe, it's not worth it. First there might not be an Europe with all these nuclear threats.

    I've worked in the US and London in particular where my lodging and car was all paid. Then there's allowances and flights back home, all paid on top of salary. It's different life, friend of mine back then who was employed there, was renting a place in London with no window, fold up bed. Was a Manager with Deloitte UK. Looks cool to say I'm working in London, but living in a pigeon hole wasn't for me.

  • +4

    Choose the country first.

    I am German and met my now husband on my first day of university in Australia. We then moved to Germany together for a couple of years… This job experience has helped my hubby tremendously to now find better paying jobs in Australia. I am sure it is not the same for all job positions, but for IT it definitely helped 👍.

    As an employer I would look favourable on a job application that has international experience too. I feel it says a lot about someone's personality that they are motivated to work in another country.

    Did you want to go to England? There are more options… My hubby did not speak a single word if German before going to Germany and found a job instantly. Scandinavian countries have better pay in general and also more paid holidays - a win win when trying to travel a bit at the same time! Which country are you the most excited about?

    Also ask yourself, would you go if you know you may never come back? Where would you go? That happened to me. Obviously I love my husband, and I adore living in Australia but I really miss my family too. I have a few friends who unfortunately missed their family/ friends and county Soo much that the relationship broke up.

  • +1

    Don't compromise too much for the economy, it is unpredictable and always been like that. People who start thinking its boom time or bust time with plans that take many years to materialise and by then the situation has changed drastically. Do what you want and stick with your plan and make it work as much as you can probably the new experience could be worth more than the extra 15-20%.

  • -4

    Wouldn't touch UK with a 10ft pole, more than twice the population of Australia in an area roughly the size of victoria.

  • +3

    100% go for the experience. It's also a hell of a lot easier in London if you can walk in with a job already lined up, so that's a massive bonus right there.

    Regarding the salary. Cost of living in Australia is waaaay higher than the UK, you will be amazed how cheap things are over there.

    • I think that used to be the case (re cost of living), less so now.

      • -2

        It could be 4x what it was and still be less than Australia.

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