Would you move halfway across the country for work?

Just curious..........

What if it meant a huge step up in your career? What if you had a spouse and kids? What if you currently owned a home? What if all of your close friends/family were in the area you were leaving?

If you knew it was a 2-5 year thing and then you would likely move back, would it change your mind? What if there was a huge pay jump, and all moving expenses and housing losses were 100% covered?

 

At this point in my life, I couldn't do it. If I were a single guy, I would probably consider it just for the chance to experience a new area and meet new people. Money wouldn't be real high in my decision making. I would view it as a bonus.

 

For me, it would have to mean a huge pay raise. Enough to make it so my wife didnt have to work so she could become a stay at home mom. Currently, accessible family for child care is a huge burden off out backs since we both have to work.

 

For those saying income wouldn't matter, would doubling your income and the ability for your wife to stay at home play into the the decision at all?

 

No. I wouldn't consider it at all with the kids in the mix. If we didn't have kids, my wife would be very bored as a desperate housewife. Especially someplace new away from her friends and family.

Money has never been a big decision maker for me. I make enough to be comfortable, and thats good enough for me. I've turned down offers for higher paying jobs because they were located on the east side of the state (the sucky side where Germ lives). For me, where I live plays a big part in my happiness. Money just doesn't motivate me to live someplace where I, or my wife, wouldn't be happy.

It would go something like this. Where is the job? What would I be doing? How many hours a week? What kind of benefits? Yada, yada, yada, whats the compensation?

 

I've moved halfway around the world for my job and hauled the wife and kids along. If I knew in 2-5 years I'd be back, depending on what the wife thought of the house, I would probably rent it out knowing I had a place when I returned.

 

Long term, no. Short term... I could see it.

Doubling my pay would not make a difference, it still wouldn't be much

 

Doubling my pay wouldn't allow my wife to stay at home But then again, you're speaking hypothetically, so I suppose if kids weren't in the mix, I certainly would. My wife and I just had this conversation the other day. The ONLY thing keeping us in the area is family. If our families weren't here, we probably wouldn't live where we live.

 

There are a whole bunch of places I'd move to even if it meant less money. (and I'm making next to nothing now)

But I would not move to some place where I didn't want to live even if it meant 10x the money.

 

Pay raise, moving and housing costs covered and I get to leave IL? Put me on the next plane.

 

I would do it if it meant moving to an area that is desirable to me.

 

What if it meant moving to IL?

 

I moved from Tennessee to Indiana for a job. It was a transfer and the best thing for us. My wife couldnt find work anywhere in east Tennessee. My wife went 3 years out of work in Tennessee and had 3 job offers before we even moved to Indiana. Its all about your situation.. We were hangin on paycheck to paycheck in appalachia.. Its all about whether you fear change or not.. I wont say I didnt almost have a nervous breakdown because I did.. It was very stressful selling your home and posessions to move for a hopefully better life.

 

You can't them to move you back to northern PA, Matt?:D

 

yep in a heartbeat. no question

 

It depends on what's important to you. I wouldn't move. We like where we live. Near friends and family.

 

Not a chance....lol. Basically we are going into a model where we are looking at opening 6 regional offices in North America based on where our market potential is (think population, and technology user density). One of which would be Chicago. I'm running our midwest sales team now and am in Chicago almost once a month, but they would give me first shot at being a DM/GM of a new facility we may be opening in the Chicago area.

I hate the thought of downtown Chicago, but the suburbs to the west of it are pretty nice. I've spent a lot of time out there, and the setting is very similar to where we live now. The thought of doubling an already pretty good paycheck, and the ability for my wife to stay home as we start a family is really attractive. It would also fastrack my career and add some awesome experience to my resume. I would also end up doing a lot less overnight travel if I lived out there, right now I'm gone 1-2 weeks a month. If I lived there I wouldn't need to travel.

The drawback is the distance from family. I've been a 6 hour drive from family and was OK with it when I lived in southern, PA but but a plane ticket distance away is a bit overwhelming. The other thought is as we start a family, it would be nice to be closer to family, not further away. The good news is if we did it plane tickets are cheap from Chicago to Albany and it's only a bit over a 2 hour flight. This would also likely be a 2-5 year gig.........not something permanent.

 

Sounds good to me Matt! especially if it's a shorter term gig. It'll give you the chance to see if you like it or not, all before you have to worry about switching kids in school.

 

I'd cut off my own appendages before I willingly moved back to Chicagoland... but good luck with the move!