The idea of moving to another country, or even just to a new city, can be daunting. Despite this a survey by ManpowerGroup Ltd, the largest recruitment agency in America, found that over a third of individuals would be willing to relocate anywhere in the world for a better career.
Are you one of those people? Have you seen your dream job advertised, only to find it is on the other side of the country, or even the world? Perhaps your current employer has a promotion opportunity which is the perfect fit for you, but you can’t commute to Germany…can you?
Moving for a job is a hot topic right now and job relocation has never been as easy following the seismic shift in flexible working practices introduced by many companies across the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, even if moving for a job is a more amenable option now than ever before, it still involves a huge upheaval to your life, especially if it means moving a long way from friends and relatives or asking your family to up sticks and move as well.
This guide will explore 4 key things you need to consider when trying to decide if moving for a job is the right thing for you. Some of them you need to work out for yourself, but for others the best option may be to enlist professional help from agencies like Life-Solvers who can help streamline some of the more complex aspects of job relocation.
Family and Friends
Your career is important, but if you are considering moving for a job, first and foremost you need to consider the impact it will have on your loved ones. Obviously, this will depend in large part on the distance you are moving. There is a huge difference between moving to a neighbouring city, where you can meet up with your friends regularly, and moving for a job that is a 12-hour flight away!
It is especially important to consider the impact a potential move might have on others around you if you would be taking a partner or children with you when you relocate. There are lots of questions to consider which must be discussed before making any rash decisions. These include:
Are there prospects for your partner to find fulfilling work or other great opportunities in this new location?
If you have children, how would moving now affect their education, relationships with friends and ability to carry out their hobbies?
How would moving affect your families’ relationships with extended family? Do your kids love spending time with grandparents more than they do with you? What impact would moving have on these relationships.
Are you a social butterfly who lives for evenings with close friends and fills your diary with a steady stream of events to attend? If so, how confident are you in your ability to build new relationships in a new area? Are there opportunities for socialising in your potential new home which match up with your needs? This could be particularly important to consider if you are moving from a vibrant and fast paced city to a more rural area.
Is it financially worth moving?
That salary at your new job opportunity may seem eye-watering in comparison to your current role, but it’s important to factor in the cost of living difference between your current home and the new location. It could be that the salary, while attractive on paper, would actually result in you having less purchasing power and a worse standard of living then you do currently.
For example, just within the United States, ”real purchasing power is 35 percent greater in Mississippi than it is in New York. In other words, by this measure, if you have $50,000 in after-tax income in Mississippi, you would need after-tax earnings of $67,500 in New York just to afford the same overall standard of living.”
The hidden cost of this variation can be even more extreme when moving between countries, and even harder to notice when comparing roles paid in different currencies.
Make sure you do your research and know your new compensation package will be enough to support the standard of living you expect.
There are some great tools out there to help you work this out, such as Nerdwallets cost of living calculator for the United States or Expatistan’s which allows you to compare cost of living in different cities globally.
There are also associated costs with moving to a new city or country for a job, the cost of packing materials, moving van rental or hiring professional movers, early exit fees for your current rental or mortgage, and temporary accommodation, the list is endless, and you could end up in a financial hole before you even set foot in your new workplace.
Be aware, however, that there are jobs that pay for your relocation! This is most likely if you are moving to take on a new role within an organisation you already work for. Relocation packages can often help to (or completely) cover moving costs, legal feels, travel costs and temporary accommodation costs. It’s certainly something to make sure you consult with your employer about as it could prevent you from finding yourself out of pocket.
Is the new location somewhere you want to live?
So you’ve been offered a new job in the UK, that’s great, who doesn’t love a cup of tea? But did you know that in England it rains on average 133 days a year? Every place has pros and cons, and everyone has personal preferences, only you know what yours are and you need to make sure that your expectations of your new home are in line with the reality.
When it comes to moving your entire life (including your family), our wholehearted recommendation is to try before you buy! First you could use online resources and forums to talk to other expats who have moved to the area that you are considering. There are often communities of expats in any desirable area who would be happy to give you the real story.
The best way to try a new city on for size is to visit it in person before you take the plunge and move there permanently. You can’t get a feel for how vibrant an art scene is, or how frustrating the rush hour traffic is, no matter how many google searches you do.
Try to visit the new area for at least a weekend, a week would be even better to get a feeling for the real commuter experience. Look at areas to live, leisure facilities and social hot spots. If you’re lucky and have found a job that will pay for relocation this kind of reconnaissance trip may even be covered in your relocation package.
Once you’ve got a feeling of what it’s like to walk down the streets, explore the cafés and mingle with the locals, you’ll have a much better idea if you want to live there.
What will it do for your career?
When looking at life changing decisions it is very important to take a long view, you must not only consider what it means for the next year but for the next 10 years.
This new job that you are moving for may be a great next step, but what do the opportunities look like going forward? Is there a clear ladder of progression within the company you are moving to? Or once you’ve got there and settled in are you going to find yourself stuck again and looking at the need to move once more?
Does the city you are moving to have a growing industry within your niche, giving you the opportunity to move between employers without having to move to a new city again? If you think at some point you may want to take on more training or education, are there opportunities and high-quality facilities for this in your prospective new home?
Building a fulfilling and rewarding career is not just about making one good move, it is about stringing a lifetime of them together.
In conclusion
When considering the impact of moving, the impact on your career is the last thing we think you should consider! When making such an important life decision as job relocation, remember it will affect every aspect of your life and unless you are happy and personally fulfilled in your new location, your job performance will suffer anyway.
The most important thing you can do when making a decision like this is to not rush. Make sure you do your research, not just around the cost of living and relocation costs, but look at the things you are enthusiastic about, your hobbies and interests. It takes time to work out if your prospective home will meet your (and your families) needs.
Moving to a new place, meeting new people and experiencing new things can be extremely rewarding but also challenging so another thing you can do is enlist help, opinions and advice from your friends, family and co-workers. You can also look at professional agencies who can help with aspects of job relocation like finding jobs that pay for relocation, help with visa or other legal requirements or help tailor your applications for jobs in different counties.
Happy job hunting and best of luck.