10 Things You Should Consider Before Relocating For A Job

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Relocating for a job is one of the hardest decisions anyone can make. Given the harsh economic times we live in, it’s hard to turn down an opportunity to work in a new location you may not have even visited before. Before you make this life-changing decision, here are 10 things you should consider.

1. Your family and personal relationships

Whenever you get a job outside your current area, you should consider how the move will affect your immediate family and your personal relationships. While it might be easier for single people to relocate to a new area, the same can’t be said about someone married.

There are a number of issues you should consider if you’re married and have kids. These issues range from your spouse’s career, to the education of your children. It could be all the more problematic if your spouse has a great career at your current location. You will have to sit down and look at the pros and cons of the new job opportunity, and whether the new area will be suitable for raising your family.

2. The company’s location

While landing a new job is definitely a great thing, you must do your own background check of the place you’ll be relocating to. It’s not advisable to check the area’s official website, because you will only find positive things there. You can dig a bit deeper on the web to find more objective facts about the area. This information will help you make a conscious decision as to whether or not the area will be comfortable for you and your family.

3. The financial shape of the company

Before accepting the job invitation and deciding to relocate, you should do a background check on the company and ask for more information regarding the new employer’s structure and performance. If the company is just starting up or is experiencing financial constraints, this should raise a red flag. You don’t want to relocate from your current job and home, only to end up unemployed in a strange place after a couple of months.

4. The company culture

During your final interview, you should ask your interviewer to let you speak with some of the people working for the company. The best way to find out more about the company’s culture and how it treats its employees is by speaking directly to someone who works there. Consider it a red flag if they deny you access to existing staff. The last thing you want is to start working in a place you won’t be comfortable in.

5. Your new cost of living

The pay you will receive may be significantly higher than your current salary, but before you accept the job you should consider the cost of living in your new location. While the pay might be higher, the city that you are relocating to might be more expensive than where you’re currently living.

Do thorough research on the rent and other expenses you will be incurring on a monthly basis. This will give you a rough estimate of your money’s worth, and how much more you will be saving every month. If you find it runs into the negative, you can either decide to negotiate better pay, stick to your current job or, if you don’t have one, start freelancing.

6. Traffic and commuting

Travel is a significant factor, especially when you’re calculating the month-to-month expenses you will be incurring. Areas that are closer to the city tend to have high rental costs, as opposed to those located far from it. Though you might have found a cheaper and more comfortable place to stay a little further out, the distance and amount of traffic from your new home to work will be important when calculating your daily fuel expenses or commuting costs.

Furthermore, traffic can significantly affect the time it takes to get to and from work. People who work in high-traffic cities are used to waking up early and getting home late. It’s important to know the travel trends in your new city to truly understand what you’re letting yourself in for.

7. Your moving expenses and logistics

Moving expenses and logistics are an important factor when relocating. Moving expenses will generally be high no matter where you’ll be moving to. You should ask if the new company will be willing to compensate you for this. If not, you will have to make some form of financial sacrifice on your part. However, most companies usually have a benefit package for new employees, meaning you will be able to recover some of your expenses over time.

When it comes to logistics, you should make sure you pack everything as early as possible to avoid a last-minute rush. You should also compare the prices and offerings of different movers in your area to find the best quality and service. On moving day, you should only be concentrating on enjoying the ride rather than the complex logistics.

8. The challenges you might face in your new location

It would also be a good idea to interact with other people living in the area you want to relocate to. Google and social media sites have made it easier for you to find people living in different parts of the world. You are more likely to be given an honest review of the area’s challenges and benefits from a relative stranger than a representative of your new company.

You can also search out other people in the city who work in a similar position, but for different companies. You can use their advice to make a final decision on whether you will be relocating or not. If you decide on the former, you will at least know roughly what to expect.

9. Visiting the place beforehand

It’s important you get a feel of the place you will be calling home before you up sticks. If you didn’t get the opportunity to visit the area during your interview, you should make a point of visiting to get a feel for the environment. That way, you can find out about the culture of the place first-hand, your direct expenses and how comfortable you’ll be there. Of course, this might be difficult if you’re relocating to a job in a different country.

10. Do you really like the job?

The other nine issues on this list revolve around the people close to you and other logistical considerations that are important for you to weigh up. But before you proceed to planning your relocation to the new area, you should ask yourself whether you really like your new job. You should also think seriously about your career and family, and whether this decision will push your life forward or impact it negatively.

Conclusion

Relocating to a new place for a job opportunity is a monumental decision. It might be exciting to experience a new culture and make new friends, but it can be quite overwhelming to leave everything you know behind. Before you make the decision, always make sure you’ve considered all aspects involved. At the end of the day, everything you choose in life should enable you to build a better future for you and your family.

Do you have more tips about what people should consider when relocating for a job? Share them in the comments section below!

Publicado 6 noviembre, 2017

NickGolding

Entrepreneur & Creator

Nick is the Entrepreneur Correspondent for Freelancer.com. He is based in Sydney, NYC, & London. His life consists of frequent flyer points.

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