Considering a Move for a New Job? Things to Think About
Having a career that is meaningful is really important, considering the amount of our waking hours we spend working. Sometimes the best opportunities are not where you are, and the willingness to relocate somewhere else can help you land the most optimal job. This is an exciting prospect, but also a daunting one that needs careful consideration. Here are just a few things to chew on:
What is Driving You?
When it comes to making a big decision like relocating for a new job, you have to think what is driving you. Why do you want to do this? While dissatisfaction with our current professional life is a perfectly reasonable—and often primary—catalyst, you have to make sure negative beliefs and emotions are not the primary driver. When this is the case, you are more likely to be dissatisfied with your new job as well, no matter how different it is.
You want to feel like you are moving towards something better and wanted, not just like you are running away from something unwanted. Make sure this new opportunity is something that really resonates with you, and excites you.
Remember Nothing is Permanent
While we know nothing is permanent, what we feel when making big decisions, such as starting a new job in a strange place, is often very different. There is this sense what we do now will forever alter our course, with no way to go back. On one hand, this is kind of true. Every decision we make usually has a larger impact, but on the other hand, it is not this dramatic. Your current location is not going anywhere, and you can always come back. You might move to your new place, and end up getting another job somewhere else a few years down the line.
Very few decisions in life are permanent, and relocating for a new job is definitely not one of them. So, don’t project twenty years into the future, or even just five. Think about what is happening now, and whether this is a good move for you right now.
What Do You Think You’ll Gain?
The idea of moving somewhere new where you may not know anybody is understandably daunting. It is easy to let our fear get in the way of doing things that would be really good for us, and that we actually want to do on some level. Then there are times we make bold moves for the sake of making them, and there is really nothing to be gained from it.
When deciding whether to relocate for your career, carefully consider what you think you will gain from the experience to determine if it is the right move. Will this really enhance and enrich your life? Will it help you move up the ladder? Will it give you an opportunity to move into a new field that has always interested you?
This consideration is kind of tied to the first one about determining what is driving the decision. No matter what happens, you will probably learn a lot, and grow. But, if you are just doing it to ‘do it’, it will probably not turn out like you expect.
Logistical Considerations
Does your new job provide any sort of relocation assistance? If so, make sure you have all the information on that so you can take full advantage of resources, and know what needs to be taken care of on our own.
You need to start planning your move. Know that the best movers often get booked really early, especially during peak moving times. Don’t wait until the last minute to book lest you end up with less experienced, or less reliable companies.
What will you be doing about a home in your new location? Will you find some temporary housing and look for a permanent residence when you get there, or will you take a trip down before you are scheduled to start your job and house or apartment hunt in person? Don’t forget to carefully consider all these sorts of matters to ease the transition and minimize stress.
Careful consideration before you make a decision will help you proceed with confidence.
