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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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 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%

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.

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

NOPE! Pass.

Anonymous wrote:See if you can negotiate not relocating.

Sounds like you’d be at clients 40-50% or the time and hybrid so at the HQ office the other 40-50% of the time.


I think it’s a farce to call any travel heavy job Hybrid.

Nope, sounds like an awful job to do with aging parents. They will probably insist you relocate later even if they agree to remote now.

Btw I always double what they say the travel percentage is in job descriptions and see if I’d still take it. So really 10% travel means 20%. 30-40% really means 60%.+

Are you really ok with a majority travel job and aging parents and having a real life? That sounds like more of the deal breaker for me.

OP, they are going to ask you in the initial interview if you would have a problem with relocation. You can either lie and say no (and then have to back track if you get an offer) or be truthful and tell them yes. It's not like the question won't arise until the offer stage.