Company is pursuing me, but they want me to relocate and have a ‘hybrid’ policy

[Anonymous]

So you already travel half the time so the other half you’d be home? So same a current job?

[Anonymous]

I am running into a similar scenario, where a company is looking for someone with very particular experience and is pursuing me.

They won't budge on the relocation, no matter how desperate they are. It IS the hill they will die on, in my experience. It's actually LESS flexible than it was prior to the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if you don’t relocate, travel is 40-50%?

Right so why relocate.

Because otherwise including travel to HQ it's going to be 70%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am running into a similar scenario, where a company is looking for someone with very particular experience and is pursuing me.

They won't budge on the relocation, no matter how desperate they are. It IS the hill they will die on, in my experience. It's actually LESS flexible than it was prior to the pandemic.

But you don’t have a job on the road 40-50%z

And yes, senior positions with teams require relocating. That’s called being a professional.

Nowhere o ur side of wash DCs club Fed do you get Fridays off, clockwork promotions, hybrid or remote work and pick up your kids at 2:30pm ET.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am running into a similar scenario, where a company is looking for someone with very particular experience and is pursuing me.

They won't budge on the relocation, no matter how desperate they are. It IS the hill they will die on, in my experience. It's actually LESS flexible than it was prior to the pandemic.

But you don’t have a job on the road 40-50%z

And yes, senior positions with teams require relocating. That’s called being a professional.

Nowhere o ur side of wash DCs club Fed do you get Fridays off, clockwork promotions, hybrid or remote work and pick up your kids at 2:30pm ET.

OP said there’s no direct reports. Management shouldn’t be a problem. This is a ‘butt in chair’ issue if Op is truly traveling 50% of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you ok with the travel? I agree that sounds awful.

Anyway, I would not wait until the offer to tell them you won't relocate - among other things, you risk burning your friend. Either tell them no, or tell them you're interested but relocation is a barrier.

+1

They might concede to your wishes.

However, you need to be sure that nobody will resent you if you get a special deal.

My Fortune 500 company requires 3 days a week in office now unless you were remotely hired. This is detrimental to the lives and expenses of those who have to comply. I get less sleep now and am exposed to dangerous traffic congestion and eat more poorly and have gained back 10 lbs since RTO was enforced.

The minions have noticed that many of the newest and flashiest execs keep getting hired for full remote work and live in resort type places. At a minimum, it's bad for morale. It also raises productivity questions, even though we are fairly functional at remote work. The phrase that keeps getting used is "Rules for thee, but not for me". The head of HR is the most resented because the CEO thinks HR is great while officially measured employee satisfaction is nosediving.

So...just a cautionary tale if your job might involve work policies, team-building, etc. Will all your direct reports be in a meeting room together while you are just a talking head on a screen? Are you good at building virtual relationships?

[Anonymous]

No OP, I would not be interested. If they have a "I have to check on you and make sure your butt is here" mentality even if they give you a remote concession it probably won't go well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interview but be clear at each step (including before the interview) about what your relocation tolerance is.

This. Allows for both parties to pursue it but if someone is a hard no on something you don’t waste time.

[Anonymous]

I’ve known several execs who say “I can’t relocate yet (because kids, aging parents, etc), but I am willing to do it in the future”. And then the future just never comes.

Granted, these are always men. And one of them used this line and then relocated the entire organization to his hometown when he got pushed by the board to fulfill his commitment to move. But it’s worked out for all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve known several execs who say “I can’t relocate yet (because kids, aging parents, etc), but I am willing to do it in the future”. And then the future just never comes.

Granted, these are always men. And one of them used this line and then relocated the entire organization to his hometown when he got pushed by the board to fulfill his commitment to move. But it’s worked out for all of them.

Sounds like the CEO of Boeing. This article is amazing in light of everything that’s happened since it was published in Sept 2023

https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/boeing-ceo-private-jets-return-to-office-9bee2035#:~:text=Chief%20Executive%20David%20Calhoun%2C%20who,%2C%20Va.%2C%20last%20year.

[Anonymous]

I think the idea of X days in office a month might work best. Even 1 day in office a week if you don’t relocate might work if you’re traveling 50% already. I definitely wouldn’t let them know specifics as to aging parent. I would just say that it’s hard to relocate my family, but I am certainly willing to travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am running into a similar scenario, where a company is looking for someone with very particular experience and is pursuing me.

They won't budge on the relocation, no matter how desperate they are. It IS the hill they will die on, in my experience. It's actually LESS flexible than it was prior to the pandemic.

But you don’t have a job on the road 40-50%z

And yes, senior positions with teams require relocating. That’s called being a professional.

Nowhere o ur side of wash DCs club Fed do you get Fridays off, clockwork promotions, hybrid or remote work and pick up your kids at 2:30pm ET.

OP said there’s no direct reports. Management shouldn’t be a problem. This is a ‘butt in chair’ issue if Op is truly traveling 50% of the time.

Then she is the direct report who needs to circle through Hq and do sr meetings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely let them know that relocation is the only obstacle. If they really want you, they might reassess the role to see if it can be a remote position. If the final answer is no, then it is no.

This.

If everything you say is accurate, technically it would be your responsibility to pay to travel to HQ unless you negotiate otherwise. Does the pay allow that? Are you willing to do that?

They can't really tell you where to actually live. Could you get an apartment there or hotel contract? As long as you are there when they expect, how they happens is entirely up to you.

My best friend commuted daily from DC to Chicago for over a decade. The 1 hour difference definitely helped in the morning.
I commuted 4 days a week to Brooklyn for a couple of years. If I couldn't make a certain flight I just got a hotel as the turnaround just didn't make sense. But it really wasn't a big deal.

What city?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am running into a similar scenario, where a company is looking for someone with very particular experience and is pursuing me.

They won't budge on the relocation, no matter how desperate they are. It IS the hill they will die on, in my experience. It's actually LESS flexible than it was prior to the pandemic.

It sounds like you have . . . a very particular set of skills.

[Anonymous]

WTF commuting on DAILY flights to Chicago?! And then back to Wash DC nightly.

No one would be that stupid to attempt that nor do that nor pay for that.

The Brooklyn thing sounds like a regurg from that wsj blogger do did Chicago to Brooklyn weekly.