What Should People Know When Relocating for Work?

Now that more companies are shifting from fully remote to hybrid models, job relocation is again prevalent. In this post, we dig into the key issues you should know before relocating for work, including how to prepare for your move, how to network and make friends when you arrive and more.?

By Brandi Fowler ?

It can feel exhilarating when a job offer comes through, but if it requires relocation, there are a few things you need to consider before leaping to a new city.?

How well the location will fit you, how the move will affect your spouse and children (if you have them), how much the relocation will advance your career, and moving costs are just a few.

“There’s an overwhelming amount of things that you're going to have to consider, and you should have it written down to keep track of each element,” said career coach Ryan Kahn .

I chatted with Kahn and career and executive coach Maggie Mistal to get a picture of everything you need to know when relocating for a job to make the transition easier.

Make Sure the Job Relocation Destination Will Work for You?

Moving to a new state or country and taking on a fresh opportunity can have its thrills. It can also come with unnecessary pitfalls if you don’t plan..?

Think about whether the job location will work for you before accepting the job offer.

“I think people often don't realize what they might be giving up in leaving the location,” Mistal said. “Then they regret taking the job, and their performance goes down. There's just so many negative things that can come out of that.

“Have a heart-to-heart within yourself and ask ‘what is it I'm looking to do here?’” Mistal said. “Is this something I really want or is it just I don't know what else to do? How does this new location fit your personality? How does this relocation fit your overall career strategy?”

If you have a spouse or children, whether the location is a good fit for your family, how your spouse’s job will be affected, where your children will go to daycare/school, and how the move will affect your family, should be considered.

Once you have those answers, determine whether a company will reimburse you for moving costs before completing the offer.?

When and How to Ask If an Employer Offers Relocation Assistance

Certain employers offer full relocation assistance and pay for moving costs and temporary corporate housing. The challenge is knowing when and how to ask whether they do and what they will cover.?

Kahn and Mistal suggested waiting until after receiving the offer to ask about relocation assistance.?

“Your number one goal in the front end of the interview process is just to get the offer,” Kahn said. “You want to eliminate any kind of deal-breakers, challenges, and negotiations as much as possible. You just want to get an offer because, at the end of the day, everything is negotiable, but on the front end of the process, we don't know how much they want us yet.

Post-offer, give yourself 24 hours to write down what you want to negotiate — including relocation assistance — and email them to the company.

“I think it is good to accept the offer over email or at least have it written down so you know your talking points for what you're going to ask for,” Kahn said.?

By sending your negotiation demands via email, you have everything in writing — a necessary step.

“I have had clients who verbally negotiated things,” Mistal said. “Then, when it came down months later to getting implemented, certain things were left out that were important to them. Unfortunately, because it wasn't in writing, it was a verbal offer [and] they weren't able to really get that money.”

The First Things You Should Do to Prepare for Relocation

Strategically prepare for your move after receiving an answer on relocation assistance.?

To kick things off, write a list of things you need to accomplish before your start date, and create a budget, Kahn said.?

“There are all these costs that are going to be associated,” Kahn said. “It is extremely expensive. So, you have to get an idea of your budget and costs.”?

Kahn suggested listing each possible expense out, such as packing supplies, movers, shipping costs, etc.?

Next, generate a list of appointments you might need to make after moving.

“Appointments could be anything from ‘Am I meeting with the team ahead of time? Do I need to get my kids set up in a daycare or do I need to set up my doctor's appointments,’” Kahn said.?

Afterward, focus on relationships and identify who can help with your move and transition to a new role.?

Kahn suggested building professional relationships before your start date with a couple of people at work who can be internal advocates for you.

“Meet with them ahead of time to talk about the job before you walk in on Day One,” Kahn said. “‘[Ask] what should I wear on the first day?’ Those types of things."

Next, pinpoint who you know in your new city and who can help with your move. Kahn suggested delegating tasks to friends and family members instead of telling them you need help.?

“The thing about people is that they want to help us, but they don't know how to help us,” Kahn said. “We need to give them a very clear action step of how they can help.

“So [you could say], ‘I really could use help since I'm moving into the city. I need to figure out what is going to be the best school for my kids to attend.’ Then you can ask them to start that? research for you.”

If you feel overwhelmed, Mistal suggested testing your relocation destination before moving there.

“Bite off little chunks at a time as opposed to something really big, '' Mistal said. “You could start with a small furnished place right in the new location and then maybe try to sell all your stuff and bring it slowly there. Keep two locations slowly and make [the move] over three to six months.”

Mistal also suggested finding a short-term furnished apartment with a month or two-month lease to allow more time to find the right neighborhood for you.

How to Network and Make Friends Quickly in a New City

Once you arrive in your new city, network and try to make friends. Move at your own pace and give yourself grace while doing so.?

Start before you arrive by asking friends and loved ones to connect you with people they know in town.?

Mistal suggested a “50 coffees” method to network and meet new people. To do it, create a challenge where you have coffee (virtual or in-person) with as many people as possible in your company, or those you’ve connected with on LinkedIn.?

“The 50 coffees idea is that you are 50 coffees away from achieving any goal,” Mistal said. “LinkedIn is fantastic for finding people in new locations. You just type in the location and you'll know anybody you're connected with up to three degrees of separation.”?

Relocating to a new city or country for work can be challenging, but is doable. Develop a strategy for your move, create a budget, and do some personal work to make sure the benefits of your new job opportunity outweigh the costs.

Top Takeaways

What should people know when relocating for work

• Wait until you receive a job offer to ask whether relocation assistance is offered.
• Make a list of everything you will need to accomplish during your move.?
• Budget your moving costs and expenses.
• Be specific when you ask friends and family for help with your move.