Comments on: Where the big jobs are

By: Mike, Naples FL

Mike, Naples FL — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:36:00 +0000

I relocated from the Gulf Coast to SW Florida 2 years ago. They paid for the move and I had to sell the house. I love my job, but am not a fan of the area. I’ve looked at moving, but the relocation packages offered by most companies are a joke.

By: milstandard185, maryland

milstandard185, maryland — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 05:12:04 +0000

Relocated from massachusetts to Maryland, 3 years ago. Totally hate the job, the area…it’s expensive, crime ridden, higer taxes than Mass.

Food, clothing are taxed. Job is awful, boring, horrible people, a truly bad experience all around.

By: Margaret, Philadelphia, PA

Margaret, Philadelphia, PA — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:48:19 +0000

Moved to Phila. from the NYC region about a decade ago – husband’s job choice led us here. We have yet to move up in our careers – the locals really don’t trust outsiders. So learn as much as you can about the local social norms BEFORE you move somwhere.

By: Nelson, Dallas, TX

Nelson, Dallas, TX — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:23:36 +0000

I believe it’s very difficult today to make that decision. If you are single, it could be a different story. There is no loyalty from both the employee and the employer today. No matter how good you are in your position, if it needs to be cut, it will be. If you see a good opportunity with another company you’ll take it. What ever decisions you make today you will have to live with the consequences tomorrow good or bad. I left one job for another and didn’t have to relocate. People think that the grass will be greener on the other side and it’s not the case in most situations. You have to really do your homework!

By: North, Kingston NY and Bangkok Thailand

North, Kingston NY and Bangkok Thailand — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:16:38 +0000

I run things and solve things and design things as an engineer with his own company for 30 years. Lately some of it is overseas as you would say, or “here” as i would say right now in asia. But “TAKE A JOB?” in the sense of fitting into someone elses corporate beehive? No wonder there is a ’shortage’ of skilled people, I would enjoy some new challenges and increased workload, but not in a beehive. contract me to assist or solve, but don’t contact me to “join”. I have staff with 40 years experience needing new work too, ready to “step in”, but not to be a small cog.

By: Peter T

Peter T — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:59:41 +0000

> 40% of these rest-of-the-world executives say that the proliferation of online job boards led them to actively explore opportunities abroad (…) That compares to just 7% of U.S. senior managers who say the same

Comparing moving over borders in Europe or North America can be misleading – in Europe, such a move might not involve a long distance, while the continental US alone is larger than the whole EU.

By: Jack - Detroit, MI

Jack - Detroit, MI — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:32:10 +0000

Moving is personal choice and a lot of factors play into the decision. Just rejected a VP job because my family did not want to move. Two kids one in HS and one in Middle School. Probably would have made another 30K a year but in the end you have to consider who you are working those long hours for…your kids. If they are not happy then you are wasting your time.

By: Kep, Denver CO

Kep, Denver CO — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:32:27 +0000

say there’s a shortage of people who can step in and run things.

What recruiters??? I have been “stepping in and run things” for 30+ years, yet am having a hard time finding those recruiters!

By: sammy, st.louis,MO

sammy, st.louis,MO — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:39:59 +0000

1. Hiring companies are not able to commit financially long term.
2. Falls promises are easier to spot
3. gaging company’s culture is difficult– in my case, sr.vp(knew me & my abilities well) hired me,1 year later in sr,management shake out he was gone,new management rooted out all connectd with this sr.vp in a classic office politics–made it very painful experience–Honesty of sr.management is good as man at the top–ie church is as good as pastor and his message

By: Liz, Boston, MA

Liz, Boston, MA — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:31:15 +0000

I just finished nursing school. Part of the reason I became a nurse was so I get out of expensive, unfriendly, clubby Boston. Many places (though not Boston) are looking for nurses. I’ve always wanted to live on the West Coast.

Unfortunately, my mother was diagnosed with cancer 3 weeks after I graduated. Between that and my father-in-law’s health problems, we’re stuck her until both of them die.

I wish I could move. At least I don’t have to worry about buying a house. As long as we live here, we’ll never be able to afford one.

By: Brandon W, Myrtle Beach, SC

Brandon W, Myrtle Beach, SC — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:34:16 +0000

Want to know why there’s a shortage?
Have you seen these postings? “Must have 10-15 years experience in blah blah blah”.
For the past 15 years GenX has been hitting their heads on a ceiling in the middle ranks, getting no where, and not getting the experience that will land them these jobs. Now, all the Boomers are retiring and no one “qualifies” to take their place.

By: Robyn Greenspan, Norwalk, CT

Robyn Greenspan, Norwalk, CT — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:34:08 +0000

I am enjoying all the rich commentary connected with Anne Fisher’s article, as these individual experiences help supplement ExecuNet’s research.

The “where the big jobs are” data comes from our annual executive market report, and, if you are interested, you can get the executive summary here:
http://www.execunet.com/marketreport

By: W. Johnson, Los Angeles, CA

W. Johnson, Los Angeles, CA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:52:11 +0000

It’s depressing to read some of these comments — definitely locating for a job that isn’t a “sure thing” in the long run (what is?) is always a risk, and the truth of the matter is that companies, even ones in industries that are experiencing growth at the moment, are flipping middle and upper management employees like crazy. I don’t know where they keep finding them — at my company we’ve managed to get a few good execs off recruiting marketplaces like Dayak (which are quickly becoming the standard for management hiring) but let’s face it, with the economy the way it is most start-ups need to prepare for failure, and the first person to get blamed for that is higher management. I see a lot of room for structural innovation here — one small company I know, for example, has a system where upper-management duties are split between a collective of middle and lower management employees. It distributes the responsibility, and the pay, a little more effectively. But this isn’t always possible. I think what is slowly being discovered is that management skills are far rarer than we once thought, and many industries are suffering due to this error.

By: Mike, Redwood City, CA

Mike, Redwood City, CA — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:51:23 +0000

My perception is that there is job growth for executives now, and most of it is occurring in turnarounds (whether or not they disclose this to the candidates). So, it’s good to assume that the company is a turnaround until they convince you otherwise. I haven’t ever relocated for a job, but I’d definitely relocate for the right job opportunity now: interesting work, higher income, and lower cost of living, the trifecta. Your current company is probably in more dire straits than you realize. If there’s a paid move and the new job pays better, then you really have little to lose. If the move is unpaid, then you need a signing bonus and a certain guaranteed ‘runway’ or paid time at the company. Also, try to avoid commission deals: stick to salary, cash payment. As the larger cities become steadily smoggier and more crowded, a move to a medium or small city with a short or walking commute would be very nice.

By: lysha, dallas, tx

lysha, dallas, tx — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:50:20 +0000

When I was in the business world, I was single and “fairly” young so relocating was no problem. I think that it is easier to “move up” when you are willing to move. So, I received a promotion and salary increase every time I moved.

Now, I am trying to relocate again, from Texas to either Orlando or Tampa, and the comments from several of the Florida residents are a little scary. However, this time my relocation is for family reasons. I do not intend to ask for any relocation assistance, and plan to take care of that on my own. My bigger concern is that I have been in the education field for awile (I am starting my tenth year with a school district), and I am finding that salaries are much lower in Florida. I know that I will have to take a pay cut, by so far have l been offered positions that are about 50% less than what I currently make.

By: NA, Chicago, IL

NA, Chicago, IL — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:47:57 +0000

We have relocated 4x – and would do it again for the right opportunity. There is a “cost” in terms of risk, beign near family and friends, etx. but for us the payoff has been worth it.

By: Mark Thomas, Chicago, Ill

Mark Thomas, Chicago, Ill — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:31:13 +0000

No matter how they are presented, the current crop of Senior Executive roles are typically short term engagements replete with morally or legally questionable first-order-of-business activities which the incumbent Executives wish to be performed by their unsuspecting new hire:
1. Executing mass layoffs of current and competent American workers in order to achieve mythical cost savings by shifting jobs to India or Manila, where they will be underperformed by a faceless cadre of high-attrition, low experience new hires with inflated resumes.
2. Executing pension liability asset shifting to decrease pension benefits for retired corporate rank-and-file employees while increasing the already exorbitant pension and benefit schemes of the Executive tier.
3. Onshore delivery of a single US role created by the recent failure of an attempt to off-shore five US jobs. Essentially, an unachievable 24 hr a day job that was previously performed by 5 US workers.
4. Replacement role at a fraction of the salary and benefits of a recently laid off US incumbent. Complete with smiling assurances about advancement opportunities and eventual back end rewards that you will never see because you too will be terminated long before your reach any reward anniversaries.

Given the current MBA playbook which regards US workers as easily replaceable ‘assets’ representing expendable costs simply to be ‘managed’, here are the rules for self preservation:
1. Insist upon a non-refundable hiring bonus, payable on day one of your employment.
2. Insist upon a 3 month ‘walk away’ clause to protect yourself against the trap of being handed a legally or morally questionable first-order-of-business task such as one of the three listed above.
3. Insist upon housing relocations costs, as these are the only costs which indicate an employers seriousness of commitment to you.
4. Recognize that no US corporation has any intention of retaining any US employees for more than 2 years, as they have been advised (at massive cost) by Accenture or McKinsey that all US operations can be performed in Asia for a fraction of the cost, with no loss of quality or timeliness.
5. Begin searching for your next job immediately upon landing in your new role, with an eye toward higher salary, greater perks, and more up-front bonus payout because the only way to work for a corporation these days is to be paid up front…promises of Long Term Corporate Culture or Advancement Opportunities are simply HR fiction.
6. Financially plan for long periods of unexpected unemployment when the layoff wheel pops up with your name, no matter the caliber of your achievements in any role.

And when you tire of working for people who operate like this, form your own company and finally achieve stability.

By: Bill, Phoenix AZ

Bill, Phoenix AZ — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:14:23 +0000

I was laid off from my job at an aerospace company in Phoenix, AZ. I moved to Fort Worth TX to work for a helicopter company and was not happy with the job or the state of Texas. I am now back in Phoenix, plan to stay here, and the only way I would move again is if it was a major promotion that couldn’t be passed up. Incidentally, I moved to Phoenix from the Florida pan handle after being laid off from a job there so I have made a few moves due to jobs.

By: Bob, Atlanta, Ga

Bob, Atlanta, Ga — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:45:09 +0000

If you have the competancies to work for a corporation and provide real value, you are much better off starting your own company. Today’s corporations are owned and operated by and for the super-rich, and the jobs being offered are not long term, not stable, and structured with back-end rewards that you will never receive because you will be terminated long before you reach those events. It is highly advisable to find a way to operate your own business, rather than be used and abused by the current crop of useless CEOs and their short-term mentalities which focus only on mythical income numbers totally at the expense of the lives of any employees foolish enough to trust these employers.

By: Irene, Sheridan WY

Irene, Sheridan WY — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:45:01 +0000

In 1979 my employer insisted that I pack up and move closer to the office because he did not like the fact that I commuted. Three months later this same employer telephoned me on Christmas Eve to tell me that the company was going out of business, closing its doors permanently. I never moved for a job again.