location, location, location

[antdickens]

Hi,

I hope you guys can give me some good feedback on my current predicament.

I have completed a degeree in computing and have over a years experience behind me, 9 months support and 5 months delopment. I am currently working as a c++ developer.

You would think i am in a good position but it seems that my location is restricting me. I live in Hull and there just doesn't seem to be any jobs going here.

Do i need to make a move to one of the bigger city's ie london, manchester, birmingham ???

Will my career suffer in the long run by staying in my home town and not chasing these lucrative city jobs??

 

[johncurtis]

This is always a biggie. Should I stay or should I go?

There's no doubt that a move to London or another big city would give more job opportunities, but what are your priorities? If you're at the stage of life where career is everything then move where the jobs are and get as much experience as you can. If you have other commitments then you have to weigh them and find the best compromise.

It's really down to you. Think hard about what you want to achieve, talk to family and friends, then make your decision. Once you've made it, whatever you decide, keep at it and things will work out.

John

 

[jtb]

Look diligently for 2 books!!! "What Color is your Parachute?" and "From Serf to Surfer" and start planning to be your own boss!!!!

JTB
Solutions Architect
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSA, MCSE-W2K, MCIWA, SCSA, SCNA in progress)

 

[ukjane]

I have considered the same issues as you. I live in Leicestershire and have 5 years experience working in Support. I'm finding it difficult to break free of the support analyst fairly basic role. I have considered being lured to the bright lights of the city and promise of big bucks and fast living.

In my current situation my fiancee is just about to start a new job, so my personal curcumstances mean that I cannot move. I have also considered the fact that the salaries may be high but the cost of living is significantly increased. £800 a month to rent a 1 bed flat near london, then if you work in the City you can't exactly drive to work, so there is the additional cost of transport, i'm sure your current job is probably quite local to where you live.

I think that the North East is certainly not the worst as far as jobs go, the Midlands seems to be pretty OK at the moment as far as programmers go, but support is just dead at the mo. I lived in the North West for a while and things were very slow up there.

I think that if you keep looking in local papers, regsiter with a good local IT recruitment agency and scour the jobsites weekly you will find something soon. It might not be next week, but in a few months I'm sure you will have found the direction you need!!