Would you relocate to an undesirable city for a prestigious job?

[Anonymous]

While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, I'm looking to relocate from my current city. it's not bad, but I like change and my career has been stagnant the past 3 years that I've been here. I know the move to SLC (or another city) is temporary. I eventually want to settle down on the east coast.

Do it. Then apply for GS jobs back on the east coast in a few years. Food luck! Gs is a great company to work for and the proximity to the ski resorts will be awesome. You have to take risks and make moves like this to accomplish things in life and keep moving up. If you're frustrates with your current role and you're not the type of person who doesn't just float through life then take this job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

So he/she needs to consider what kind of opportunities he/she can pursue in DC. Are there any current openings? What are the chances there will be in a year or two? I wouldn't plan my life around what you might accomplish and instead focus on the current opportunity at hand.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but no.

I did that and I felt I lost 2 yrs that I'll never get back. One of the biggest regrets of my life.

[Anonymous]

Yes - I love SLC, lived there for 3 years after college for a job. Great outdoorsy stuff and a bar scene like any other city. I am white but not LDS.

[Anonymous]

I also lived in SLC for years. Super counter culture, lots of non-white folks. Not a ton of non-LDS African American folks, but not unheard of. SLC if I remember is almost 50% hispanic and catholic, so it's really not a crazy place. If I'd stayed I wouldn't have done public schools, because the mormons do have a huge influence there, but in terms of single life, it's pretty fun. It's a real "hang out" culture. people go to dinner, bars, sports, arts, etc. all the time. And it has a huge contemporary dance scene. I'd totally live there again. It's not like you are talking about flint, MI or somewhere economically depressed. SLC is vibrant and the weather is pretty great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

So he/she needs to consider what kind of opportunities he/she can pursue in DC. Are there any current openings? What are the chances there will be in a year or two? I wouldn't plan my life around what you might accomplish and instead focus on the current opportunity at hand.

OP here, I'm a woman btw. Anyway, I've pretty much exhausted my opportunities here. If I get promoted or move on with a different company it'll be a similar role. The new role is completely different from what I am doing now. Which is exciting to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

I do not prefer a front office role, so that's not a big deal. This role is just my next step before applying to business school, not H/S/W, more like top 25. So I have a 2 yr maximum expiration date for whatever I decide to do next. I could take on a more "prestigious" role with my current company (which is a semi prestigious one compared to the new company) but I'd still have to relocate to an unfamiliar city. I was never really interested in financial services honestly and I'm still not, but I don't want to pass up an opportunity that may improve my future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

So he/she needs to consider what kind of opportunities he/she can pursue in DC. Are there any current openings? What are the chances there will be in a year or two? I wouldn't plan my life around what you might accomplish and instead focus on the current opportunity at hand.

OP here, I'm a woman btw. Anyway, I've pretty much exhausted my opportunities here. If I get promoted or move on with a different company it'll be a similar role. The new role is completely different from what I am doing now. Which is exciting to me.

I'd consider ONLY bc you know you're only doing it for 2 yrs. You really don't get that many chances in life to just pick up and move for a few yrs to try something new. 6 months into your tenure there, you'd be applying to b-school anyway and a few months after that you'll have your end date in sight, so if you really hate it -- you know you're not staying forever. If it's a role you're at all curious about or want to get it on your resume, do it now -- bc b-school internships are no longer for "trying" stuff out, they are for getting a real job in whatever field you choose.

Did you visit for the interview -- what did you think of the place and people? Any chance you can go back for a weekend to look at housing, hang out a bit at bars etc. to see what locals are like? Any chance the co./HR would connect you with a few young east coast transplants who could talk about how the SLC transition has been like for them? FWIW -- it's not like you're the only one in town who will have moved to SLC for a job. GS has moved a lot of back office there, as has Amex -- so there are LOTS of young people from the east coast (NYC mostly) who are out there with similar thoughts as you -- let me do this for 2 yrs and the move back to NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

I do not prefer a front office role, so that's not a big deal. This role is just my next step before applying to business school, not H/S/W, more like top 25. So I have a 2 yr maximum expiration date for whatever I decide to do next. I could take on a more "prestigious" role with my current company (which is a semi prestigious one compared to the new company) but I'd still have to relocate to an unfamiliar city. I was never really interested in financial services honestly and I'm still not, but I don't want to pass up an opportunity that may improve my future.

Well this is a no brained then! Go for it!!!!

[Anonymous]

I would live in SLC in a heartbeat. I've only visited but I was really impressed and it doesn't feel overly conservative. Maybe in some of the suburbs but that's it. I would go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While people can and do move from back to middle or front office, it is not easy. The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a back or middle office job in a city you don't like.

Not all jobs at prestigious firms are prestigious jobs.

Conversely there are prestigious jobs at non-prestigious firms.

So he/she needs to consider what kind of opportunities he/she can pursue in DC. Are there any current openings? What are the chances there will be in a year or two? I wouldn't plan my life around what you might accomplish and instead focus on the current opportunity at hand.

OP here, I'm a woman btw. Anyway, I've pretty much exhausted my opportunities here. If I get promoted or move on with a different company it'll be a similar role. The new role is completely different from what I am doing now. Which is exciting to me.

OP, as a gal, I cheer you on even more. If nothing else, visit the place for 2 or 3 days, mid-week. Even if you don't participate in sports, there is no harm in trying something like skiing. I am sure there are zillions of newbie type young adults clubs that tackle such things as a team. I also couldn't care if you were tutti-frutti color; you sound smart and confident. Take on the challenge. I would recommend going out there, try and implement some changes that save $$ or help generate revenue....then see where the job and life take you. I am actually envious of you and your choices - you may very well look back on this entire time as one of the best of your life! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I am talking to the recruiter today to get further details and I will decide from there.

[Anonymous]

GO for it. As well as having an interesting experience, you might be able to save up some money too. I never regretted moving to a rural area in Georgia--met my DH and had a great time!

[Anonymous]

I do have a question for anyone who has been in a similar situation. How difficult has it been being away from most of your family? My family isn't reacting to this well. (My friends are all for it) They are not happy that I'd be almost 3,000 miles from home and the culture is completely different from what I have experienced. I am quite unhappy here as I am scraping by and I have a pretty nonexistent social life do to my work schedule(working late Friday and Saturday nights). They feel like I am seeking money and prestige. Obviously, I know that the decision is up to me, however my family is important to me