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I first became convinced that Silicon Valley or Boston would be better for my career and opportunities to secure funding for new applications of technology back
by mswen 11y ago
I first became convinced that Silicon Valley or Boston would be better for my career and opportunities to secure funding for new applications of technology back in 2000. And, yet precisely because of family roots and a rich social network and schools we never moved.
I worked for Boston firms for several years without moving there. I negotiated the remote work option and while it preserved my family goals ... when the recession of 2008 hit hard and jobs got eliminated mine was one of the first on the chopping block even though I was sitting on a consistent set of promotions and raises. I am convinced that distance and diminished face time with key executives meant that it was easier to choose my job as one to eliminate.
I made these decisions to stay where I was geographically for family reasons and my wife's career at the time wasn't particularly germane because she had already quit work to spend some years FT focused on raising our children. If she had been more actively building her own career and had a really great job that would have just reinforced the decision to stay-put.
I don't have any experience with Amazon as a workplace but I am sure you have read online discussions, news articles about their culture and asked around your circle. My own impression of Amazon would be that it would be a very risky thing to uproot your family to follow that job. At the very least I endorse your thought of spending 6 months to a full year to see whether it is a good fit prior to moving your family.
You and your wife also need a really honest heart-to-heart about her feelings about potentially giving up a "great gig" and the likelihood that she can find something comparable in Seattle.
Decision making under uncertainty is a hallmark of human life. Without knowing a lot more about your situation I can't really offer more than empathy.
- shouldimove 11y agoThanks for the reply mswen. The big potential deal breakers for me are my wife's career (she is pretty well settled in a FT gig at a major financial firm), potential of loosing out on upwards mobility in my current gig (my current boss has already started asking me if I am interested in a Director level manager role here) and the fact that I will not be able to spend more time with my family for at least an year if I do move. The only thing tugging me in the opposite direction is the opportunity to work in a high-tech company with massively complex problems that will probably not be easy to come around that easily. Although...everyone around me is telling me that if I was able to get through Amazon once, I will be able to get into Amazon or some other high tech firm in the future. So far, I am leaning towards not moving with the job. Amazon does have another office in the location I am in right now, so I might just refuse the Seattle offer and ask them if they can match me to some team in the local office. Lets see... Thanks again for the reply mswen.
- mswen 11y agoYou are welcome. The fact that you are seeing signs of upward mobility at your current gig along with your wife's career suggest even more that you should stay the course. In 5 years - after you have been a director for 3 or 4 years and growing in proven ability to manage there should be even more opportunities to transition to a tech company with the larger scale challenges. Though one issue with getting promoted is whether you can keep your technical edge even while adding the managerial skill-set. Take joy that you are faced with choosing the "best" path among multiple good paths. All the best to you and your family as you decide.
- shouldimove 11y agoThanks again mswen