Should I relocate for job? 2

[peterso2]

thread731-270677

The previous thread was closed so it looks like I will have to post a new thread with a 'update' on where things are. Things have gotten slightly better since the last post. I have a question for everyone here though.

I decided to look for another job. Right now I am located in Illinois, and I got a offer for a job in Pennsylvania. I don't know anybody there, the job is in a field I like, the boss seems cool, but the area is pretty small, its about an hour from all the major cities (DC/Baltimore/Philly). The pay is also a 30% increase, which is pretty surprising, and 4 weeks of vacation is included. Company is also stable.

On the downside, it would also be very far from most friends and family, not within driving distance. Does anyone see any downsides in accepting it? I'm 27 years old and single. I'm nervous of a few things like not knowing anybody, scared I won't know the product at work (although there was a training program). My gut tells me to move and grow, but theres some nervousness still making me think to keep my current job and move out. It would be a huge career advancement..however I'm not chasing money.

Has anyone else been in this spot?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[MikeHalloran]

Go.
Add new friends to your inventory.
Keep the old too, with email, Facebook, etc.
With four weeks vacation you can see your family a couple times a year.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[hokie66]

Take the chance now, while you are young and single. Even if you were older and attached, sounds like a good thing. Pennsylvania to Illinois is not far, and an hour to the big smoke is nothing. Broaden your horizons.

 

[pmover]

what the heck have you got to loose?

address your own concerns and fears . . .

trust me, change is good.

grazing in other pastures, greener or otherwise, can be refreshing and therapeutic. just be sure there is plenty of fertilizer and water.

the distance is not that far, likely an easy day's drive . . .

good luck!
-pmover

 

[lacajun]

To me, it doesn't seem like that big a leap to make considering how gloomy your current existence is. Smaller areas can be a lot of fun, if you get involved.

The move will also get you out of your parents home and into an apartment, where other single people are. If you attend church, find a church in your new home. Heck, even if you don't attend church, start. There are some young singles that attend.

PA is a beautiful state with lots to explore. You'll be close to the Adirondacks, which is a gorgeous area. The Poconos are beautiful. Amish country. The Appalachians. The Laurel Highlands. The Atlantic. Boston. Wow, so much to do what are you waiting on???

There is a lot of history in that area to explore, too. Think of the possibilities of things you can do on your time off. And, don't spend all of your vacation time running home to see family and friends. Use some of it to explore the world.

Don't worry about a new product. You'll learn it quickly and easily enough. It's an adventure to be grabbed!

I've done that a few times and enjoyed it each time. It's not all been easy street but overall it's been very good. I've done and seen things I never could even dream of as a kid! I've also met some very dear people along the way, too. I wish I had done it sooner.

Good luck with your decision! Change can be unnerving but sometimes that's a good thing. It lets you know you're alive, which you seem to be questioning in your first post.

 

[MikeHalloran]

I almost forgot. You have to go to Scranton and spend some time in Steamtown USA before the treasures collected there rust away to nothing.

Pennsylvania has lots more engineering history, pretty much everywhere.




Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[tygerdawg]

Ditto all.
There is also some career benefit to broadening your view, cultural exposure, and giving your reputation a fresh start somewhere else. I am constantly frustrated & disappointed by folks who have never lived beyond the reach of their family & friends, and think that the universe orbits their particular address. It doesn't. Some of the closest, deepest relationships I have were established after I moved to new areas.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[jmw]

This isn't a life sentence and you don't have to learn a new language to go there, get a passport and a work permit or learn a new currency.
It isn't like, you know, Canada.
At your age you can afford to risk a year or two.

But, like everything else, life goes better with a set of objectives and a plan to achieve them.

If you want to quickly feel at home and you want some friends and a girl friend.

Getting out of the basement into a flat will be cool (which movie/TV series was that where the guy and his pals are in the basement on the phone boasting he's moved out and mum comes through to load the machines?).

First off, you will do your own shopping, and you should learn to cook proper meals rather than live off hamburgers and pizzas but leave your flat real tidy when you go shopping.

Going round the supermarket and being young and unattached is like wearing a neon sign.
Be careful in the fruit an veg section. All those ladies hovering there are not store detectives. Any sign of hesitancy and they'll pounce to help you with choosing your fruit and veg. So try to look hesitant only if you see someone you like.
Be very wary of the ones whose chat up line starts with a request for you to advise them.
Shop with a list and shop on a full stomach to avoid impulse buying.

And leave all the computer games in a box. If you are not careful you'll live like a hermit playing Nintendo and eating pizzas when you should be going out.

First off, learn the geography then find the live music venues, the good bars. Look in the local paper for events. You'd have to be Quasimodo not the make friends (and even he did alright with Esmeralda, though not such a happy ending and possibly a warning against picking up lady friends in church).
But avoid spending too much time in bars just for drinking.

For good mates, just spend some time in the hardware or auto parts stores (I guess you'll have an old car).
Clubs are good and adult education classes - pick something interesting and where it doesn't matter how well you do, it doesn't have to be relevant.
Plus you can acquire a sense of identity with your new abode if you learn something about its history. Visit the local museum and read local history guides. If nothing else, if gives you something to talk about when you do meet people.

Avoid solitary occupations such as jogging with your ears stopped up with Ipod music. Find some group sports such as football/baseball etc.

You don't need friends for life, a collection of acquaintances will do. (In fact real friends are often very few and far between, you don't need more than two or three). Acquaintances you can pick up and let go at will.

Above all plan to fill your spare time productively i.e. so it furthers one or other of your objectives.

Your working day will take care of itself. And, if you let it, your spare time as well so try not to be sucked in to arriving too early and staying too late. Its easy to go home when you've done your allotted hours if you have something planned.
You'll never get a 40 hour week but you have to avoid becoming a 24/7 work junky and as a new hire in a new town with no outside life that is a big risk.



JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[Latexman]

I've relocated 8 times in my 32 year career and I'm doing just fine. Go for it!

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[cancmm]

Relocated across the continent when I was 24 away from all my friends and family. Best move I ever made.

 

[looslib]

I used to live in Pennsylvania, it is really pretty place to live. Being on hour or so from those cities puts you in Amish country of Lancaster county or close by. This isn't as bad as it sounds. Lots of things to do and see on the weekends. A quick trip to Philly and you have a very active colleeg scene to meet people in. Baltimore and Washington are both wonderful to visit and explore.
I wish I had done some exploring and taken a chance on moving from home for a job when I was single. I was thinking of going to England in 1972 to look for a job, but decided to back to college instead. I do not regret any moment of our 38 years together to want to go back and change.
An hour flight from BWI and you are back in Chicago, if that is the part of Illinois you are from. Ok, 4 hours by the time you add the travel to the airport and checkin.
if the job is something that interests you, then go fo it. I have moved to 6 states for different jobs over the past 33 years and spent the longest time (11 years) in Pennsylvania, a little further west of where you are looking.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[peterso2]

Yesterday I was going to accept it, but then I couldn't get ahold of anyone, so I waited.
Then Last Night I talked myself out of it, and told myself I was going to call them today to decline it. Well they didn't answer
this morning, so I left a voicemail. Now I came back here and was thinking maybe I should accept it. At this point its boiling down
to not knowing a soul in the area and if things don't go well I'm in trouble, and the area, I come from Chicago Suburbs. Keeping in
Mind I won't know a single person, but maybe thats what I need? I know I can do it, I'm just worried. The alternative I have is I would
keep working in the same job but move out and live closer to work in an apartment. But the reality is I don't know many people in chicagoland
suburbs either so really maybe I should take it? The family distance factor, not knowing anyone, and the area are the only drawbacks. The area is shippensburg / Harrisburg PA.

Can someone help?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Sure. Don't use the word "decisive" on your resume.

Seriously, lots of people have already pointed out that the Wright brothers solved the distance problem, and that it's time for you to move out of your parents' basement.

You _need_ to go.


Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I'm roughly 20 miles from both D.C. and Baltimore... about right in the middle. If I have to travel in rush hour traffic, it could easily take me 2 hours to get into DC, nearly the same into Balto. Distance is relative.

The good news is, if you're single, there are a lot of prospects from a dating perspective being that close to major cities. It also gives you a wide choice of things to do while on a date, so you can only get bored with the person you're with, not the thing you're doing.

It's difficult to get out of your comfort zone, but you can still be a country bumpkin socially in a big city, if that's your choice. But having the extra options so close is really nice.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[lacajun]

That is a small area but Harrisburg is the capital. Carlisle is a nice town, too. There are lots of activities to do in the area. I have some friends there, who could probably help you integrate into the area. But, you'll have to buy a bicycle and ride it, if you don't already.

There are lots of good, solid, helpful people all over. I don't anticipate you getting into trouble but if you do, someone will be there to help. But, don't use that as a way to defeat yourself. Give it a good effort and work on new things slowly as you acclimate to the area. Don't build your expectations so high that you can easily become disappointed. Be realistic!

I love that area of PA!

Stop worrying! It won't change anything. Think about the good things that will come from a new adventure. There are way more things to explore in that area than ChiLand. Done both.

Get on the internet and research the areas. You may like what you find.

 

[looslib]

Shippensburg has only one major company using CATIA and they build road construction equipment. I worked there for 11 years and still have lots of friends there.
Contact me directly at looslib<at>usec.com if you want.



"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[looslib]

From Chambersburg, just south of Shippensburg, it would be 90 minutes to Washington or Baltimore and 2 hours to Philly.
Carlisle is very nice, a college town, with lots of young people.
If your job offer is from Volvo, then Harrisburg would be 45-60 minutes each way, depending on which part of Harrisburg you live in. DC is still 90 minutes, but Baltimore and Philly become 30 minutes or so closer. Not unusual to hit Camden Yards for a night game during the week, if you wanted to.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli