Work Location: Relocate Smarter With These Tips

Once you’ve lived somewhere for a while, you can get really attached to the unique elements of a home. Maybe you have a bakery that you have visited since you were a kid at the high school across the street. You often bump into friends and neighbors at the grocery store and stop to catch up. When you grow up somewhere, you get to know the area and grow to love not only the people but the place.

Then economies change and industries evolve. Roles are redistributed and leave your area. Now what?

You may want to consider a new work location. Branching out from where you grew up or have lived for a while can lead to new experiences and better financial opportunities. While

uprooting yourself and starting the job search again seems like a daunting task, the career benefits can be worthwhile if you are willing to look past your doorstep.

Considering a New Work Location

When considering relocation, there is a lot you want to reflect on. If for one reason or another you think it’s time to make that choice, there are a handful of things for you to consider.

The first thing is job availability. Where are the skill hubs of people who do what you want to do with your career? Cities have primary industries and this centralization creates a more stable job market.

Look at software engineers in Silicon Valley. Being one software engineer in Silicon Valley among many is much more stable and safe than living in a rural area with less demand for your specialty.

Over the last 25 years, the search for job stability has led more people with similar interests and jobs to concentrate in specific places. Consider this when identifying cities and areas where you may relocate during your job search.

Commute distance and time are also a factor in the relocation equation. To look more into commute times by city, use apps like Google Maps or Waze. You can choose a departure time and see exactly how long it might take to get from the hubs to the area you want to reside in.

Finally, consider what is important to you personally. For example, if you are interested in a specific kind of community or hobby, find a place that will support that. Some towns are known for their music venues for example or their museums.

Relocation isn’t a simple choice and will take a lot of consideration. Make sure to consider your financial, emotional, mental, and physical safety as you are job searching because this is an important decision. Compare and contrast potential cities, and make sure to find out where is really right for you based on your talents.

Read on for more ways to make your job search a success: Work location: What is your profession?