I've received an offer to be the CEO of a mid-sized company - as I negotiate my acceptance, how much time should I give to relocate?

18 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 20,2023 at 4:38PM UTC

   I think it depends on how well you know the area you're moving to and how fast houses sell in your area. The housing market tends to slow down in December and early January and pick back up at the end of January.

   Depending on your support system in your area (friends/family etc), you might consider seeing if there is a way for your daughter to finish out the rest of the school year where you currently are (assuming that her year ends in May/June). That would give you time to figure out what school district you want her in (assuming school starts back up in August) and not annoy her by moving her in the middle of the school year away from her friends.

   If you have someone that can take care of your daughter, you could offer to go to the office for a week or so each month and work remotely the rest of the time. Any time you take a trip to be in the office, you could be scouting neighborhoods and figure out which areas you like in the school districts you like for your daughter. If you don't have someone that can take care of your daughter, obviously this is a bit more difficult to do.

   I'm not sure if this helps, but hopefully it gives a bit of food for thought on another option during negotiations. Good luck and congratulations on the job offer! :)

2. AnonymousDecember 20,2023 at 4:45PM UTC

   Will they be providing you with any sort of relocation package? Even better if relo assistance? Will you be able to start and then relocate by X date?

3. Barb HansenDecember 20,2023 at 4:48PM UTC

   I have negotiated a similar move a few years back (in the pre-covid times) and my time line was 5 to 6 months. I had to wait until the school year ended, and find housing (similar to your list of items).

   I also wanted time to figure out where I wanted to live in this new city and I wanted a few months to acclimatize to the new area.

   I started working remotely and spent time at the new office, so the move wasn't a factor for the company, but it was a factor for me and my family.

   All that being said, three months doesn't seem an unreasonable ask AND if you can give yourself some wiggle room in official move date so if an issue occurs.

4. AnonymousDecember 21,2023 at 2:29PM UTC

   Ask for temp living ie. short term rental to be paid by the company and sometimes, they own houses or corporate apartments that they can put you in. Go ahead and do temp living and ask for trips home every month. I'd also negotiate how ever many months it takes to get your daughter through the end of the school year for them to pay for your move.

5. AnonymousDecember 22,2023 at 1:24PM UTC

   Sell your house?
   I would wait on doing that until you actually start and feel the job will stick, any chance you can rent it in the interim?

6. GirlBossanova934974December 22,2023 at 1:30PM UTC

   The first thing you need to do is to make a realistic assessment on how fast you can sell your current home. Mortgage rates have certainly come down in the last 2 months but they are still close to 7% for a 30 year mortgage. End of the year is NOT peak selling season. I would be asking for 4-6 months of temporary housing assistance at the new location. This will get you to the traditional Spring selling season for homes.

7. Terri Lee RoseDecember 22,2023 at 1:31PM UTC

   I asked for 6 months and they were happy to accommodate that request. I have two large dogs and rentals weren’t an option either. Good luck and congratulations!

8. D.Elizabeth NathanielDecember 22,2023 at 1:43PM UTC

   CEO job is lucrative , the amoluments and dislocation allowance may be in offer - so prompt you to join within less time .

   the house you have can be handed over to realtors to look for tenants . Do not sell the property in these days - some how adjust & reduce the expenditures- your assets will get you further confidence in your future endeavours

9. AnonymousDecember 22,2023 at 1:47PM UTC
   1. Yes, this is a reasonable ask for a CEO.
   2. I find it really difficult to believe that someone who's in the running for a CEO position at a mid-sized company is seriously looking for employment contract negotiation advice on the internet. I'm guessing this post is fake.
10. Kimberly AnneDecember 22,2023 at 1:58PM UTC

    Yup.

11. AnonymousDecember 22,2023 at 3:40PM UTC

    Not everyone has relocated before, so it may not be something this person has faced. It’s not outside the realm of possibility - even for people high up.

12. Ally MorganDecember 22,2023 at 3:41PM UTC

    Ha! That's actually a fair point.

13. Bosslady387823December 23,2023 at 10:30PM UTC

    My thoughts exactly!

14. Sarah VasquezDecember 22,2023 at 2:27PM UTC

    Typically you would start earlier and go back and forth as needed. You need to understand the companies needs and discuss this as part of acceptance.

15. AnonymousDecember 22,2023 at 4:15PM UTC

    To clarify is your question about when you need to be fully relocated on site or when you would start?
    Assuming the former and in the duration you’d start working remotely to get on-boarded and go back and forth, If not suggest making this arrangement. You’ll want to spend time in the community before relocating your family, purchasing a home etc. if you are able to work in language such as “within 6 months of start date you will relocate” better to have a further outdate to accommodate surprises with the intention of sooner. Additionally you will want any relocation funds for reimbursement to be more than just the one year given the current housing market ask for 18 months to 24 month window for reimbursement/utilization of relocation services (so if you need to do a rental before purchase you can access funds for the bigger move, real estate agent storage etc)

16. AnonymousDecember 23,2023 at 12:28AM UTC

    I'm a new social worker without a family, who moved to another state after accepting a first federal job with no relocation allotment. The opportunity was good, but looking back I made a lot of mistakes that took me a year to rectify, and I am still recovering:

    1. I did not research the city; the cost of living, available housing, climate, taxes, insurance costs, crime, resources. I had sticker shock at the very high costs of everything, and I had culture shock about how different everything was, even though it was a "next door" state.

    2. I didn't research my first landlady well enough. I ended up renting a very tiny bedroom, stuffed full of unwanted furniture, no room to stretch out or study, and a tiny bathroom for too much money. She refused to heat the house all winter (Colorado), with no explanation why, and it was miserable. She was very odd and had a snobby streak.

    3. I was not able to afford a one bedroom apartment anywhere, even in very dangerous run down areas. There are more people than available homes. I had my VA home loan, which no seller wanted to accept, until I found a run down messy 700 sq ft condo. I now live under loud scary drug addicts. I have a home now, and heat, but it needs work, and the drug addicts are a problem.

    3. I still have no friends after a year, no family here. It's very hard making friends when you are much older with no husband or kids in tow. I am lonely. I am trying to get out to see sites, do activities, but I am disabled from my military service, living in a very outdoor activity state.

    Do your research - a lot of research - because it's not just a job, but your personal life and your family's personal lives also.

17. rgstaffing@bellsouth.netDecember 23,2023 at 2:07PM UTC

    You need to ask them what their expectations are and possibly work remotely while you do all of this. That may be a deal breaker.

18. AnonymousDecember 24,2023 at 1:37AM UTC

    Thank you!