Sometimes you need to look outside of your immediate area for a new job. When this happens, it means you’ll need to move for your work. About 11.2% of Americans moved for their job last year.
There are a few things to consider when moving for a new position. This is a big decision that will change you and your family’s entire life.
Here are six questions to help you decide if moving for a new job is the right choice for you and your family.
1. Will You Bring Home More Money?
You need to ask yourself if this new position will bring you more money. This could mean a sizable bump in your salary. It could also mean that the money you make will go further because the new location has lower living expenses.
While life and career satisfaction isn’t all about money, no one ever complained about a raise.
If the new position comes with a significant raise, you aren’t done yet. Now you need to look at the cost of living in your new city. Does the bump in salary equate to the increased cost of living? Then you are relocating to be in the same place financially that you are in now.
Is moving across the country worth it if you aren’t putting yourself in a better financial position?
2. Will It Move Your Career Forward?
If advancing in your career is important to you, then this is something you will need to consider before accepting the position. It could be more money, but not an advance in your career prestige or responsibilities wise.
Look into the position’s duties and requirements. Are they a step up from your current position?
Next look into the city where the position is located. Is there an extensive network for your particular industry? If the city is a hotbed for your industry, this will give you plenty of more opportunities beyond this position.
It may not be worth taking a position in a new city if there is no chance for growth beyond this one position.
3. Will Your Life Improve?
Is there something about the new position that will improve your quality of life? This could be that it is in a city where the rest of your family lives.
Or maybe this new position will shorten your commute to a reasonable amount of time. It could be in a larger or smaller city to fit your preferred lifestyle.
This consideration is about your life outside of the job. It could be worth moving if the new position is in a climate that you would prefer. After all, this is your chance to move from snowy winters to tropical ones.
Take a look at your current lifestyle and consider if moving will address the things that you don’t like.
It is also important to consider how the move will affect the lives of your family members. If you have children, you need to consider the school system and what kind of education is available to them.
4. Will You Get out of a Rut?
Do you feel like you are on autopilot in life? You could go to your favorite restaurant with your eyed closed? Then the waiters there already know what you would order.
You attend networking events, but there is no one there to network with because you already know them all. Everywhere you go, it’s all the same, and it’s become boring.
It could be time to get a new hobby or friends. But it could also be time to really shake up things up and move to a whole new city. Relocating for work can be just what you need to bring excitement into your life again.
5. Can You Afford to Move?
Some companies will pay relocation expenses. Others expect you to pay for the move yourself. If the company that has offered you a position isn’t paying for the move, then you need to consider if you can even afford to accept the offer.
The first thing you need to do is conduct a relocation request for proposal. It only takes a few minutes, and it will help you get an idea as to how expensive it will be to move.
As a part of this, you will have to factor in that your salary may be the only one you have for a while. Your significant other will need some time to find a new job for themselves.
6. Do I Have a Backup Plan?
While you hope that everything will work, it is always smart to have a backup plan. There is a certain amount of risk when taking on a new job.
You take an even bigger risk uprooting your entire life to move to a new city for a job. There is a possibility that you do not like the company culture or the city itself.
You need to be able to create a backup plan. If you struggle to have a solid plan in place, you need to think hard about committing.
Things to Consider When Moving
These are just a few of the things to consider when moving. Relocating for a job is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly.
Start by thinking about how the new location and job will affect your life. Think about this change from different angle and perspectives such as financially, culturally, quality of life, and your family’s lives.
Check out our other business articles for more career advice.
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