How far would you commute?

[icekitsune]

Currently the market where I am is quite saturated and I've been having difficulty finding work near my area since graduation this past june so I expanded my search and I found openings roughly according to googlemap- 110mi~1hr 40 min and 97mi ~1.5hrs. Not considering weather and traffic in Ny in the commute time. Perhaps to temporarily commute until I find a apt or something. I mean, I haven't applied yet and wasn't sure if I should just go for it cause I might not even be hired. The commuting is limiting me in applying. I would like some advise regarding commuting and how far is ppl willing or had commute for a job

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[xiphoid2010]

Unless you have kids, maybe you can consider staying at a motel/extended stay place near by? Probably run you around $50-$80/night, saving 4 hours of driving + fuel cost might be a pretty decent trade off.

 

[KARM12]

When I first started my job I commuted an hour and a half each way (45 miles, but in a bad traffic area) for the first few months. It was doable, but miserable. I knew it would be temporary when I first started and moved closer to work after about 3mo. I think you would be fine doing it short term, but not forever...

 

[Gombrich12]

As you said you haven't even applied yet. First put in your applications and then decide. The next wave of 13,000 pharmacists will be graduating in a few months. Also, look into apartments around the area now and see how long it will take to get one.

 

[Dr. Bubblebutt]

What makes the decision of relocating closer to work is that most employment situations for pharmacists are very flaky. Put down deposit , first, and last for an apartment, only to discover the new job is a turnover position or the DM is a sadist and transfers you elsewhere or back into floater hell. If possible it might be good to live near major interstates/highways. A good part of a commute is spent in local traffic.

 

[Hello2000]

Stay in a cheap motel two or three nights a week. Tell the motel manager you will be staying two nights a week for a minimum three months and negotiate a deal with him. Usually works, they are not going to turn 3 months business down.

 

[BMBiology]

You seem to be asking a lot of questions that may not apply to you at the end.

Don't worry about these issues. Apply first and once you get a job then start thinking about it. The next wave of new grads are coming on the market soon and people are going to question why you have not worked in a year.

You need to get a job ASAP. Good luck.

 

[njac]

I work at a hospital 84 miles from my apartment.

I rent a room out where I work for $450/mo.

I work 4 10 hour shifts a week, and get 2 round trips + some city driving on a tank of gas. Tank of gas ~$60.

So if I went back and forth every single day I would be spending $480/mo just on gas for commuting plus a dog walker 4 days a week.

I actually come out ahead by living 2 places, and haven't had to compete ruin my life by living in suburbia.

That said - I have my dream job. I honestly love being at work and the people I work with. And after a year of this, I'm getting burned out. If I did this for a job I didn't love I would hate my life.

 

[Ackj]

I work at a hospital 84 miles from my apartment.

I rent a room out where I work for $450/mo.

I work 4 10 hour shifts a week, and get 2 round trips + some city driving on a tank of gas. Tank of gas ~$60.

So if I went back and forth every single day I would be spending $480/mo just on gas for commuting plus a dog walker 4 days a week.

I actually come out ahead by living 2 places, and haven't had to compete ruin my life by living in suburbia.

That said - I have my dream job. I honestly love being at work and the people I work with. And after a year of this, I'm getting burned out. If I did this for a job I didn't love I would hate my life.

I'm about the same distance, but I work retail, 7 shifts in 14 days.

I thought about doing a 7 on/7off and having an apartment there, but I wouldn't like being away from my girlfriend that much. Plus last thing I want to do after working a 12 hour day is come home to an apartment with nobody there, no meal ready, no laundry done, etc so I pretty much work every other day, with the exception of a fri-sat-sun weekend. I sleep in my own bed every night, and have only considered a cheapo motel on my friday night into saturday morning shift. I get good gas mileage so motel cost > gas + tolls by about $30.

I'm only 6 months in, but I really don't mind it that much. I listen to the morning shows for a laugh on the way in, and I talk to my parents on the way home, which is nice because I don't live close to them. Obviously from a financial standpoint I'd love a closer job, but I'm happy with how things are going.

 

[confettiflyer]

Answer: depends.

It would require a thoughtful consideration of compensation/benefits, job/management satisfaction, schedule satisfaction, quality of commute, cost of living, and whether the job serves as a dead end or improves my chances for a promotion or a better job elsewhere.

As one aspect improves, I'd be more tolerant of other aspects slipping.

My current FT job is an hour away...I reap the benefits of living in a lower cost area while working in a really really high cost city and my commute is tolerable at best. But my job is slightly unicorn status that I can parlay in 1-3 years into something better inside or outside the health system.

If I had a strictly staffing job with no move up potential and got paid what I was originally offered, I'd probably be on job #2 by now.

 

[njac]

I thought about doing a 7 on/7off and having an apartment there, but I wouldn't like being away from my girlfriend that much.

And that's part of what's wearing on me - I work 12-2230, so there's no traffic, but being single, it's hell on dating life.

I do love that I'm caught up on NPR and all of my podcasts. I live far from my family, but the timing doesn't work out for phone calls.

I should add that the room near work is all of 5 minutes from work. So I leave the house 20 minutes before my shift starts and still have time to hit Starbucks.

A big reason why I don't go home more during long stretches of shifts is that my neighborhood is street parking, so finding a spot at midnight can be tough. My next apartment will have assigned parking.

 

[Dalteparin]

Apply for the job, but when you get an interview, be prepared to answer questions about the commute. When I was applying for jobs post-residency, I applied at a couple of places that were over 1 hour away from where I lived (not including traffic). Part of the reason I didn't get hired for those jobs is that I wouldn't be able to get in quickly enough if I were on-call and I wasn't as sensible as the folks above, who'd worked out arrangements to stay somewhere closer to work. But, if you can find a way to get closer to work - or tell them that you plan to move ASAP after you get the job - it might work.

Good luck! I did commute an hour each way to a job at one point and it was extremely annoying… but still way better than being unemployed.

 

[fauxden]

i live 1.1 miles from work. i ride my bike.

 

[VCU07]

I have been commuting ~60 miles back and fourth for the last 2.5 years. I'm starting to get burned out with the drive and what makes it worse is that I have to pick my daughter's up from two separate schools on the way home. I'm very fortunate to have a great job, but I can't possibly do this forever

Also, it wears on my cars. I bought a new car with a 100k mile warranty and I'm already up to 50k miles since I began working. I'm looking at getting 1/2 of my original warranty. Not to mention upkeep and gas.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Just apply and see what happens. You can commute for a little while and then find a place to live closer to work. I commuted 1 hour each way for a little over 3 years. It was a great semi unicorn position and I learned a lot while I was working there but commuting long term is just not in the cards for me. Sometimes you have to suck it up and take a position that is not your dream job. Work hard and gain the experience necessary to get your dream job! I now live and work in the city, with a 10-15 minute commute.

I have no regrets about paying my dues and working with some awesome people at my previous job but getting rid of the commute has been one of the best moves I have made in years! My wife and I can cook together multiple nights per week, I see friends for happy hour in the city regularly, I have time to enjoy the evening, and I have time to exercise every morning. I have fun at work and enjoy being there but I do not live to work. Given the choice, I will always choose time with family/friends/hobbies over work.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2011/05/your_commute_is_killing_you.html

 

[Transformer]

My current commute is a little under 1 hour.

I've done 1.5 hr commutes in the past and it will wear you down. If this is to get your foot in the door for a desirable job, then apply & accept the job. Once you pass your probation period, you can always move closer to work.

Currently the market where I am is quite saturated and I've been having difficulty finding work near my area since graduation this past june so I expanded my search and I found openings roughly according to googlemap- 110mi~1hr 40 min and 97mi ~1.5hrs. Not considering weather and traffic in Ny in the commute time. Perhaps to temporarily commute until I find a apt or something. I mean, I haven't applied yet and wasn't sure if I should just go for it cause I might not even be hired. The commuting is limiting me in applying. I would like some advise regarding commuting and how far is ppl willing or had commute for a job