Job Relocation Tips
The idea of a job relocation can seem exciting, but also overwhelming. There are so many variables! How should we prepare to make a long-distance career move? Should we look for a new position before we’ve nailed down a place to live, or simply move and hope for the best? What if we’ve been offered a position at a higher salary, yet want to ensure that we can afford all the associated costs? Unless we’ve been incredibly lucky and have been offered upfront a dream job, a bonus, moving expenses, and a housing allowance, we might need some assistance with one or more of these issues. Let’s tackle them one at a time.
- You’ve determined your ideal location—now, what about work?
- Word of mouth. Asking around never hurts. Maybe friends, family, or alumni know of contacts in your desired area.
- Check LinkedIn, Indeed, and other sources for positions open in or near this city.
- Make sure your resume is up to date so you can send it immediately if you see a possibility.
- Interviewing/negotiation strategies—what can I ask for?
Where to start.
- Obviously, these will depend on the specifics of your position and the company’s policies, but if you are about to relocate a significant distance, it is not unreasonable to ask about: any relocation bonus/allowance, a temporary housing allowance, possible moving costs reimbursement (including any packing and/or storage expenses), and if there is a policy in place for reimbursement of any miscellaneous expenses associated with the relocation.
- Beyond direct reimbursement, it also might behoove you to ask, especially at a larger firm, if there is anyone who might be able to assist you with some ideas to make your transition go more smoothly.
- That will also be a nice way to get to know one or more of your fellow employees without trying to socialize in an obnoxiously pushy way the minute you onboard.
- You’ve received an offer—now, what about housing?
- Ask the hiring manager or recruiter for some leads.
- Word of mouth again—do friends, family, or alumni know of any contacts in your new locale who can offer advice on options?
- Real estate agents—they can help you buy or lease a new place.
- Can my higher salary really compensate for the higher cost of living in the new location?
- Here are some helpful cost of living calculators to compare cities to each other:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator
https://www.bankrate.com/calculators/savings/moving-cost-of-living-calculator.aspx
https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/
- You can obtain granular data on individual locations by ZIP code:
https://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/california/los_angeles/90067
- Zillow is a good place to research real estate listings and trends city by city.
https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
- Help, I’m stressed out! Relax and check out these moving guides:
- Moving dot com: https://www.moving.com/move-planner/job-relocation-checklist
- Mayflower dot com: https://www.mayflower.com/tips/moving-planner
- For international moves: https://www.movabroad.com/international-moving-checklist/
These tips should give you a good starting point in creating your own checklist to help with the tasks involved in a potential relocation. Therefore, while there is a lot of work involved, it may be worth it for the right opportunity.
If you need assistance getting your resume in great shape while you’re considering a career move, contact Resume Advisor today.