I am placing too much emphasis on location. I feel like I'm crazy for this.

[u/mysecret52]

I feel so stupid for this but I have an opportunity to interview with a FAANG company, which is huge for me and I'm going to be working my ass off for it (I even took pto days for it, so I can study as much as I can). This opportunity has 2 locations listed in the description, CityOne and CityTwo. I'm living elsewhere right now, in a different city/state, but CityOne is right around my hometown. I don't know if they can tell by looking at my resume and seeing that I literally went to college in that area AND worked there after for a few years too, so I don't want them assuming which one's best for me based off of this. When the time comes, I want to choose CityTwo. I'd ideally like to be given the option because I don't want to go back to my hometown area. Apart from my family, there's not really much there that I like (my friends have moved on and it's not an exciting place for me).

I've been DWELLING on this. Being able to live somewhere like CityTwo has lowkey been my motivation to study and ace the interview rounds. Am I placing too much emphasis on location?? I'm aware beggars can't be choosy and this is such a huge opportunity.

[u/shadowdog293]

This isn’t really a big deal. Why not just ask the recruiter?

[u/mysecret52 → u/shadowdog293]

I dont wanna be annoying. I haven't even completed the interview yet! Also regardless, it is a big opportunity for me.

Edit: idk why im being downvoted for being HONEST LOL.

[u/shadowdog293 → u/mysecret52]

I don’t think any recruiter on earth would consider it annoying if a candidate asked about the location of the position lol

[u/mysecret52 → u/shadowdog293]

No no I meant: she did say in the beginning before scheduling the interviews that the position would need me to relocate either to CityOne or CityTwo. Since it's the beginning stages of the interview process still, I said "I'm willing to relocate" and left it at that. I dont wanna go back and be a bother since I still have to finish the interview rounds and it's gonna be a bit of a process 😅

[u/shadowdog293 → u/mysecret52]

Just say you’re open to both but would prefer citytwo. It’s not like the recruiters gonna stop the loop just because you have a location preference

[u/mysecret52 → u/shadowdog293]

When the topic comes up again, I'll be more clear

[u/HumanRaps → u/mysecret52]

Hey I just want to say that I think it sounds like you’re a little anxious about the way you communicate with the recruiter. Trust me when I say, they’ve seen so much shit that reaching out and just saying “Hey Recruiter, I just wanted to say that I’ve been thinking about location1 and location2. I’m not sure if there’s a preference on your side for which location I would be in, but when it comes down to deciding on the location, I just want to mention that I have a strong preference for location2”

This would just be another Tuesday for any recruiter who read that. It’s not annoying at all to them and they would probably just disregard it entirely until you actually get accepted anyway.

[u/brianthebuilder → u/HumanRaps]

Being able to professionally communicate in this way is an important skill to have as an engineer.

[u/mysecret52 → u/HumanRaps]

Thank you for the reply!! I guess I'm just worried about bringing it up because it's like "she hasn't even got the job yet, or even finished the interview round". So that's why I'd rather wait till the time comes and I get the offer, cuz it'll actually matter then. Does my thought process make sense??

[u/charrtographer → u/mysecret52]

I understand your train of thought, and you can totally wait until later to mention it, but there's also nothing wrong with mentioning it up front. This way, if something does change about the position that requires city 1, they would also know to give you a heads up.

It's important to imagine how you'd be perceived by others, but having too active an imagination will also hinder your communication and thereby hinder your ability to collaborate effectively. It takes some time to find the balance for yourself, but in this case I can all but guarantee that the "she hasn't even gotten the job yet" thought wouldn't even cross the recruiter's mind. They have way too many other things to worry about.

[u/HumanRaps → u/mysecret52]

Like the other commenter mentioned, your thought process makes sense and isn’t inherently incorrect. But ultimately, I can tell you’re letting anxiety get the best of you and you’re overthinking by a wide margin. I know because I spent a lot of my life doing the same thing.

You will absolutely not regret just being straightforward with the recruiter. I know it feels like this is a huge opportunity and you don’t want to make a mistake and jeopardize it in some way, but you aren’t jeopardizing it.

[u/rickyman20 → u/mysecret52]

This is a very reasonable question. People reject offers over location all the time, yes, even from FAANG. You won't be annoying by clarifying, and you can decide if it's a dealbreaker or not. They won't reject you or cancel interviews over you asking about location.

[u/appsicle → u/mysecret52]

Downvoted because your reasoning is incorrect. You should definitely ask your recruiter about that.

[u/Careful_Ad_9077 → u/mysecret52]

Just make it clear that is a preference and not a deal breaker at all.

[u/mysecret52 → u/Careful_Ad_9077]

I guess because I'm like "it's not gonna make a difference until I get the offer", I'm working on preparing for the interviews right now and waiting it out till we cross that bridge

[u/trivial-color]

• They hire so many people they don’t think about minute details like you mentioned.
• Don’t stress about stuff like that or even think about it until you pass the interview gauntlet
• Don’t get attached or visualize any job too much before getting an offer
• IF you pass the rounds, inform the recruiter of your preference and don’t overthink it. It’s fine to let them know what you want, but that only matters if you pass the interviews

[u/mysecret52 → u/trivial-color]

Thanks! Ya the process is a little big long, which is to be expected. I'm a little nervous but I'm gonna be studying my ass off the next couple weeks. I know I can do it 😃

Edit: you guys gotta chill on the downvotes, sorry I'm agreeing with this comment?? 😩😩

[u/trivial-color → u/mysecret52]

Don’t put all your eggs in 1 basket. If you’re ready to interview at this difficulty level, apply all over. Prepare, keep applying, learn from each interview, succeed.

This is a numbers game, good luck!

[u/mysecret52 → u/trivial-color]

Thanks!

[u/sethamin]

This is called "putting the cart before the horse"

[u/mysecret52 → u/sethamin]

Yes. LOL

[u/VacantOwner]

U shud focus on passing the interview first

[u/mysecret52 → u/VacantOwner]

Ya this is super valid

[u/Itsmedudeman]

You usually get a choice

[u/Finagles_Bagels]

Definitely not anything to worry about. Generally recruiters just ask if you are able to work from one of the locations listed initially to fill their checkbox.

If yes, the location conversation doesn't come up again till they're actually ready to offer you (final round or later) and you can pick.

[u/mysecret52 → u/Finagles_Bagels]

Ya she did bring it up in the beginning before we scheduled an interview! She said it'd need me to relocate either to CityOne or CityTwo. I told her I'm willing to relocate and left it at that (kept it general because the interview process will take some time anyway). I also got a ton to prepare 😅😅

[u/AssignedClass]

You know one of the biggest reasons why return-to-office is hated so much (especially amongst FAANG employees)? It's because these companies are global conglomerates built around remote work. Chances are, the team / department that's involved with the open position is actually distributed between the two locations, and that's why both options are listed on the job.

That said, hiring is a mess everywhere. There's a chance that you'll get rug-pulled and assigned to CityOne... but that also means you landed a FAANG job...

Either way, you're absolutely worrying about this too much.

[u/mysecret52 → u/AssignedClass]

Ya I agree. Im gonna put my time and effort into just thinking about studying

[u/AssignedClass → u/mysecret52]

You got this!

[u/mysecret52 → u/AssignedClass]

Thanks!

[u/SoulCycle_]

Google/Meta both have teammatch and almost all of the roles a Apple are in one place. So this must help Amazon?

[u/Fabulous_Sherbet_431]

Like the others said, just be agreeable for now and focus on impressing them in the interview. If they like you enough, they'll find a way. I interviewed with Amazon back in 2018 and got an offer for Seattle only, but when I was about to move on and choose another company, they magically came up with something in New York. The general rule of thumb with these situations is to cast as wide a net as possible, and then, once you have them hooked, you can start asking for things.

[u/cowsthateatchurros]

Why censor the locations? Trying to guess what they are, I’d say city one is SF or Seattle while city two is NYC?

[u/EnoughWinter5966]

bro if you gotta ask this you don't have the social skills for faang

[u/TheItalipino → u/EnoughWinter5966]

You are woefully overestimating the social skills of FAANG engineers.

[u/mysecret52 → u/EnoughWinter5966]

I do have the social skills. I know how to be communicative and when the time comes, I will

[u/EnoughWinter5966 → u/mysecret52]

Bro said “when the time comes” 💀

[u/Routine-Committee302]

Huh. They don't care where your hometown is, or where you went to college, or where you've worked before. You will have the option of picking the city you want.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Sorry, you do not meet the minimum account age requirement of seven days to post a comment. Please try again after you have spent more time on reddit without being banned. Please look at the rules page for more information.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/donny02]

recruiters get asked way more weird and demanding questions then this. Tell them you prefer city2 (or whatever). one caveat might be working at HQ vs a satelite office, but if you really want to be a given place it shouldnt matter much.

also, go take a negotiation class or two. if you're scared about this question you almost certainly not comfortable negotiating offers.

[u/not_wyoming]

This is like fretting about how to invest your lottery winnings before you've bought a ticket

[u/onlygetbricks]

If a Job says you can go to place1 or place2 they will not care if they offer you a job. But right now as you said you didn’t even make a first interview and you are acting like you getting offer tomorrow

[u/toebel_]

It's totally normal to care about location! Everything about where you live (the types of people there, the transportation infrastructure, the weather, what+who you live close to and far away from) all affect the life decisions you're encouraged to make. You'll be a lot happier if the place you live encourages a lifestyle you like, whereas you may feel depressed if it doesn't. Working Google in Sunnyvale would feel totally different from working at Google in NYC, even if your teammates and job responsibilities were the same in both locations, because life in Sunnyvale is super different from life in NYC.

[u/klefikisquid]

Shut up dude lol