Maybe I just haven't met these engineers, but isn't the problem usually "I don't want to relocate" ? Who talks about relocating as if that's the primary motivation for a job?
Most people want to have a job set up before they move to a new city.
This is obvious for most people... generally a bad financial idea to move to a new city without a job. But, primarily taking a job just to move to a new city seems odd to me. I guess I just prioritize a job I want to work at over a city I live in.
Most people don't prioritize work over everything else. They move toward the life they want and try to find a job that supports it.
People move to be closer to friends and family or to be in a city they like more.
A lot of applicants requesting relocation were moving because their spouse got a job in the city and they had to move, too.
Meanwhile, if your spouse is moving for a job, it seems bizarre that a response on "why do you want to relocate" wouldn't just be some form of "my spouse got a job here, so I will be living here now".
That's no real passion to work for us buddy, byez.
tons of americans trying to get to europe
its pretty common if you head to places like reddit's r/cscareerquestions or r/itcareerquestions. lots of idealism and naiveté