I like my job but location
Should I stay at a job I like for the experience, or leave because I hate the location?
I’ve been working in the semiconductor industry in Idaho for about five years since graduating college. This is my first job, so I don’t have any experience outside of this industry.
The difficult part is that I actually really like my job. I recently got promoted, I have a great manager and coworkers, and I genuinely enjoy the work I do. I also think getting experience with a new fab startup would be really valuable for my résumé and career.
The problem is… I really hate living in Idaho.
I’m not an outdoorsy person at all, and I grew up in a big city. I miss having more things to do, shopping, professional sports, and just having a larger-city environment. I also find the state very conservative, and I’m increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of raising a family here in the future.
So I feel stuck. My work situation is great, but my personal life and location are not.
I’ve been hoping to get startup experience with a new fab, but the schedule keeps getting pushed back. I don’t know how long I’ll actually have to wait, and I’m starting to question whether it’s worth staying just for that experience.
What would you do in my situation?
Would you stay another 1–2 years to get the fab startup experience and then use it to move to another company/location, or would you start looking for a new job now and prioritize getting out of Idaho?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people in semiconductors who have changed companies/locations early in their careers.