My Background:

BS in Finance
MBA in Finance (not top tier, elite)

Little over 2 years Corporate Finance/Analytics
Industry: Large Food Manufacturer (Current position) and Fortune 500 CPG company (3 months contract)

I absolutely hate living in Illinois for numerous reasons (democrats, weather, taxes, politics, home values, property tax) and want to move to Dallas-Fort Worth Area, TX as soon as possible.

I have been shooting my resume out for about a month now. Not many people will take me on since I am out of state. One large alcohol manufacturer flew me out and currently am in the final rounds of possible being made a job offer, however, in the last stages, they let me know I will have to travel at least 25%, which I do not wish to do.

I have enough money to survive on for at least a year unemployed...obviously I would not want to be unemployed for nearly that long.

I am relatively young (going on 25) and I have a nice size goose egg I inherited (say...60k+).

Would I be committing Career Suicide by quitting my finance job and going to Dallas unemployed?

I am working with a recruiter who actually calls me back and finds job potentials.

I am not qualified to give you great advice, but in my experience finding a job when you don't have one is always harder the few times I've had to do it. Certainly not career suicide, but probably not the best idea imo.

Whats wrong with traveling a little, just hate flying?

just start sending out resumes with a DFW address and 214 area code?

Dallas actually votes blue.

Come on down, we need more red votes!

Not sure on finance, but Dallas, Houston, Austin are 3 of the most booming employment cities in the nation.

Dallas County might not, but Tarrant County definitely votes the way OP wants. As does Collin, Denton, Rockwall, Ellis, etc etc

Denton was rated #1 housing investment market by Forbes very recently. Area is much nicer than Dallas. A bit of a commute tho if you work in Dal.

**** no. You aren't happy with your current trajectory (I don't blame you) and you're looking at ways to make a change.

You're missing some information though, what are your long term goals?

Also, realize there a bit of a contradiction in your post, you're worried about your long term EV but willing to take a big chance of spending all your money moving without a job (because you don't like traveling 25% of the time).

As someone who has made cross country moves a lot (the most recent being from Manhattan to Argentina) I would guess there is something deeper bothering you than the politics, taxes and weather. Do you enjoy the corporate grind?

You spent the time/money to go to an elite MBA program but don't want to travel 25% of the time? I imagine that severely limits the jobs that would utilize your elite MBA. Like I said I think there's conflicts in your decision making (something I've experienced as well). Think about what you really want out of life, what's the end goal here?

Starting a family and don't like flying that much anyways.

Already started this. About a month ago. Got 1 big company to fly me in, job just turned out to be different than advertised (not sure I got offer anyways)

Sorry, NON Elite MBA program... End goal is to work in Texas and leave this state they call Illinois.

2 years experience as an analyst AND an MBA is hard to do. You are going to be in that group of under experience and over qualified for a lot of positions. I made that mistake as well so I understand. Best thing to do is be an entrepreneur while working for a company. Thats hard to do but its the best thing.

Moving with no job is ok. You want to move, do it.

Dont want to travel 25%? That might be hard. Traveling is part of the game and 25% is not a lot.

You say you have money for a year but does that include family? I dont know if you have a family or want a family but does your wife/gf work? Insurance options if you dont work? Can you get unemployment? Severance pay? I would factor all that in. Remember that buying a house in TX or renting without a current job might be very hard to do.

I live in Dallas (Suburb anyway) and it is ok, but if you aren't tied to anything in Dallas I would think Austin would be a cooler place to live? College town and lots of live music. Probably more liberal there though.

I was under the impression that Texas economy is doing a lot better than IL economy.

Unless there is something specific to the industry or to Dallas area, it's not going to be the end of the world.

Taking a 2 week vacation to scout out the atmosphere, network, and interview would be a decent plan, IMO. It will give you a better idea where you stand if you decide to make the move.

i wouldn't say it's career suicide at all but i think you're being a little too picky. you want to move ~immediately to a specific place, don't want to get a job where you travel, all while starting a family.

i think it's borderline irresponsible to move without a set plan if your wife is pregnant or likely will be very soon. you've got a year of expenses put away but it's going to be stressful having a kid on the way looking for a job while your money is dwindling.

if it were me i would keep trying to look for jobs while living out of state for at least another few months. if you can't find something with your specifications then you might reevaluate -- both whether it makes sense to just move now and look full time, and whether your job expectations are realistic.

Why don't you take the job "temporarily". This would get you in the area and then you could try to find a job that better fits your wants.

Fiancee. No kids for a few years. Want to plant the seed in Dallas first. I forgot about Renting without income history....hmmm

Family is in Dallas.

Have been there already to scout it out.

Won't be pregnanted for at least 3 years. She just became an RN as it is. So she needs to be down there to get into a new grad program (or have any hope to).

I won't do that to the company, my own personal morals.

I am now considering temp/contract to hire employment to keep me a float.

"Not many people will take me on since I am out of state."

This doesn't make much sense to me, since you're ready and willing to relocate.

If you are really hearing this, I'm guessing it's just an excuse for some other reason. Are you being too picky about the types of jobs you are applying for? Are you getting phone interviews?

From what I have been told and read, some companies do not like dealing with out of staters because 1. Dallas has a great market of talent already and 2. They dont want to deal with the hassle. Hence, not getting the opportunity.

I am being slightly picky with what industry I go into, which I may expand shortly. I enjoyed what I do but have to make sacrifices.

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Just go for it, you are already being offered jobs, just not your ideal job. If you move down there and still cannot find an ideal job within 3 months or so, then I'd say you just need to accept one of these non-ideal jobs until you can find something better. It doesn't sound like you are going to have trouble making ends meet.

Obvious solution is to take the job offer with travel and look for another job once you're down there. Companies don't have morals, not sure why you would either. If you find a better deal you take it. If they cared much about people quitting they would give you a buyout clause like they do in coaching.

Yes this, it's not your move that's going to cause your financial hardship it's your inflexibility. You're prioritizing not working for a company temporarily over your family's finances, but also not making any compromises on when you move.

I think the Dallas companies not wanting to hire out of state is bull****, just go through the interview process (I imagine most of the companies you're looking at are going to have phone interviews) and buy a plane ticket down to the interview if you get past that stage and feel it meets your qualifications. You never have to even mention it until you're in your interview at which point you can even just say you're basically already there (also true). If you take away the challenging parts they will have no objections.

You also won't have any trouble renting a decent 1-2 bedroom apartment, they will just ask for bank records showing income and/or the ability to pay the entire lease without income.

Let's just be clear, risking your $60k nest egg for a luxury (moving when you feel like it to avoid a few hassles) is a down right irresponsible move and there's really no justification behind it. Just wait till you have a job you're comfortable with or consider temporary positions.

Think about it, if you're not able to overcome one minor objection (moving out of state) during the interview process there is no way you should be putting your life savings on the line based on your interviewing skills.

Thanks for the post.

1. The job has not been offered to me yet.

2. I have been applying to numerous companies and working with recruiters in TX while I am out of state. Recruiters call me and say you have IL current job but a TX address. Where are you? Some of them say its too hard to hire out of state when Dallas has qualified individuals already.

3. I have already taken phone interview and flown down there on companies buck.

4. Yeah ill have enough money to show income. Forgot about that.

5. The goose egg is not my life savings. I'm going on 25. I have other inherited assets as well, in an IRA and other stuff. The 60k I am referring to will be a house sale when I sell my place here. Apartment/Townhouse should cost ~1000 a month.

Keep in mind, my fiancee cant stay unemployed forever in order to get a position down there (just got her RN license), hence urgency to move.

Trust me, I am not comfortable using my money recklessly but at this point, I feel it will be the better option for the future.

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OP, how did you end up out of dallas anyway? where is your MBA from or at least what city was it in?

This very much. Besides you probably would not start travelling intensively for a couple months, time for them to bring you up to speed.

Im confused. End up in Dallas? I list my reasons on fp.

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Already stated they want candidate as soon as possible to fly out to meetings



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how did it end up that you aren't in dallas? just wanted to experience something different? did an MBA outside Texas and so that's where you stayed?