You’ve been offered your dream job! Congratulations!
If you have been through the PQUIP train to be a Probation Officer application or are about to then read on to hear my 3 HOT TIPS when deciding which office to choose.
It’s a really exciting time being told you have an offer for your dream job! Almost so exiting that you realised you didn’t really put much thought into what office you would work in, you just wanted to focus on the application process. This was the position I was in.
So I created these 3 HOT tips:
1. Family commitments:
I always think if you are not settled down somewhere then use this as a great opportunity to move and try somewhere new. When I done my training the majority of people on my training lived in London. They had either had jobs here before, or moved or eventually moved throughout the course. Why is this a great thing – new city, new experiences, new friends. It was never a hesitation for me I personally enjoyed the idea of living somewhere new especially London which is why I applied there. However, this decision becomes much harder when you have partners, children, a marriage or other family to consider. Really consider the pros and cons of this and talk to those who may be affected by a potential move. I must say from personal experience this was much easier when I had less commitments.
2. Distance:
And I mean the real distance, so you can work out exactly how much time you will spend travelling. I didn’t take into account many things, the train station names closes to the office, the actual route I would need to take. Consider the distance both by car and train, or even bus if this is an option for you. Get really specific so you know how long you will be travelling. Mine was 2 hours each way. I had to be at the train station for the train to leave at 6:50 I would arrive at the office for about 9:10am. It was no joke. I done this for 6 months, then moved in with my mum who lived closer for 3 months until my partner and I ended up moving to London. However this did mean him being luck enough to relocate in his job. So lots to consider.
3. Cost
My train ticket was £595! And If I had stayed travelling during the yearly rail increase it would have been at least £620 per month. This was way more than our rent. But I saw this as an investment as a short term cost. I would eventually have a bigger salary and it also contributed to my decision to move to London. One decision I am so glad I made. So consider not only cost of public transport but petrol, car parking costs as some offices are in town centres so have no car park. Consider the cost of renting and moving. For me knowing it was a temporary situation made the decision easier. However working from home will most certainly reduce your costs.
Whatever you decide, know that it has to be right for you! You are the one going to making the sacrifices. Let me know if you found this helpful!
If you are in the process of graduating, or looking for graduate jobs in forensic settings. You can join the Criminology Circle – a dedicated facebook group for those interested in studying Psychology & Criminology and want to consider jobs such as a Probation Officer or other options!
You can also watch the video here!