Treat the partner connection as a positive signal, not the entire office decision. One strong conversation can tell you something about the people, but it cannot represent every team, practice or staffing experience in that location.

Office choice should still reflect where you want to live, the work available there, language or authorization constraints, and the broader network you would be joining.

The relationship becomes more meaningful if the partner works in an area you genuinely want to explore and is likely to stay involved in your development. Even then, staffing may take you to other teams.

Use the conversation as one input and speak with at least one or two more people from the office before deciding. Compare the office as a whole, not just the best interaction you happened to have. See the guide to choosing between consulting offers.

One great partner chat is a good signal, but it is still n=1.