Take a Job interstate or not? What are the Pros and Cons?

Being short listed for a job in Sydney with low 6fig salary with accommodation as, part of package. 30mins from city. A job that I want. 20yo. Never lived away from home. Have minimal daily living know how. Ie Never paid a bill and minimal cooking experience. No drivers licence yet, but close.

Or take a job which is ok here in Melbourne, but significantly lower salary. Mid high 5 fig. Can live at home no rent.

What are the things I should be aware of if I take the interstate job. Should I take it?

UPDATE:Big Daddy here.
Thks all. The pole is very telling and your comments are very helpful. Back to myself in future threads, so as not to confuse or mess with your heads. I have enough of my own issue. Stay safe all

Poll Options expired

  • 387
    Take Sydney Job?
  • 16
    Take Melbourne Job?

Comments

  • +53

    Damn, the world is at your feet. Go to Sydney and have a blast.

    • -6

      Better off staying at home. The money you save from eating out/ubering will add up.

      Also you get to spend more time with your friends and especially with family as you wont see them anymore after they pass away.

      Would you have a better time in melb due to social factors/knowledge?

      • +7

        Or, learn to cook ffs. Save a shedload of money and never have to worry about where your next meal is coming from.

      • +14

        Your early 20s should be spent having new experiences and broadening your mind and growing as a person not stuck at home still being a kid and staying sheltered.

        Even if the Sydney job was the one paying less I would say take the Sydney one.

      • +1

        Jesus, that escalated.

      • OP, your dad has an Ozbargain account.

      • +2

        If your son is ready to earn $100k at the age of 20, don't clip his wings and keep him as a mummy's boy. He needs to grow up and be a man.

  • +125

    Last month you were 51yo … seems like a lot's changed?

    • +2

      Lol… thread deleted in 3.. 2…

    • +2

      SNAP

    • +42

      Ha OK. Still a parent. I'm asking for my son. I am biased in my opinion, so wanted the OZbers help. Thought thread would read better if taken from his point of view. Actual interesting to hear the posts.

      • +1

        Huh, good thinking.

      • +3

        So are you asking because you don't want him to go, or because you do?

        The reason I ask is that if you want him to go and he is hesitant, then maybe you are pushing him to something he's not ready for. Either professionally or emotionally.

        Saying that, from what you've described it would be a good opportunity for him, so if you don't want him to go, maybe you just have to let him learn his own lessons (ie cooking and living).

        • +15

          Unsure. At end of the day it's his descision. It's obvious that the Sydney job makes sense. Gives him a kick start with his career, but also in life's lessons. He can always come home if it turns to crap. The Melbourne job is with 1 of the 4 banks, so job would be reasonably long term career wise. Starting base not so good compared to Sydney.

          • +7

            @Melb69: Tell him he's young with no dependents. Try and make it big because if it fails badly, you just go live with your parents and pick yourself up again. Can't do that later in life where you'll lose your house and have the kids living in the living room of your parents house.

      • +19

        Da fuk, you cant get away with nothing on here! People stalk all your posts even when you create a thread 🤣🤣🤣

        Gotta love it tho!

        • Yeah, I did the same snap as dingle after I was caught out. I do like the input hence the thread, Just not all the grammatical police on here. Gee I might suffer from dyslexia.

      • -6

        Lmao, good strategy to get out of your lie.

        If you were really asking for your son you would say that as there is no reason to pretend to be your son. Something doesn't add up. Watch out guys could be that second hand xbox thing all over again.

        • No conspiracy theory here, but we all can have an imagination.

          • -5

            @Melb69: Ah ok. Then why did you have to pretend you are your son?

            • @Bryanalves: As per previous reply. "Thought thread would read better if taken from his point of view. Actual interesting to hear the post".

  • +33

    Even though Sydney smells funny, 100k job at 20 is too good. All the solo living stuff is really easy to pickup, plus the benefits of living away from parents is too good, plenty of sex, drugs and booze.

      • +25

        Pft only 200k? When I was 18 I was on 500k /win

        • +2

          By the way the actual job is more important than the pay, but it obviously helps swing to the interstate job.

        • +1

          Clue as to career? Obviously, jealous me.

        • +3

          Pfft, 500k from a job? When I was 18 I got a small loan of $5M from my father.

          • @abb: Is that you Donald?

          • @abb: Shhhh … don't say that hurtful truth … pick your audience!!!!!

  • +3

    Highly recommend you take the Sydney job. You are young, have skills to offer, take this opportunity to gain new experiences, learn to take care of yourself better, moving out is one of the biggest milestone I have had. I wish I could have the options like you but I've got family and responsibilities… but anyway I wish you best of luck with your choice and stay safe.

  • +10

    I say take it for the experiance. Have set time timeframe/durations and objectives.
    Eg, I would plan to go there for the job for 18-24 months then come back to Melb, or keep the options open.

    You are lucky that accomodation is part of the package. rent is a killer.
    paying bills and cooking is nothing compared to cooking and cleaning.

    Top tips: learn to budget, save a fix amount per month, move it into another bank account, with high interest. When your savings get to a certain amount, treat yourself.

    Dont eat out all the time. Learn to enjoy simple home cooked food.

    Definately DO NOT buy an expensive car.

    These are things I would tell my youngerself. Good times dont last forever. You should always be prepared to weather the bad times. Dont be a scrounge though.
    You have a decent paying job at such a young age. Do not take that for granted. Move away and you will learn to appreciate your family more.

  • -2

    I wouldn’t want to live in a different state, and have no clue how to live by yourself. Especially nowadays where people stick to themselves more. “Kid” is asking for depression IMO

    • +2

      Valid point. I moved to Sydney around a year ago, and being a bit of an introvert and have found it hard to make any friends here. I don't feel I've got depression, but these last 2 months have been hard.

      On the other hand with modern technology, it's easier to get family support from a distance than it used to be.

      • I think that is a concern, but you have to adapt and make an effort to find avenues for socialisation. The work colleagues are a start. Finding your place in the workplace.

      • +2

        dizzle Hang in there. You will be fine. I wish you well.

        • +1

          What a nice comment :)

      • If you never push yourself you won't grow. You don't want to be 60 and still not have good friends or have any cool experiences to remember. Moving to Sydney seems like a good idea but once this pandemic is over you'll want to do difficult things to push your comfort zone and grow.

      • get on sydney discord

    • Take up martial arts, Crossfit or F45. Heaps of friends to be made that way.

    • You live and learn. Learn from your mistakes.

  • +19

    Paid accom and 6 figures in Sydney is like winning the lotto. You could eat out every meal, fly home every weekend for friends & family and still be ahead.

    • +3

      Suspect the 6fig also comes with the responsibility and the pressure to deliver on deadlines and perform. Comes with it. Maybe it's a 1 to 2 year thing. Go hard go fast.

      • -1

        Yes but they don't give these things away unless you have the potential to do well. Not hard to leverage a better position back in the greatest state in Oz once Sydney gets boring in 2 years.

        • +2

          Lol at Sydney being boring compared to Melbourne. I’ve been thinking about going down to Mexico for a holiday my whole life, but what is there to do? No landmarks, beaches?

          • @Emerald Owl: Everywhere gets boring after a while, it wasn't a shot at Sydney.

          • -3

            @Emerald Owl: Proper football for starters… Add the best coffee in the world and a MUCH more interesting CBD.

            I live in Syd, we travel to Melb once or twice a year just to enjoy the city and its happenings.

            The Melb weather is just garbage though… Syd wins that contest hands down.

            But yes, everywhere gets boring after some time.

            • @axloz: I still don’t get it. Sydney has two big AFL teams and plenty of smaller ones. I am certain there is no difference in coffee. A much more interesting CBD? What exactly? Centrepoint tower is something for tourists, what does Melbourne CBD have?

              • +1

                @Emerald Owl: I seem to have annoyed some folks - I guess I've been in Sydney too long :)
                Both great cities. I choose to live in Sydney but I do love Melbourne.

                Its all personal preference really - I just can't get into NRL, but I love the atmosphere of an AFL game at the MCG - Richmond vs Carlton, Round 1 every year is amazing (except this year obviously..)

                The coffee in Melbourne is just better in my opinion. Maybe I'm just a coffee snob..

                Melbourne is just a nicer city to be a pedestrian in. Sydney is getting better with the new light rail, but I much prefer wandering through Melbourne's CBD than Sydney's. If I need to articulate: Wider streets and verges, better street furnishings, more trees. Then there's the activated laneways and night time activities that Sydney just doesn't do in the same way..

                One thing Sydney does have that Melbourne doesn't (and never will I guess) - the amazing harbour. In summer its amazing. Commuting via ferry is the best.

                • @axloz: Cool, interesting on the cbd streets thing. It’s interesting how you talk about Sydney being boring but the best thing about Melbourne is some nicer streets. Haha. Unfortunately nothing in Australia comes close to the NFL in the US, largely due to fans split between too many codes and too many teams and ridiculous prices and restrictions. Maybe you should try out a Swans match at the SCG. It’s interesting how the “liberals’ can create such a nanny state compared to Victorian Labor. Hopefully this will change post lock out law.

      • You need the pressure to perform at a young age. As you get older and take on even more responsibilities you'll have the skills to manage that pressure.

  • +6

    I have a family member that had pretty much this exact situation, albeit a bit older. He was mid 20s, moved out for the first time from Melbourne to Sydney, and is now loving it out there.
    With mainly your listed considerations in mind:
    Salary/Benefits: Sydney is more expensive than Melbourne, but given the accommodation deal and at a first glance the Sydney option is significantly better.
    Location: 30 mins from the city is definitely doable. Sydney public transport is pretty good, and if that isn't an option I don't think the driver's license will be too big of a deal. Depending on when he's likely to start, 15 hours isn't much at all and he could probably get his license within a month and a half or so, taking into consideration the wait time for drivers tests.

    As for living away from home - I think this is where it's more of a personal thing.
    The family member I mentioned adapted very well, but on the other hand his flatmate, who was also from Melb and had never lived away from home, found it a lot more difficult and ended up moving back to Melbourne after a year. Which is still okay - I admire his flatmate for making the decision; he tried something, and found out it wasn't for him. Better to move back than to stay in a city and life that you don't like.
    It'll be hard at first, but people are adaptable. The first few months will be lonely, and difficult - so keeping in touch with the support network you have back in Melbourne may be something to keep in mind.

    Moving interstate is new, and exciting, and can offer a lot of opportunities. Different friends, lifestyle, and things to see and do. But, at the same time, staying in Melbourne is also a good option. It's a great city (biased because I live here), and I think the culture and community is something you can't find anywhere else. A lot of the main lifestyle changes come with moving out of home, not necessarily interstate.
    In the end though, I think what's most important is that you go at your own pace - as someone mentioned in the thread, if you don't feel ready for it, don't feel pressured to. If you don't end up taking the Sydney offer, that's fine. Even if you regret it down the line, 20yrs is still young and as long as you're dedicated enough, you can find and make your own opportunities to move to Sydney.

    • -4

      Sydney public transport is pretty good

      LOL!

  • +6

    Those life skills he doesn't have are super important to get. I would never date a man that didn't know how to take care of the household, you never know what could happen and if one partner is incapacitated for some reason, the other has to be able to step up. If he decides to stay in Melbourne you should look at getting him to either move out or start taking over certain chores to make sure he learns these skills.

    If he moves to Sydney, is it possible for a parent to go with him for the first few days to get him settled and make sure he knows how to do everything? That might make the transition easier and you'll feel better knowing that he can cook, clean, do laundry and pay the bills on his own. Also make sure he has a budget and knows what % of his pay is going into his savings. The more he saves now, the earlier he can retire.

    Personally I would say give the Sydney job a go. Opportunities are precious and we shouldn't let fear of the unknown stop us from taking them. If he doesn't like it then he can always come back home.

  • Still 15hr short of required hours.

    Required hours for what?

    Encourage him to take the Sydney Job sounds much better… Save the money, work there for a couple of years, then go travelling.

    Help him to learn to cook since he wouldn’t be moving for a couple of months.

    • +1

      Getting their Ps

    • +3

      He does have some basic cooking skills. Cleaning ok, obviously we parents letting him concentrate on study. But like the other day he had to ask his sibling whether the fruit he had was an orange it a lemon due to the supposed colour. Younger sibling said it was a lemon. No it was an orange. There are other little things as well. Just makes me laugh. Can't complain as all his efforts seem to be falling into place. In any event he will have a jobm

      • +1

        Lol. He’ll figure it out. I hope the younger sibling was screwing with him :P

        Well once restrictions relax a weekend in Sydney to get familiar with areas would be a good way to smash out the 15 hours of hours.

        I say this as someone who is of similar age, also living rent free, that he should try teaching himself to cook. Other stuff like chores he’ll figure out. I want to move out next year and I’m slowly learning to cook. Nothing fancy just start simple.

      • +3

        Oh my…

  • +4

    I left home at 17 and moved from Wodonga to Melbourne . My wife moved to Australia when she was 18. It is a steep learning curve but you learn to adult very quickly. Highly recommend.

    My only concern is the amount of money he'll be earning. Ideally, you want them to struggle a little when they are in their early 20s. From personal experience, I find that its very character-building.

    P.s: you went from being a charming call-centre lady to a 50 year old male, to a 20 year old male very quickly. Where does this stop?

    • you want them to struggle a little when they are in their early 20s

      Sounds like they'll be struggling to cook for themselves

      • +5

        You don't need to cook if you're earning over a $100k and living rent-free.

    • +2

      I am that charming older person. My responses are from the heart, but maybe my online presence is a bit screwed depending to what info I need. I suppose also I wish I could be that 20 year old now that I know what what I know now.

      • I didn't think 50 year olds use the word 'screwed' :o

        • Ha

    • -8

      He'll struggle in Sydney with only a low 6 figure salary. It's an awful place to live and there's a mindset that unless you're spending large amounts of money constantly, you're not having fun.

      • At least there's trains to get around in Sydney unlike where you live …

      • Sarcasm never works in text form if that's where your going with this post.

  • +2

    Never paid a bill? You’re in for a treat cos theres lots of them in Sydney. Drive on a freeway? Thats a bill. Park in a shopping strip any large suburb? Thats a bill. Need your car inspected every year? Thats a bill. Go to a beach by car? Yep, a bill. At least the national parks are free. Oh, wait…

    • Better him than me.

  • +1

    I find it strange you would type this in the first person when it's for your son…

    Anyway, if your son moves out, I would say that it's good to learn early how to not rely on his parents. Learn to cook, do chores, take care of one's self, become independent etc. I agree with what Jar Jar Binks said in that it'll build character, as long as your son is the type who can endure hardship and won't crack easily without mummy and daddy being around. If he will you should prepare him for that by getting him to do his own chores at home first.

    Public transport works pretty well in Sydney if he can't drive…. but factoring in Covid-19, I'm not sure if you'd want him to risk being on PT. As you said though, he can always come home if he wants to. This opportunity in this climate is too good to pass up, just hope the job is still there by the time he moves.

    • Yeah that PT thing with Covid could still be an issue. Mask and hand sanitiser will be the norm I think there. Just thought it would read better if posted from his perspective. He's been mothered, so for sure he will pick up the daily living things as he goes. That is all part of being an adult. As for if job still there we hope so. It is a large share trading company.

      • You should get him ready by making him cook dinner, do laundry etc. It could be a big shock to him moving out if he's been mothered and has to take care of himself all in the flick of a switch. He should at least ensure that he has the job at one place before rejecting the other offer as well.

        • Lunch & Dinners need work.

  • +4

    Did you pull a few of your mates strings to land him that job? Hard to believe someone with such little initiative in life would manage to even apply for himself 🤷

    • He has great application in the things he enjoys. Just not the day to day stuff. Being able to study hard comes naturally to him. We just allowed him to concentrate on that. Hence why the lack of day to day skills, but I think it is a quirk in both aspects that he has.

      • +1

        I was like your son, didn't know crap about day to day stuff. I came to australia when i was 19 yo, learned pretty quickly. And at worst he can afford eat out and pay someone taking care of his place. He is a smart boy, he will learn his way.

        Good luck

        • I'm sure he will do OK. Suppose it's more an issue for us parents than for him. At some point he has to leave the nest.

  • +1

    Melbourne is quite a good city, so that's what makes it a difficult choice.

    20 is pretty young, I moved to London when I was 21 and I legit cried the first day as I knew no one! Haha
    However, once I got in the groove it was awesome.

    Take the opportunity, Melbourne and lower paid jobs will always be there. Try Sydney, save the extra money and see what happens!

    • That is what I am hoping. That he will take if all in. There will probably be crying from both sides. At least if he is in Sydney we can hopefully fly or drive there.

  • Out of interest, what sort of job pays 6 figure for a 20-yo?

    • Some of my offers from back when I was 21 a year before graduating (Base figures Excl. bonuses with each ranging from 7.5% to 30%)
      - 104K Commercial Sales Analyst at MNC hardware and software company
      - 100K Strat & Ops Analyst at MNC software company (took this role as interned here)
      - 120K China & India finance Analyst/BP for competitor of the company I took a FTE role with
      - 95K MBO Analyst at hardware company (Samsung / Apple)

      Albeit I had about 4-5 years of experience throughout university as I worked full time + studied full time + had two side hustles.

      • +1

        Out of interest how did you handle the pressure of being in your position at that age. Did the company help you or were you thrown in the deep end.

        • 7 day 80 hour work weeks were the norm. Lots of mistakes made and learned from. No help from the company. Boss was a genius and didn't have time to help. Wouldn't have had it any other way.

          I've moved into a management position now at a pharma / sciences company and i'm making a lot more with only 40 hours a week.

          • @Jamesrulez1: Well done. There is hope for him and his Uni friends. Getting the job is still the hard bit, so you can get the experience.

            Did you know you were going to have those hours from the start? When you graduated with your first job did you do those same hours and days?

            • +1

              @Melb69: Yes. The team was lean and responsible for a multitude of hats.

              Hours varied in my first job but generally 60+ minimum with 80 as the norm.

    • A large share trading company and he will be in the IT department. Not to be to specific. He's only graduating at 20 as he started school early.

      • What IT role pays 6 figures out of Uni? I'm guessing coding rather than support?

        • data , software, devops, d365 finops, security(secops) - engineers

          • +6

            @megaalc: Data yes but with masters not an undergraduate.

            Software yes but only with 2-3 companies with 1-2 spots each that offer 100K+

            Devops nope.

            O365 nope.

            Security nope unless with experience.

            • @Jamesrulez1: I mean for the record I'm on almost 6 figures as a Snr Systems Engineer. But thats with a Batchelors and 8 years of experience.

              Secops sure, eventually, but only mid level up (entry is usually ~80k pending city)

              Dynamics 365 and finops - can totally see it, but not my area. But BA's make good cash after a few years so I dont see why not.

              Data/Software? Depending on what your doing where sure, but as a straight out of uni job? Mayyybbee if you're a rockstar coder?

              Based on OP it sounds like its in finop, but is it operational IT or development IT, we all know where the money is.

        • +1

          The role is probably quant or high frequency trading. I know a quant trading company paying that much for fresh grad (and that was few years ago)

      • Have you seen any proof with your own eyes?

        Bit skeptical as IT is in oversupply and unless you have niche skills in the industry (e.g. M&A), it's unlikely there's a position sitting around for six figures that would relocate him.

        It's much cheaper (and potentially better) to hire locally and even cheaper to outsource to India.

        • He's already had a uni friend been hired at a similar salary if not higher with one of the big tech companies and that was for an overseas post. The jobs are there.

          By the way I don't question my son. He's already shown me the Melbourne offer.

          • -1

            @Melb69: As a child living in a household with tiger parents that wanted me to be a doctor/engineer/lawyer (I didn't go down any of these routes), I would want to find any reason to move out of home.

            Food for thought. Not implying anything but the Sydney job in IT is very suspicious.

            Speaking from local experience, I've worked in IT, Finance, Consulting on both sides (hiring and applying) and have worked on salary (equity, fixed and variable) contracts and compensation structures. IT was the second lowest which was just beaten out by marketing. There's too many skilled applicants and too few positions.

            Overseas is a different ballpark. Working in LA/SF you could get a $120K job out of university which would convert to a $60-$70K job here in Sydney when normalised by the cost of living (e.g. Rent).

            I don't doubt the Melbourne offer. That's how much banks pay. But they're usually 2 year fixed term contracts with a chance to convert after the graduate program. Roughly only 50% convert to a FTE as the banks would rather import more skilled employees from the big 4 consulting firms.

            • @Jamesrulez1: So you would say go the Melbourne job if contracted for 2 years with chance to get FTE. There a is still a significant difference in salary package. Even if Sydney is more expensive to live in compared to Melbourne.

            • +1

              @Jamesrulez1:

              … the Sydney job in IT is very suspicious.

              I am sort of with James, and rather skeptical that a new graduate is given this kind of salary, with accommodation included. I would check into the details of the offer very carefully - e.g., does the salary figure already includes a performance bonus, assuming some KPI is achieved, etc.

              Having said that, OP, I can also see a scenario where they might take a punt if they think your son has exceptional potential. Their risks are actually quite capped. If his performance does not commensurate with their expectations within the probation period, he could be out the door. But if it does, they benefit. So from their perspective, they are not risking that much.

              If your son is driven, willing to work long hours, and is confident he can deliver, go for it. It is the surest way to progress.

              • +1

                @bluesky: Suppose if you are in that window of their criteria, as you say both parties win.

            • @Jamesrulez1: @Jamesrulez1. Have friends making 170k+ straight out of uni. Here's one example of a trading firm which pays that much.Optiver

              • @AH: They offer relocation and rental renumetation I believe, so well over 170k as a package if that is taken into acount. Assume that is inclusive of super.

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