Would you leave everyone you know for a "better" opportunity?

do it yo

whats your other offer ?

Go for it, many do not get such opportunity. Your friends will always be there.

NYC will always have opportunities, better to take the chance at something different and have a great time at it and then take that experience back to NYC if you do return.

nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I recently had to make a very similar decision. I chose to take the offer. Worst case scenario, you gain some great experience, save some money, and try to get back to NYC.

Yes, do it if it's the best career option. I moved from the east coast (where I grew up, went to school, all my friends lived there) to California for my first job out of college and it was a blast, career-wise and personally. You can always move back.

Thanks to all for the great advice/perspective!

To get more specific, @"chronk" @"thebrofessor" the regional opportunity is equity research at a MM vs. Moody's in downtown NYC. The MM opportunity would be working as the only associate for a REIT analyst there and it sounds more dynamic. I don't want to pass up the opportunity, but at the same time it's not easy to leave everyone and go there without knowing a soul when I have another, although less exciting, offer in NYC.

Moving sucks but you should do it.

Take the offer. Your friends/family will still be there. Another exploding offer/opportunity may never happen again. If you don't, you may look back and wonder "what if" and that just sucks.

Yea, go with the offer. Moodys' is worse than "less interesting" work.

I was speaking with a junior from Moodys a few weeks ago. It sounded like 9-5 work and a very stable hierarchy (ie low opportunity to move up), applying a lot of cookie cutter templates. The junior was eager to get out.

Your MM option sounds much better.

My roommate works at Moody's, he absolutely HATES IT. He transferred from consulting to Moody's, he said Moody's promised him the moon, but the work was boring and under compensated.

Thanks for the advice everybody - sorry for not updating sooner, but I took the regional MM offer yesterday afternoon and hoping for the best :)

The regional MM is actually not that far from NYC by train and someone suggested that I speak to the analyst before accepting and see if I could work out of the NYC office on Fridays once in a while when things are less busy, and then stay there for the weekend. I was told that it might not work out with HR (still need to see) but the analyst was very understanding and he wouldn't mind at all if I left early on Fridays here and there for a longer weekend when there's not much happening in the office.

Seems like a really nice guy and I'm looking forward to starting in the next few weeks. Thanks again to all for the advice!

Train ride: Boston, Philly, DC? This is just advice as an old man and dad (young kids though), but learn to live where you're working, you can establish a life somewhere else and still come back if you want in a few years. Unless it's some weird city where you don't want to hang out on the weekends but most train rides within distance of NYC are pretty cool towns. Best of luck and congrats.

All right, I think you want someone to say "don't leave NYC". So will I say do not leave NYC, just stay in your comfort zone and miss all the opportunities.

do it.

Harden the f up:

The hard reality is your friends may be moving on as well, seeking job opportunities, starting their own careers. So if you turn down what could be an amazing start to your career only to find your friends leaving to pursue theirs you'll regret it big time. Take the job, stay in touch with the friends as much as you can and make a ton of new ones in NYC.

You've already made your decision. But as they say, what's wrong with stepping outside your comfort zone while you're young? Right now is better since you have far less responsibilities compared to when you're older.

Take the job you're more interested in. Moving fosters a ton of growth, and while there can be homesickness and downsides, chances are that you'll adapt quickly and build new relationships anywhere you go. Don't fear change or failure.

Do it, you can always move back to NYC and maybe even visit every once in a while.

I actually am leaving everyone and everything I've known for the opportunity to work in banking now. It's a personal choice. No one can make it for you. But many people do it.

Do it. You'll thank yourself later on.

It's a personnal choice. It's a good thing that you asked for advices but in the end you will be the one relocating hence don't let other chose for you. Put things in perspective and see what's best from your point of view, right now and in 2, 5, 10, 40 years.

I was faced with a similar situation and decided to take the less glamorous job in NYC because friends and family are very important to me. It worked out for me and I'm glad I made the decision I did, but I would recommend going with the more dynamic job elsewhere from a career perspective.