One of my new coworkers recently moved up to our project office in Portland from California. There he was a 1st year estimator in our corporate office. For newer employees, my company wants them to experience as many positions as they can to find the right fit. My coworker was given two options after his first year in corporate. Either he had to move to the estimating office in Kansas City, and perform basically the same job, or move to Portland and work as a field engineer on the project that I am on.
Each option held its own benefits and drawbacks: Kansas City, MO provided a position that would be the same as the one he held in the corporate office, but the pay would be similar and he would be far from friends and family. However, the Portland position offered a significant pay raise, but again, far from family and friends. While my coworker did enjoy the estimating department and his role in it, he ultimately decided to chose the Portland position.
I will aslo mention that he was living and working in the Bay Area, making roughly $60k a year. While this is a significant wage, it meant a fairly difficult living situation where he was. While the cost of living in Kansas City would be more agreeable to $60k a year, Portland offered a new opportunity in experience and in environment
