Relocating for Chevron might be the biggest mistake you could make in your career - even if they’re offering you a promotion. Think about it, you’d be uprooting your family and likely burning through a big chunk of your savings, all for a job that could vanish overnight. A promotion won’t save you from layoffs, and neither will moving. There are no guarantees here. I can’t even wrap my head around why anyone would consider this move right now.
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What’s the expat uplift for Bangalore ? Could live like a king there
Bangaluru seems nice, and you get to recruit and train all your friends replacements
Go to where the jobs are, and the cost of living is less. Hang in there for a few years, then plan your next move. No locations and companies are safe these days. Layoffs happen everywhere.
Move to Houston to punch your card and then jump on the expat train!
I am thinking that the OP is the type who will be cut and will not be offered the choice to stay or move or anything else. Just a hunch. Buh-bye OP. Nice reading your worthless post.
Everyone I know in San Ramon is looking forward to the lower cost of living. They will have larger homes, fancier cars, staff at home to help out, etc. It makes a huge difference in quality of life. Median home price in Danville is $2 million so plenty for a house in just about any part of great Houston, even some of the lower end stuff in River Oaks.
@aj+1jm7kd54b
Something to keep in mind is Chevron is no longer offering career growth for most employees. The intermediate plan is to offshore all support staff. Mike Worth has stated more than once, "Chevron needs to stop doing business with itself." Chevron is moving to a business model where all services are contracts. This is a better business model because the expenses are charged in the year the service is paid. Direct expense from the business operating revenue.
Therefore, the only employees in the US will be business production but a lot of production work can also be contracted out. The company wants contractors not employees.
@ay, the job market is better in SR than in Houston for petrotechs??
I completely agree OP. Moving for any company is not recommended because it is not guaranteed that you will have your job in the next 5-10 years. The company is not going to look out for you in any shape or form just because you uprooted yourself and family for them. They will slash your job without batting an eyelid if they want to keep their investors happy. Staying in San Ramon makes sense because you have lot of job options here as compared to Houston if you were to lose your job.
For a variety of reasons, you're not guaranteed a 20-year job if you transfer to Houston, and likely won't make it that long anyways (at least not with Chevron). Other than execs, few people would be able to afford to move back to Cali in, say, 5 or 10 years, so either you better hold on to that Cali house, or be prepared to become a naturalized Texan.
Most of this discussion is moot. @a8+1 is correct, only cronies and family members will be offered jobs (and moving costs) in Houston. Moving is very expensive to Chevron, every employee moved from SR to Houston means more people who have to be laid off to negate the cost.
I love California but I also totally embrace and enjoy the Houston, "Tex-Mex" culture and way of life, if you want to call it that. Maybe I just adapt well but I have had no problem moving to either of these areas and others. I think some people on here just like to complain. These are first world problems for sure. We are very well paid. Who doesn't love to travel and experience new cultures.
OP definitely projecting their own personal circumstances, but this is a case by case situation. If you lost money on a CVX move, you really had to mismanage something as the package is quite generous. I moved from CA to TX and the equity from my CA home freed up a ton of cash which have been put into investments that have performed well. My kids are in far better schools than they would have been. But, you have to manage your move wisely and Houston is not for everyone. Depending on your function, mobility may be an effective path to growth, but there are no guarantees. I absolutely miss the CA weather and certain aspects of recreational variety, but I would not change my decision if I could magically do so. I’m just one example though.
If you own a home, are single and have no aging parents or family members to take care of, this is terrible advice.
Chevron’s relocation benefits are super. You come out on top and actually make money in the process with housing. Additionally, if you’re being asked to move from San Ramon to Houston, it’s like more than a promotion in terms of your net take home pay.
@OP that’s bad advice. Chevron’s relocation benefits are generous. Also, if you are offered a position that requires relocation and decline, it would make you ineligible for severance benefits.
If this is anything like transformation I remember leadership telling us “now is not the time to look for promotion “ more about keeping your job or getting a job, apply for what gives you the best shot.
I have moved 7 times to different locations with CVX. All moving costs are covered and you get a moving bonus. Moving has a net positive impact financially.
Unmarried employees are in a good position and several stated their opinions about moving. I agree with them everyone’s situation is different and the OP statement of don’t move only applies to certain people.
I understand moving your family and uprooting them for a position in Houston will probably not be a long term job.
I would be very surprised if Chevron attempts to get people to relocate only to lay them off in 3 years.
Chevron is very strategic in their planning and I think they will not offer positions to most of the San Ramon folks.
I don't have a family and I live in an overpriced apartment in a lousy area, like many of my coworkers. What am I missing here. I like some moving every now and then. I'm always moving around.
Tell me how you are burning through a big chunk of your savings by relocating from San Ramon to Houston?
What if you’re a horizons employee with no working spouse? Is it really that crazy to move for a job that pays you pretty well?
Advising people to be without a job in this market is asinine
I dont think they will be offering anyone a promotion to stay. Chevron wants to get rid of people.