Whether your current employer is asking you to relocate to a different location to fill in a vacancy or you’re doing it on your own terms for career development, the thought of having to relocate can be very overwhelming for a lot of people.
It’s not just about looking for a new home in the city and settling down. In this article, we’ll be looking at some important questions you need to be asking before packing up.
Who’s Paying for the Relocation?
If your current employer wants you to relocate, chances are that they’ll offer you a relocation package to ease the burden of looking for a new home in a new city. This can include transportation and meal allowances, temporary accommodation while you and your spouse look for a permanent home as well as hiring a specialized employee relocation firm such as ARCrelocation.com.
This step is very important because even just scouting for a new location to live in is expensive. If you’re looking for a new job with a different company, be brave about asking if your potential employer would offer some sort of relocation package for you before you sign a contract.
What’s the Cost of Living in the New Area?
The costs of living in cities vary from one another. Just because you’ll be getting higher pay doesn’t mean that you’ll have more saved up at the end of the month. It would be much cheaper to live in Atlanta than in New York City.
You’ll need to do a lot of research on this. Find out what the state income taxes are (if applicable), cost of housing, groceries, and transportation. Will you be stuck in traffic for hours? Or will you be taking public transportation?
Make sure that what you’ll be earning can accommodate to the standard of living you want to achieve.
What’s the Corporate Culture Like?
If you’re willing to move to a new location for work, you better be happy there. Not all corporate cultures are the same. Some are very serious, while some are laid back. Is there more emphasis on teamwork or individualistic approaches to work?
These are important questions to ask. If you know that you can adapt well to different settings, kudos to you. However, if you’re not a chameleon, you may not reach the job satisfaction you were aiming for.
Will This Be Good for My Family?
Your family will always be a priority, especially if you have kids. Will your spouse be able to find a new job? Are there any good schools in the area? Is it a safe neighborhood where your children can grow up in?
These are all questions you can direct to a realtor in the particular neighborhood you’re after. If he or she doesn’t have the answers, they’ll know of people who’ve been in the area long enough to help you. If you’re not taking their word on the overall safety of the neighborhood, there are multiple ways to check the crime rates there.
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