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

[Anonymous]

I was contacted by a recruiter for a well known IB firm for a role in a western city(SLC). While this is great news, I am a minority and I am concerned about fitting in there. I'd only be in the city for 2 years maximum because I plan on attending business school. I'm in my late 20s as well. What would you do in this situation? I'm tempted by the salary and career trajectory, but of course everyone is dissuading me due to the location.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, SLC is fine especially if you are a complete outsider. There are enough young, hipster types, and outdoorsy types for you to find a pool. The LDS stuff really won't affect you at all. It's only when you are on the fringes of LDS through family or if the job is mostly with Mormons, where you might feel marginalized. Id' look at the job carefully from that point-of-view, but not SLC as a small-ish metro area. It gets claustrophobic if you are connected to the tribe (DH is pioneer stock) IMHO.

DH hates going back to SLC. I'm from the east coast, and I find it very relaxing, and would entertain moving there for a finite period of time, especially if I had an interesting job.

[Anonymous]

PP^^ above. I am also a minority, and have not found it difficult in that regard in the SLC.

[Anonymous]

Great, and tough question. I was shocked how progressive SLC seemed to me when there. Mind you, I was on vacation there only 3 times. But I thought it would be a very uptight place, given the Mormon influence. I found I was very wrong. The only thing I noticed was, you couldn't get a drink on Sunday. Many great bars, clubs, dinner places. And if you do ANYTHING outdoors, your time there will FLY by. I would at a minimum visit, during the week, it would probably be paid for by your corp., and help you make a better decision - good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, SLC is fine especially if you are a complete outsider. There are enough young, hipster types, and outdoorsy types for you to find a pool. The LDS stuff really won't affect you at all. It's only when you are on the fringes of LDS through family or if the job is mostly with Mormons, where you might feel marginalized. Id' look at the job carefully from that point-of-view, but not SLC as a small-ish metro area. It gets claustrophobic if you are connected to the tribe (DH is pioneer stock) IMHO.

DH hates going back to SLC. I'm from the east coast, and I find it very relaxing, and would entertain moving there for a finite period of time, especially if I had an interesting job.

Sounds strange, but it is true. If you have no LDS connections, SLC is a fun city, especially if you think it will only be 2 years or so. Beautiful area, interesting people, and while not diverse compared to DC, it is diverse enough where you will probably be comfortable. Go for it!

[Anonymous]

Salt Lake City definitely has a "counter culture" or younger non-LDS group. It's more the "white, middle class, 2.5 kids, live in the suburbs" that aren't Mormon that have a harder time making connections.

That said, I still think SLC sucks. And I think where you make your connections often ends up being where you get stuck. What if you meet a significant other and his/her family is there? What if you get a really great new career offer there?

I personally wouldn't move somewhere I wasn't willing to stay long term, just because I know roots form quickly and in unexpected ways. But I don't think i'ts bad if you do, just know you might end up staying longer than you thought.

SLC is a really great city if you're outdoorsy/athletic. Lots of ways to make friends through that.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Then do it. As one poster mentioned, you may meet your future spouse there....not sure if you view that as good or bad, but there it is!

[Anonymous]

Op here again. I forgot to mention that I am not an outdoors person. I love sports, just not participating in them. Would that be an issue? I live in a hipster ish neighborhood now which I love! But honestly, I'd rather spend my time at a bar watching the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, SLC is fine especially if you are a complete outsider. There are enough young, hipster types, and outdoorsy types for you to find a pool. The LDS stuff really won't affect you at all. It's only when you are on the fringes of LDS through family or if the job is mostly with Mormons, where you might feel marginalized. Id' look at the job carefully from that point-of-view, but not SLC as a small-ish metro area. It gets claustrophobic if you are connected to the tribe (DH is pioneer stock) IMHO.

DH hates going back to SLC. I'm from the east coast, and I find it very relaxing, and would entertain moving there for a finite period of time, especially if I had an interesting job.

I have found that most cities in the west are more relaxing and fun than DC

[Anonymous]

Can you go visit for a weekend and see how comfortable you feel?

[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.

Two years flys by even if you don't like a city much. I'd give it a shot, maybe visit for a long weekend. Utah is very beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Mormons are very accepting of minorities...religious or otherwise, as long as you don't try to influence them. (They make great neighbors, too). My sister lives in Boise (similar culture to SLC), and has never had any problems as a Jew, even though she ran for political office as a democrat (she won the nomination)

My father ran in to problems when he ran for office in Boise, but he was running as GOP, and they are more insular.

[Anonymous]

You can do two years. I moved nearly two years ago to a city out West and still kind of hate both the city and my neighborhood, but it is an interesting experience, I've met some good people, and two years will fly by. I'm in my early 30s with a young kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was contacted by a recruiter for a well known IB firm for a role in a western city(SLC). While this is great news, I am a minority and I am concerned about fitting in there. I'd only be in the city for 2 years maximum because I plan on attending business school. I'm in my late 20s as well. What would you do in this situation? I'm tempted by the salary and career trajectory, but of course everyone is dissuading me due to the location.

goldman? Is the role back or middle office? I don't know any front office IBD roles in SLC with GS. Mostly GIR back and middle office roles.

Do you work in finance? I have a feeling you are swayed by the name - tell us more about the role.

I am a minority too - i would not move to slc to work for goldman back or middle office. A goldman front office job, probably.