Moving is a daunting prospect for just about anybody. You have to consider the process of moving, packing, unpacking, leaving friends and family, and adjusting to a new environment.
It is even more bothersome when your move is work-related, and you originally had no intentions of relocating beforehand. Now you are considering a move you never planned and asking yourself, should I move for a job?
Making the right judgment is often based on understanding the situation well. This brief write-up will postulate important questions and the much-needed answers to help you reach a well-informed decision.
Factors to Consider Before Relocating for a Job
The following factors are posted as questions. In this form, you can get answers to some burning questions and get ideas on how to make the most of your situation.
Are You Making More Money?
Apart from the fact that you may love your job, one primary reason you, and everyone else, work is to earn a living.
So, an important thing to examine is, are you making more money by relocating for a job? Does your potential new home have more opportunities to make money?
Still, on financial gain, will you be getting additional payment, like a relocation bonus or reimbursement for moving for the job?
Before making a final decision, you should check to see if you are getting a raise. Or if there is a high possibility of getting one soon.
Just in case you are wondering if you deserve to get a raise, here are some reasons for that:
- It is a new location
- The economic climate is different
- You are adhering to the company’s instruction
- You are contributing to their business advancement
- You are sacrificing a lot for their sake.
- It shows their level of commitment to you as their employee.
Are You Advancing Your Career?
Career advancement is a major reason most people move to work in another environment.
However, you need to consider if moving for that job is really going to help you get ahead. Does the new job allow you to learn more? Does it provide you with upward momentum?
Moving for career advancement can happen in two ways:
Promotion
The possibility of relocation being a means to promote an individual is often high. Promotion might be in the works for you if a higher position is vacant in the new place. Or if the location is a new installment of the business and there is a need for people with experience with the company to lead the new workforce.
Do a bit of research about the new location because your move might not start as a promotion, but there might be a possibility of one sooner than you expected.
Further Education
This new location may connect you to platforms for professional courses and advancement schools. It may even allow you to go for an additional degree or a higher one from a nearby institution.
You should also consider the learning possibilities. Like will the new position or place bring challenges that require you to grow professionally to overcome them? Or
could it be a learning curve that breaks the circle of present mediocrity?
With good organizational skills to make time for career advancement, moving to a new job can be very beneficial for your career.
Is The Destination Better or Worse Than Where You Live Now?
Living in an environment with unfavorable conditions can be horrifying, no matter how much money you stand to make. Therefore, it makes sense to consider some of the following factors before moving to a new place.
Weather Condition
The weather is easily something you would readily overlook, but it could significantly determine how early you resume work and how late you return home daily. Asides from that, you should also find out if the weather in your new location is a type of weather you enjoy.
Some places rain more than others while some do not experience all four seasons. If you’re being asked to move from Arizona to Boston for work, this would be quite a change in climate that you might not enjoy.
Food
Food is your fuel, and the importance of getting meals that suit your palate cannot be overemphasized. Find out if the new location has a suitable restaurant or if there are supermarkets you’re familiar with in the local area.
Another thing you should consider is how much it would cost to feed yourself and the impact it would have on your earnings.
Security and Crime
How effective is the police force in your new location? An online search of the crime rate of this new place would help you know how effective they are. Also, testimonials from people who have lived in this environment are a more authentic way to ascertain the truth.
Read up on forums in local neighborhoods and use city-data.com to find information about crime in your new location.
Cost of Living
Since wages are an essential component to consider before moving for a job, how the money would be spent should be considered.
The cost of living in a particular area determines how fast your income disappears. So it’s vital to find out if the cost of maintaining your current standard of living in the new location is more or less than the present area you are living in.
Accommodation
The housing market of the new place of employment has to be favorable to your present financial status. You should be able to afford a residence with your current financial capacity after paying residential movers to help with the move.
Social Life and Religion
How is the social scene? Are there a lot of interesting bars and clubs in the area? If you’re young and single you would want a much different environment than someone who is older with a family.
Consider looking into churches in your new destination. Are there churches in your denomination and how available are they in proximity to where you plan to live?
Will the Move Impact Your Family?
How your moving would affect existing relationships is one major reason to ponder the question, “should I move for a job?”
How will this move affect your immediate and extended family? Also, consider your friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and work colleagues and how your absence will impact them.
The impact varies and depends on your relationship with each person. For example, if you go to your parent’s house every weekend, it is necessary to consider how moving farther away would affect them. Suppose you have family members dependent on you for shelter, financial help, emotional support, etc. There is a need to consider their future, too.
Finally, do your current business acquaintances require your physical presence to conduct transactions? Can you afford to lose them, or can you work out a mutually beneficial resolution?
Is Relocation Required?
To know if the relocation is entirely necessary, it is vital to have a sit down with the company administration. The outcome of this meeting will help inform your decision-making.
If the relocation is deemed very important, and your job is on the line, then it’s a no-brainer as it’s a matter of protecting your employment.
Another alternative is to see if your job can be done remotely. Remote work could substitute for relocation if your job can be done efficiently regardless of distance/location. It should be adopted as long as the company is accepting of it.
Final Thoughts
So, the question was— should I move for a job?
Most times finding the answers to a series of small, relatable questions can help you make that big decision. Finding your own unique answers to some of the questions asked above should help guide you through making the right decision for you.
If you decide to move, the Agoyu app, an online tool that can ease your relocation woes. You can use this free tool to find movers’ costs and relocation estimates. You can also use the app to compare the prices of different moving companies and get instant quotes from any company you choose.
The Agoyu app also aids your research by compiling a list of top moving and relocating services. So, you can be assured that if you decide to move, using Agoyu will make your relocation seamless.
