I’m a 26-year-old computer engineering graduate currently working in the defense/aerospace industry in Iowa. I landed this job right after graduation, thanks to a previous internship with the company, and I’ve been full-time for four months now. However, I’m locked into this position until June 2027 due to a sign-on bonus and relocation costs, which total $11,500 if I leave early. After a year in my role, that amount drops to $2,000, which is my target for leaving. Living in Iowa has been tough for me. I’m single, have no family or friends here anymore, and it’s really affecting my social and dating life. Every holiday and birthday feels lonely, and I’m struggling emotionally. I want to move to a place with more open-minded people and better opportunities, which is why I’m looking at states like Minnesota, Colorado, California, and Washington. My plan is to save money and build my portfolio until April next year, when I’ll start applying for jobs outside Iowa. In June, I’ll also consider internal opportunities within my company. Ideally, I want to secure a job offer before September, but if I can’t find anything by October, I might have to stay in Iowa for another year, which would be really disheartening. I’m reaching out to see if my plan makes sense and if there are any job search tips or insights into the competitiveness of entry-level engineering roles in the states I’m considering. I’m determined to leave Iowa and start fresh, as I believe any of these states would be a significant improvement for my quality of life.
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