How much would it take for you to transfer with your current company to a new office 1200 miles away? I've been offered a 45 percent salary increase to do so but I just don't want to move my family from home. I'm thankful for the offer and know there is a lot of folks looking for work and almost feel like I should take the probably once in a lifetime offer.
I like to be happy, where I work, there were times I was not happy.
You've got to decide, if a bunch more more would make you happy....
or not.
It would have to be enough money to support two households and be able to retire in a few years so I can move back home. It would take a D9 dozer to move me. As for my wife, nothing short of dynamite would knock her loose.
30 years ago I would have jumped on it. 29 years ago I bought 38 acres of land. 25 years ago I got married. I am here for the long haul.
James
> How much would it take for you to transfer with your current company to a new office 1200 miles away? I've been offered a 45 percent salary increase to do so but I just don't want to move my family from home. I'm thankful for the offer and know there is a lot of folks looking for work and almost feel like I should take the probably once in a lifetime offer.
Depends greatly on the new location.
I hear there are tons of jobs in North Dakota. No offense but the transition from Texas to ND would be considerable. Also, a 45% increase might not buy you much more than you have now in housing. Heard they were leasing a spot for a trailer (not a mobile home I mean a trailer) for $900 per month. Just the spot to park the trailer, nothing else included.
Larry P
100k signing bonus. 150k annually (guaranteed for 5 years, minimum) +pay my house payment until the house is sold.
My niece and her husband are moving to Nigeria this month for two years.
He is a fairly recent M.E. grad with a masters from LSU and has been working for a large international oil support company in Houston for the last 2 years. Think blow out preventer valve..
Last year, they were in Europe for 6 months of work and play.
The company is buying all there stuff here. cars etc.. They are also paying all of their taxes for the next two years. They will be living in a luxory compaound in Lagos with a house with 2 servants (cook and maid) and a chauffer. 30 annual days of vacation.
It is nice to be young, I guess. Plus a very generous salary.
A bit over $2 million cash up front and a minimum $200,000 per year locked in for a minimum of six years.
It all depends on where you're going and for how much and how much they would/might be willing to help.
The answer falls upon you and no one else. [period]
Back when I was young and dumb and full of .. anyway, I tried to get transfered to Scotland [denied], then Australia [denied], then Hong Kong on a nasty project for at least 2 years .
I got offered lots of other jobs back then. My comparison to even think about it was simple: what is the cost of a gallon of milk? a loaf of bread? A six-pack of my favorite beverage? A pack of smokes? A tub of butter [proper butter if you can get it].
Those were my measures back then. Could they at least back up my current salary for such a change compared their local costs? Give up my house? Go find another house? [no apartments]. Local taxes... etc, etc, etc.....
For myself it would depend on the work itself before the financial consideration ... is it work that will keep me interested and challenged... also is the new location interesting and what does it have to offer. My Dad was an avionics contractor who travelled the world until his recent retirement. He maintained a home in Scotland but his real home was a hotel room ...that would be the life for me. A movie in front of my eyes constantly changing.
My first concern would be the long term prospects. If you think it might be a boom -bust cycle, I'd consider it carefully. But then, I doubt I'll be getting any better offers than what I have right now, so it's hard to judge.
Money should/would not be the deciding factor!
I am able to make a decent living and live 10 miles from Good Morning America's "Most beautiful place in America" (Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore) and 5 miles from Good Morning America's "America's Best Scoop of Ice Cream" (Moomer's).
Not saying this to brag, just saying:
Location-Location-Location not money.
Money shouldn't be the final factor but it does need to be considered. In my most recent move from Yuma, AZ to just south of San Francisco I got almost a 100% increase in pay but my rent is 4x as much and California sure loves to take a lot in taxes. So a 45% increase in pay may be meaningless. Here is a link to a great site:
Cost of Living Index
So with the increase in pay I would say it was a lateral move finacially, but man this area is wonderful. So location, location, location, as long as you can still pay the bills.
Brad Luken, LS
AZ, CA, NV & OR
Lagos
Robt, those kinds of incentives are surely what it takes to convince any prospective employee to make a move to Lagos. I applaud your niece and her husband for making that choice, and it's good that they are young and adventurous.
Nigeria in general, and Lagos in particular are not for the faint of heart. A luxury compound, OK, fine. The problem is what lies just outside the walls of same. Their driver will be essential. No sane American should ever get behind the wheel of an automobile (moto)in that city if they value their safety. The scene upon arrival at Murtala Muhammad airport alone will serve as fair warning, and something one never quite gets used to. "Maintain situational awareness at all times" are words to live by in that country.
That said, there are rewarding experiences to be had in Nigeria. I was lucky to work with some very capable Nigerian surveyors there, and two of them in particular were lifesavers, project-savers and problem-solvers of the first order.
For music lovers, a visit to King Sunny Ade's nightclub in Lagos is an amazing experience, especially if Sunny and the AfroBeats are on the bandstand. Get there at midnight and prepare to stay until dawn. Don't plan on going to work the next day. Avoid Nigerian beer, especially "Star" (Stah) its got formaldehyde in it.
Hopefully things are better in Lagos these days. Probably nothing at all to worry about 😉
I am within 10 years of retiring. There's not enough money in the world to get me out of LSU.
Thank you all for the input. The cost of living is too different. Still not sure what I'm going to do. There is no place like home!
Over the years I have found that no matter where I go there I am. You have to ask yourself why would you be relatively worth 45% more in a new place than at your current location. If you can't think of a good reason then I would question making the move.
Lagos
I agree. Lagos is not for the faint of heart. I was offered to transfer there about 15 years ago when I worked for a large oil service company. Would have to move the wife and 1 month child. It either take the job or the severance package. Took the two month severance package and that is how I ended up in the survey field.
My father spent 3+ years working in Nigeria on a 28 on/off rotation. It was not a nice place.
Currently I am working in Houston. My wife is in Oklahoma City, where she has been for the last 10 years. In the last 6 years I have worked in Wyoming, South Dakota, Oklahoma(3), Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas(7 times). Currently I go home about every month to 2 months for a few days.
One good thing is my daughter, 2 step-daughters, 5 grandchildren and 1 Great granddaughter are down here. I was at the hospital when my last grandson was born.
I will work just about anywhere. It would take a rather large bomb to move my wife.
B-)
> Thank you all for the input. The cost of living is too different. Still not sure what I'm going to do. There is no place like home!
Just by the your demeanor in your posts (which can always be misunderstood in cyberspace), it seems like deep down you don't want to move.
Lagos
A guy from the company I worked for traveled the world, and told me Lagos was the last place on earth he wanted to be sent. Conditions were unhealthy.
He once made the mistake in the airport of letting go of his bag, leaning it against his leg. Some guy snatched it and tried to run but not before our man also grabbed it. A policeman watched, and took charge of the dispute. He needed a bribe before he would agree whose bag it was. He probably split the bribe with the grabber.
