Would Moving To A Smaller City Going To Hurt Your Career?
If you’re living in a major metro like NYC/SF/LA, do you think moving to a smaller city like San Diego or Denver would hurt your career? Assuming that you’d have to take a haircut on comp, lose your established big city network and an mature job market, etc. Or maybe I’m missing something?
Perhaps.
People typically only make such a move because they are explicitly advancing their career by taking a better role, or for family reasons, in which case the family reason is prioritized over career progression.
People typically don’t randomly move from LA to Huntsville, Alabama just because.
The benefit of being in a big city if you get laid off or want to leave theres more places to hop. I know someone that go let go from his role as VP of Acq in St. Louis. Was doing quite well but they just weren't buying. He wanted to stay because he had roots there but could not find anything and had to move.
Know many people in NYC rn looking with solid education and experience, there are very few jobs here and many applicants. Know at least 10 people who left the city or "went out on their own" due to where the job market is right now. At the end of the day it's about what you make and if you're building something. You can work at a firm in NYC, but in 5 years not see much progression in your career because there's no where to move up/grow since there are people above you. Also these well known firms undercut on pay and generally don't take care of their employees due to working at a name brand firm.
I mean... this is accurate insofar as "go where your best opportunity lies" is good advice. But I'm not sure that the commentary about working in NYC is accurate, at least not in comparison to working anywhere else. Plenty of places here have opportunities for growth, and I don't think there is anything intrinsic about working in Denver or Dallas that allows for more growth. NYC is just a bigger, broader pyramid - yes, more people are competing for the same spots, but there are more of them, so your chances of moving up the ladder are probably equal.
And you certainly have to provide some evidence that "well known firms undercut on pay." It's just as easy to say that smaller, more cash-strapped firms undercut on pay.
This is impossible to answer without more detail.
As a younger professional without a particular skillset or job lined up, yeah, moving to a smaller city will hurt. There are fewer job options, full stop. However, if you actually have a job lined up, or you have a particular skill or piece of knowledge that is a bit of a moat for you, then it can be a really good idea. You can make a fantastic amount of money in Denver or Kansas City or wherever, because there is less competition than there is in a major gateway city.
Cant predict the future, but I have always believed in 'creating your own luck.' Luck in real estate generally involves meeting the right person at the right time (ultra high net worth family interested in investing, fund manager who needs help and wants to hire you etc). It's a lot harder to get constant reps and exposure to very successful people when you live and operate in a secondary/tertiary city. Depends on what you want with your career, but if you are not very well connected in a secondary or tertiary market, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend the first half of your career there imo.
No but horrible grammar would :)
I work in Debt in Denver and can say confidently that you will not hurt your career moving here. Cannot opine on other smaller market cities but Denver has a good amount of transaction volume and a lot sponsors live in Denver / the mountains. From my experience, there are many sophisticated sponsors based in Denver and the major brokerages have good national clients as well.
You can build something in any decently sized city. Know many who have a NW of $20 to $100mm+ in secondary or tertiary markets that are quiet and the opposite of NYC. Very few people in CRE in NYC have heard of these guys yet they are worth more than 99% of anyone in working at major, name brand firms that like to look down on them. It's funny how some Associate/VP making $400k will look down on a principal coming from xyz tertiary market that built something saying how simple their business plan is and unsophisticated they are. I realized at the end of the day it's what you build yourself, sure great to be a VP in NYC at a major group looking at interesting and complex deals but at the end of the day you have 0 say and control over anything and the majority of time are spinning your wheels in models/decks for something that will go no where while this principal is out doing everything from numbers, tours, to relationships and has real power in his smaller community.
Hurt how? Yes you might make less money, but it also might be more from a spending power perspective depending on change in cost of living.
Real estate is a regional business, you can have a great career at a local developer. If your interest is more on the acquisitions side, then major metro will be better suited as a regional business is going to have less acquisition activity.
I moved from a T1 city to a T3 city to now a T2 city, and it was the best decision I could have made. I would prioritize the firm/culture/opportunity for growth more so than the relative national exposure of a city. If you have made a strong impact and are knowledgeable, you will be competitive anywhere.
After you get good experience, I don’t think it matters where you live if you are an investor / developer. A lot of work can be done remotely/virtually, and you can fly in if you have to.
The best situation is when you’ve developed a reputation that people seek your advice, and people tell other people to reach out to you.
Aut nostrum ducimus autem autem libero officiis quis eveniet. Eius quasi beatae illum eligendi qui est et. Omnis eaque et ad pariatur praesentium et. Libero recusandae ex blanditiis quaerat hic quo et. Perferendis ab eum dolor est ut.
Eum magni dolorem et eaque. Qui porro animi perspiciatis ad delectus in. Vitae veniam magni veniam et qui eum quod ea. Praesentium numquam in omnis. Iste ipsa quia id tempore maxime delectus quia.
Blanditiis cum enim porro ut. Qui a sed esse amet dolores. Culpa nisi ut et.
Aut inventore dicta recusandae natus consequuntur. Eius itaque illum nam ut. Vero earum non molestiae. Odit sequi accusamus eos id porro velit. Facilis officia et aliquam corrupti et quas iste cupiditate.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...