At some point in your life, there may come a time when you’re presented with a wonderful career opportunity – be it a great new job or a lucrative promotion within your current company.
The promising position, however, may happen to be in another city or state – and you may fret at the prospect of relocating.
Moving across the country for a job can appear risky and challenging – and it really is. You will need to step out of your comfort zone, uproot your family, leave loved ones behind, brave the unknown, and deal with the arduous moving process – and you may end up not liking the job at all.
On the other hand, though, relocating for work can help you advance in your career, improve your living standards, and build a better future for yourself and your family. You will have the chance to explore new places, try new experiences, gain new perspectives, meet new people, and make new friends.
While there are certainly downsides to moving for a job, the advantages are quite considerable as well. You need to look at both sides of the coin, so you can make the right choice for you.
Here is a list of the major pros and cons of moving for a job to help you make an informed decision about your career path.
Benefits of Relocating for a Job
Moving to another state for a job will introduce you to a new part of the country and to a new social circle. It will be a great adventure – and it will do you good in many ways:
1. Career advancement
If you’re considering a job in another city or state, then it must be a job that you like – a rewarding, high-paying job that fits your needs, interests, and ambitions.
Accepting the offer will allow you to do something you love and will help you develop your skills, enhance your experience, and build useful connections. You will have the chance to advance professionally and become an expert in your field.
Moving for a job can get you closer to your career goals – and provide you with job security and satisfaction.
2. Higher quality of life
Relocating to another state for a job can significantly improve your financial situation – and your standard of living:
Your salary may be higher;
You may earn more working in an equivalent position in another part of the country;
The cost of living in your new area may be lower – so you may end up with a larger disposal income even if your pay is the same;
The new position may offer various employee benefits;
Local tax laws in your new state might mean your money goes further.
Besides, your new city may have a number of merits that result in a higher quality of life – a good transportation system, vast educational resources, quality healthcare, rich cultural scenes, etc.
3. Personal growth
Moving cities for a job is an opportunity to start over and become a better version of yourself:
It’s just where you need to be.
Living in a new environment will allow you to try new experiences and pursue new opportunities. The change of scenery will break your routine and bring zest and excitement to your life;
No one in your new surroundings will know you, so you’ll be able to start with a clean slate, change the things you didn’t like in your old life, and become the person you want to be;
Braving the unknown and overcoming challenges without the safety net of friends and associates will make you stronger, more resilient, and more self-reliant;
Interacting with new people will expose you to different ways of thinking and different beliefs. It will teach you to respect different opinions and will make you more tolerant and more open-minded. Besides, it will greatly improve your communication skills and your social skills.
In a word, moving out of state for a job will broaden your horizons and will give you a new outlook on life. It will help you grow as a person and find your true self.
4. Larger social circle
When you move to another city for work, you will meet a lot of new people and will make many new connections – and possibly, some new friends too.
You will have new neighbors and new colleagues, will become a part of a new community, will join new professional associations and various new organizations, groups, and clubs, etc. – your social circle will expand and you will be able to develop new friendships and start new relationships.
All in all, moving for a job will open up a world of opportunities before you and will give you the chance to build a better life for yourself.
Yet, there are challenges as well – before you decide to take the big step, you need to acknowledge the negative aspects of relocating for work and make sure they don’t outweigh the benefits.
Some people relish change and see moving to a new area as an exciting adventure. Others, however, dread the idea of uprooting their lives to start over in a new place.
It is indeed very difficult to step out of one’s comfort zone, leave loved ones behind, get used to a new environment (and a new job), build a new routine, establish new contacts, and make new friends.
The challenges of moving for a job should not be underestimated:
1. Moving is difficult, stressful, and expensive
Moving is hard – and quite expensive, too.
Moving to a new place comes with a BIG set of challenges – physical, emotional, financial, and social.
The most obvious challenge, however, is the relocation process itself.
Juggling the logistics of moving can be very difficult – especially when you’re relocating your entire family:
You need to sell – or rent out – your old home;
You need to find an appropriate new home in your new city;
You need to find a new family physician and a good school for your children;
You need to plan your move and come up with an efficient relocation strategy;
You need to pack up your home and ensure the safety of your cherished possessions;
You need to find a safe and efficient way to transport your belongings to your new home – and since using professional moving services is your best bet when moving out of state for a job, that means researching moving companies, getting estimates, looking out for moving scams, negotiating with movers, and booking your move as early as possible;
You need to take care of the paperwork – change your address, switch utilities, collect medical records and school records, update some documents (professional licenses, driver’s licenses, car registrations, insurance policies), etc.;
You need to plan your trip to your new home (and plan for your pets, if applicable). If you’re not driving to your new city, you need to decide how to ship your car, too;
Besides, moving can be an expensive affair – especially so when moving to another state. Long-distance moving costs can go up to thousands of dollars and travel expenses are quite high as well (not to mention all the miscellaneous relocation-related expenses – packing supplies, insurance costs, parking permits, movers’ tips, security deposits, etc. – that add up so quickly).
So, if your employer doesn’t cover – or contribute toward – your moving costs, that fact alone may cause you to write off the idea of relocating for a job.
Leaving their old life behind won’t be easy for your family. It won’t be easy for you either.
If you’re not single, moving for work brings additional challenges.
If your family will be moving with you, it’s going to cause huge issues with your children’s education and your partner’s job.
Unless your partner can work remotely, they will need to find a new job in your new location – and that may not be easy.
It may take months until they land an appropriate position and that can put a strain on your finances. Besides, if your partner can’t find work, it may be very difficult for them to form a social circle in your new location.
Other than that, if your partner likes their current job, they will be sad to leave it. And they will certainly be sad to leave their friends, their comfortable routine, and everything else they like about their life behind. If your partner is happy in your current city, they may be quite upset about the move.
If you have children, your relocation will affect them too. Children thrive on routine and moving will greatly disrupt their routine. It will rob them of the safety and familiarity of their old home and will take them away from relatives and friends. And that will cause a lot of stress and anxiety.
If your kids are school-age, things become even more complicated. Your young ones will lose everything they’ve achieved so far – friendships, reputation, popularity, leadership in school teams, etc. – and will have to adjust to a new school, prove themselves to new teachers, find their place among their peers, and make new friends.
It will be very stressful for them and they’re likely to be sad, scared, and resentful. You will need to do everything possible to make the transition easier for them – and you will need to find a good school for your children in your new area and make sure your new home is within the boundaries of the school district.
On the other hand, if your family won’t be making the move with you, you will live far from them and won’t be able to see them often. They will keep their old lives and won’t need to deal with the negative aspects of moving, but they will miss you – and you will miss them.
And your relationships may suffer. Moving away from family for a job is rarely worth it.
When you relocate to another state for a job, you will miss your old friends – but you will find new ones.
Parting with friends is one of the hardest parts of moving away.
You will be able to stay in touch, of course – modern technology makes that easy enough – but social media, phone calls, and video chats are not the same as personal interaction.
You won’t be able to spend time with your friends, be there for them when they need you, give them a hug, share a meal with them, or engage in a favorite activity together – and eventually, your lives will drift apart.
Even after you make new friends in your new area, you’re still going to miss your old pals.
When moving to a new state for a job, you will have to adapt to a new environment – and you may experience something akin to a culture shock:
You will have to establish a new routine and get used to a new lifestyle;
You won’t know your new city and it will take some time until you learn your way around (See also: How to Explore a New City);
You may not understand the local slang, the local stores may not sell your preferred brands, you may not be able to practice some of your favorite activities, etc.;
The cultural practices and social norms in your new area may be different from what you are accustomed to and you may find them weird, disturbing, or annoying;
Deciding to relocate for a job is a big commitment – you need to leave your current job (and in most cases, your partner needs to leave their job too), your children need to change schools, and you all need to go through the rigors of moving.
And then, after you’ve uprooted your life, moved house, and started your new job, it may turn out that the position – or the city – is not a good fit.
You may not like your new job or it may fail to meet your expectations. Things may not work out the way you have hoped – in terms of benefits, work conditions, career progression, relationships with your employer and colleagues, work/life balance, etc.
And even if your new job is OK, you may end up hating your new city:
You may come to regret your decision to move for work.
you may not be able to find a home that suits your needs and preferences,
house prices may be exorbitant,
the cost of living may be too high,
the climate may have negative effects on your health, the city may be dangerous,
the transportation system may be awful,
there may not be quality health care in the area,
the cultural and entertainment opportunities may be too limited,
there may not be good schools in the city,
your children may not be able to pursue their interests and develop their potential – or they may not fit in,
your partner may not be able to find work – or may feel miserable after the move, etc.
In any such cases, you may come to regret moving for a job.
All things considered, moving for a job can be quite daunting, overwhelming, and risky.
Is It Worth Relocating for a Job?
Now that you’re aware of the pros and cons of relocating for work, it will be much easier to find the answer to the troublesome question “Should I move for a job?”.
Think over the job offer – whether you’ll love the job, how it will affect your career, whether it will improve your financial situation, etc.
Consider your potential new city next – the cost of living in the area, the housing costs, the weather, the social, cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities available in the city, etc.
Then, think about how the move will affect your family – whether the new environment will be beneficial for your partner and your children and if everyone will be able to accept the change in a positive way.
Take into account the challenges of the relocation process and the cost of a house move, too.
Last but not least, consider the opportunity cost and the risk factor in committing to relocating without being able to “test out” the new job and the new environment first.
If you decide that the benefits of relocating for a particular position outweigh the negative aspects of moving, there is nothing to wait for – start planning your move and ensure a safe, smooth, and successful relocation.
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