A note: While this is a common question for those recruiting for consulting, these tips should be relevant for anyone who has flexibility in their location after SOM. However, this is primarily focused on those looking to stay in the United States.
- Choose a place you want to live! This is an often-repeated phrase, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Recruiters simply want you to explain your choice and many can relate to choosing an office based on the desire to live in that city. Just make sure to back up your choice with well-researched reasons. Reasons can include specific things you enjoy about a city – like Boston having a strong food scene and easy access to both watersports and the mountains – or the process you took to reach your decision, showing that you considered other options before making your choice. My explanation revolved around wanting a larger city in the Northeast, but something quieter than New York, which led me to Boston.
- If you don’t have a place you want to live or are struggling to explain your reasoning, think about what makes a city desirable to you. It could be proximity to family, access to hobbies, the resources of a bigger city, or the ability to settle down in a small suburb. Think about places you’ve lived in the past and what you have – or have not – enjoyed about living there. The more meaningful and personal to you, the better.
- If you’re more concerned about the work portion of your work/life balance, think about your industry preferences or exit opportunities. If you know you’d like to specialize in an industry, find where those job are located. For example, you’re more likely to work in automotive if you’re in Michigan, oil and gas in Texas, or technology and entertainment in California. Alternatively, a bigger city like New York or Boston may be preferrable for access to a little bit of everything or for the availability of different roles a few years down the line.
- Don’t forget about taxes and cost of living. Larger companies often pay the same regardless of where in the US you choose to live. Therefore, consider states like Florida or Texas that do not charge state income tax. The difference in take home pay and quality of life can be significant with post-MBA salaries.
- If nothing else, go where you get traction. Many people build career paths around working with those who they get along with best. Early in your job search, feel free to cast a wide net to find those people who you connect with. This will help you narrow down your location choices and then you can work backwards to justify why that location would work well for you.
Bonus tip: Go visit before you move! While it may not be possible for everyone, if you get the opportunity to visit for a weekend, take it. It’s much easier to relate to a place once you’ve been there and a quick vacation can help get your partner on board as well.
