Should I relocate to Dallas for my job? Been working in Boston for 5 months now

I've been working in Boston since I graduated last May doing strategy consulting. I've been in my firm's Boston office for about 5 months now and so far I'm loving it. The work-life balance is amazing and I love the people I work with. Now, I have the opportunity to relocate to my firm's Dallas offices.

I would really, really appreciate it if I could get a decent discussion on this going.. I don't have any bananas to give out but I know WSO can be a great breeding ground for good-willed commentary and discussions. I know it's a tedious read and am aware of the TL;DR phenomenon.. please make an exception for my case!

Given that this is a move that will be life-changing (literally), I could really use some advice right now. I've been speaking to a lot of people I trust in the office about this and I'm getting a wide variety of advice.. from people pushing me to go and others saying I shouldn't.

Please bear with me and the mountain of cliff notes.

Cliffs:

  • Am single and nothing's really tying me down to Boston
  • Family and friends are in Boston
  • Don't know anyone in Dallas
  • Visited last week, checked out real estate, loved it. Night and day difference from Boston apartments in terms of price and 'niceness'
  • Definitely could see myself living in Dallas
  • There was a bit of culture shock though, in terms of how different the people there are
  • I'm a bit worried about fitting in but I think I can manage it
  • Will receive a sizable bonus/incentive to relocate
  • Will be traveling a lot more if I move to Dallas; will be 100% travel
  • Will be able to save much more money (meals comped 4 days out of the week, lower cost of living in Dallas)
  • Am the only entry level analyst who's considering moving
  • I think I'll miss the people in my Boston office quite a bit (but I'll be staffed in Boston-based projects and work in the same offices from time-to-time, as if I've never even left in the first place, heh)
  • A lot of the senior leadership in my office seem to be pushing me to go
  • I think this is a great opportunity for me to differentiate my self from the other entry-levels
  • Possibility for me to get promoted quicker, given that I'm a top performer at the Dallas branch
  • Lose visibility from the other people in the Boston office, given that it's the headquarters
  • Only plan to stay there for 1 year, maybe 2 years, tops, if I go
  • I think I will be able to craft a decent story for business school essays out of this move

Should I go? What are some other things I should think about? Am I missing anything? I have until next Friday to decide.

Thanks in advance!

 

I'd move to Dallas in a hearbeat. Lower cost of living, lower taxes, Texas women are fucking gorgeous and you get to be/become a big fish in a small pond. Also, getting your meals comped is a huge bonus, that's a ton of money you're going to be saving. The only hitch in your plan is the travel - have you done 100% travel before? It's not easy, but manageable if you can balance everything out.

 

Yup, I looked at apartments in uptown. They were very nice, especially for their prices. I already have a car, so that's not a problem. I also love driving, so no problemo on that front either.

GentlemanJack, I have never done 100% travel before but I'm worried that it's going to kill my social life.. or maybe not. I'm sure at first I won't mind it, but after a couple months of it, I'm going to hate traveling so much. That seems to be the case for most people, at least.

 
Rana Clamitans:
GentlemanJack, I have never done 100% travel before but I'm worried that it's going to kill my social life.. or maybe not. I'm sure at first I won't mind it, but after a couple months of it, I'm going to hate traveling so much. That seems to be the case for most people, at least.

Not gonna lie, 100% travel is not easy. Its not so much about killing your social life as much as it is your personal time (which results in affecting the social life). For example, when I did 100% travel, every client wants you in their office Monday morning, 8AM, no other time. You're in DFW, they'e in bumfuck Washington. So now that means you have to cut into your Sunday to make two connecting flights to your rental car to the hotel where you check in at 11PM for an early morning start. Even if you can talk them into a 4/10 schedule (and some clients will refuse or some projects will have deadlines) you still have such limited time at home that all you end up doing is reading your mail, doing laundry and writing your expense report before you have to head to the airport again at 11AM on a Sunday . . . you might get one nice dinner out each weekend but that's about all you'll have time for. it's really only a schedule that can be kept up for short periods. If you last more than 1 year you'll have done better than most.

You're young and Dallas is a great city for a young person. So I don't mean to sound discouraging, I think you should still do it. Just do it with eyes open.

 

Seems like you've answered yourself with the way you are phrasing your questions... While I'm not a huge fan of Dallas, it definitely beats Boston (personal preference of course). It's a big enough city, with a solid crowd of 'young professionals', no state income tax, better weather (if you don't mind summer heat). You're young, and if this helps your internal trajectory at the firm, go for it... the extra $$ is icing on the cake.

Also - I hate the way people through around the term "100% travel" - if that's the case, you will not be home a single day of the year. I'm guessing you are referring to 4-5 days a week and home for the weekend, the majority of the time. Not a bad gig...

 

You should go, just from what you listed there it seems like a great career move for you. I've been living in Dallas for 4 years and I love it. While you aren't tied down, this is your time to make a change and move up in your career.

XX
 
Best Response
Rana Clamitans:
- A lot of the senior leadership in my office seem to be pushing me to go

Are you are on good terms with your bosses? Enough that you might be able to figure out why this is the case?

If they are doing cuts in the Boston office, management might be trying to save you. Or they might just think Dallas needs an analyst, and you fit the bill.

Regardless, if they strongly encourage your departure, I wouldn't dig my heels in.

As for the actual issue of living in Dallas: if you are traveling a lot, it won't matter. You won't be home anyways. And, if you are worried about the social aspect: consider that you don't know anybody when you are on the road either.

 

Well, apparently the head of my group was really disappointed because only two analysts volunteered to potentially move to Dallas. The other analyst dropped out, so I'm the only one remaining and they really want someone from the Boston office to move down to Dallas.

We're not doing cuts. We're actually expanding rapidly and hiring a lot of analysts and post-MBA consultants.

Thank you gents. I think I'm going to take the offer!

 

I took the offer!

I'm nervous, scared, and excited. 'Luckily,' my travel won't be too intense. I already know which projects I'm going to be staffed on and they're a 1.5 hour flight away, or I'll be staffed back in Boston from time to time (4-5 hour flight). So the travel hopefully won't be as bad.

I'm aiming to live in Uptown dallas. I currently pay $900 a month in Boston to live in an older apartment that isn't very nice. Do you think it's worth it for me to shell $1,200- $1,400 for a 1 BR in uptown Dallas, considering I won't be home 3 days out of the week?

 

Congratulations, I'm sure you'll continue doing well at the Dallas office.

Considering that i live in Boston and seeing how high the rent prices are here.$1,2-400 in for a place in uptown Dallas is certainly worth it. I did quick google search on the apartments and those apartments would easily by 2K here in Boston. So the $1,200 price is very good.

 

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