Should You Move for Work? 4 Things to Consider Before Taking the Plunge
Guest Post by Lisa Roberts
Let’s face it - once your career gets up and running, sooner or later you're bound to find yourself making some tough choices. For example - you're offered a higher position in your company, but in another location. Maybe you get a job offer from another firm in a different city. Suddenly, you have an important call to make - is moving for work really a good idea? Should you start searching for apartments in another city?
We have a few suggestions for what to consider before you make your move.
Is moving for work always a good idea?
1. What do your friends and family think?
People often mistakenly ignore one of the largest factors to consider when moving. When you’ve got such a big life decision to make - such as moving for work - consult the closest people around you. You’d be surprised how many people think that this kind of decision is just theirs to make, simply because it’s business-related. This is something that affects many people around you, especially your family.
Before you decide on moving for work, talk to your family! Don’t present this to your family once you’ve made your final decision. You need the support of your family and friends throughout the decision process. If the people around you don’t think moving for work is a good idea, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. However, they can bring up additional factors you may not have considered.
2. How will moving for work affect your finances?
If you’ve definitely made the call regarding your private life - now you can turn to the business side of moving for work. First of all, consider the most obvious factor - will this improve your personal finances? To put it simply - will you be earning a bigger salary at this new position than at your previous one? This is one of the main reasons people switch jobs or positions in the first place.
It's not all about the salary.
It’s not all about comparing your current and potential salary. If you’re moving for work, you’ve got other expenses to think about. If you move to another town for your new job, your budget can be radically different.
One of the largest differences can be the real estate costs you’ll be facing. Depending on the size of your promotion, consider whether you’d be renting or buying. This depends on more than just your paycheck; also consider how long you plan to stay at your new job.And this doesn’t just depend on your new paycheck - it also depends on how permanent this new job is. In addition, consider your other living costs, which may be substantially higher or lower than in your current town.
Consider all expenses before splurging on a big new home!
3. How will this affect your career?
Of course, the change to your paycheck will be a huge factor in your decision - but it shouldn’t be the only one. While a bigger paycheck may make moving for work look pretty attractive, make sure to ask yourself what this move does for your career. No matter the change in pay, be sure to avoid a lateral move in your career.
Go over your personal finances a few times before moving!
The salary bump may mean a lot for you now, but before you buy a bigger home, consider your long-term prospects. While you’re building a career, you need to be constantly moving forward. If you’re not learning new things and advancing, you may find yourself becoming expendable.
4. What will this do for your life outside of work?
When people think about moving for work, they often make the mistake taking only their careers into account. To make your final decision, you need to think about your life outside the office. Think about what your life will look like once you clock out every day; if the place you’re potentially moving to doesn’t suit you, even the best job in the world won’t make a difference. So, before you start to transition from your old home - think about where you’ll be truly happier.
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