Relocation… I thought I knew it all… until I relocated (again)

As part of the Talent Acquisition teams at, firstly, Lonza and latterly Roche, I had the privilege to work with hundreds of passionate and talented individuals who often needed to relocate for their new position.

Whether moving domestically within the country or cross continents to relocate to Switzerland, these processes were supported by best-in-class mobility teams – and facilitated by full relocation packages, which were designed to enable a smooth transition into the new location.

During these hiring processes, I would regularly check-in regarding relocation – as to gauge the individual’s moving needs, their personal requirements (based on their situation), and to discuss the details of the relocation package in depth.

At this stage, I could also offer advice where possible – as I too, had been in their shoes: relocating from London to Basel in 2017, I knew what the thought-process might be and so I could offer support, advice, and guidance as to assure that relocation, although stressful, would be eased by the support they would receive.

I now realise how na?ve I was.

Moving as a single person from one European country to another has its inevitable unknowns - however, when I moved, I was relatively unencumbered by possessions and family members.? This past October, I relocated again - this time in a completely different situation.

My husband received an opportunity to relocate to Boston with his employer. We were excited by this opportunity to live in the US, to explore a new home and to work in a biotech hub. Having moved internationally previously (and with the inside advantage of having worked with many individuals going through this process), we told ourselves that relocation would be “relatively easy”. Plus, we had the immense privilege of benefitting from a full relocation package – including the support of an expert mobility organisation.

The reality was that this process has been a huge learning-curve. And so, upon reflection, here are my takeaways, 3 months after relocating.

If you are considering relocating, or about to begin the process, my hope is that this may offer guidance and insight.

It gets busy very quickly…

When you commit to relocate there is a flurry or excitement and activity - most of which is administrative-focused. My advice therefore is to get all paperwork in order: birth certificates, marriage / divorce certificates, passports, degree certificates etc. – these will all be needed in their original form; you may also need to get translated or apostilled versions (especially if you need a visa or work permit application for your new location).

Multiple specialist vendors often manage relocation packages, so there will be several companies and points-of-contact to consult with - which can feel overwhelming. At this point, organisation is key - remembering that the providers are there to help and they have heard all the questions before (no matter how silly you might feel asking them).

…then it goes very quiet

Once you’ve been through the intense activity, prepare for a period of calm - especially if you are living somewhere with long notice period.

Your friends and family will be eager for news about your exciting adventure – matching (or sometimes exceeding) your own levels of excitement. However, the real activity may not start until work permits and visas are granted – so vendors may not (as an example) start securing temporary accommodation until these applications are formalised.

This tranquility is, therefore, totally normal - and presents a good opportunity to start researching neighbourhoods, schools, jobs and to organise your home for the next step: packing and removals.

Let the packing (and unpacking) commence

Colleagues who had experienced relocation advised me that this was a time of intense activity - and they were right! If you are fortunate to have packing and removal services it will be very busy: a number of people will come into your home and pack everything in front of them into boxes.

Make sure, therefore, that you sort out any item you want in the near term - these are professionals who work fast and will pack everything in sight. It is not their job to organise or decide whether something should not be packed unless you have designated it so.

?I heard stories from colleagues of full trashcans being packed and then unpacked 1000s of miles and months later! If you do have air shipment, take advantage of this, it’s likely that your temporary accommodation will be perfectly functional - but a taste of home or familiar comforts will make the real difference and help you settle.

For our 3-year-old, we found it particularly useful to pack toys and games - as well as being prepared for seasonal clothing, as we would be arriving when Boston was heading into winter.

Once your home is packed, I would recommend clearly marking the boxes (in the language of your destination country) for which room they are intended. We hadn’t done this consistently so when unpacking, we faced confusion and so belongings were placed and unpacked in the wrong rooms.

At the start it feels transitional

Temporary housing is a huge advantage - but it isn’t home.

Hopefully, you packed a few home comforts to help - but don’t be alarmed if you don’t feel settled during the first months. It takes time to feel established in your new location and the reality is you will feel like you have one foot in your new home and one in your old (both from an administrative and emotional perspective) for a significant matter of time.

This is the phase that we are in now and remain grateful for all the advice we have received: From where to buy groceries, to places to visit in New England, it’s key rely on the advice of your neighbours, colleagues, Facebook groups and the friendly people you meet on the bus. Their counsel makes all the difference to enable you to start feeling settled and ready to embrace your new life and location!

If you have relocated I would love to know your advice for the relocation process and getting settled. Do share your experiences!