Hello!
I am looking for some advice regarding my career/current job role and figured I would ask those experienced in the Parent Cafe. I’ve been working for 4-5 years at a Fortune 500 company. I’m stuck in a position where I want to move to another location but within the company for a couple of reasons- first, because I want to move closer to my parents and my girlfriend and second, because I have the opportunity to attend a graduate school part time and this school has a good reputation/program. There are a couple of issues though- my “contract” (not really a contract more like an agreement) says I can’t move from my current location until another 2-3 years and also my “reviews” are sub-par in my opinion. I feel like these two things may prevent me from moving. Any advice on how I should approach this situation?
bump.
If I were you, I would simply look for a new job in the location where you want to live.
With 4 - 5 years experience in a Fortune 500 company, it should be possible to find something.
Line up a job with a different company in the new location.
Then go to your current manager and tell him/her that you have this opportunity. Explain that you want to make a career with your current company but that you feel drawn to this other location for the very legitimate reasons you listed.
If your performance reviews haven’t been stellar in your current job but you’re still a good employee, your manager might agree that moving you to a new team could be a win for everyone.
Getting another job lined up first is key. If your current managers don’t feel that you’re a potentially great employee, they are not going to recommend you to their peers in the other city and you will have outed yourself as someone who is looking to get out.
The other obvious advice is to improve your performance in your current job so you have a better shot at getting transferred.
Make sure that the contract or agreement you signed is not a non-compete agreement. Fortune 500 companies love to enforce these agreements. Not because they can get a dime out of you but for the pleasure of making your life miserable.
Just a side note- my reviews have been decent, but definitely not top 10-20% of my overall group of 50-100 employees.