In this technology-driven world, employee relocation is the norm of the day. Most companies often find it convenient to take their employees along with them if they open operations in another town or city.
Various studies have pointed out that a job-related relocation, whether you're moving with a current job, or moving to find a new job, can be very stressful. It ranks behind only the death of a close family member and a divorce. Here are some tips that help you navigate smoothly through one of the most challenging times in your life.
Organize your paperwork
An accordion-style file folder should be used to keep all of your important paperwork safe and secure. This can include, among other things:
- Home sale papers
- Escrow paperwork
- School/study certificates
- Work experience certificates
- Marriage certificates or divorce papers
- Papers related to your relocation, including the bill of lading, and any signed receipts or contracts
This file should be kept separately from other boxes and preferably should travel with you.
Organization is the key to any successful move. While antique furniture and valuable jewelry may be worth a lot of money, it can always be covered with insurance in the event of an accident, but some of your most important documents, like your birth certificates and marriage certificates can be frustrating to replace.
Try to keep all your moving-related paperwork in one place so it's easy to locate if you need it in a pinch. All of your receipts, bill of lading, signed contracts, and written estimates should be kept along with all of your other important documents in a folder so that if you need to refer to them, or if you need to file a claim with the company in the event that one of your items is damaged, you'll have easy access to them.
Tap into local resources
If you are a job seeker relocating to a new place for a job, then exhausting all of the local resources is a must.
- Check local government workforce websites. Your local government will often have resources devoted to workforce issues and lists of various local job opportunities.
- Post your resume to online job boards. It also helps to use the many online resources that are now available to job seekers. Websites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder can help you narrow down your job search by keyword and zip code, making it rather easy to search for available jobs in just about any town or city in the country.
- Do your homework and survey the job landscape in the place that you plan on moving to. Get some names of local businesses or corporations in the area and names of the people with each company that you need to contact to inquire about open positions.
As always, it's better to lock down a job before you move, or at least get your foot in the door somewhere so you have some kind of stability and a dependable source of income. If that's not possible due to time constraints or other extenuating factors, then your next best option is to apply to as many jobs as you can in your field and begin your search.
Networking
Beyond searching for a job using online job sites and the classifieds in the local newspapers, another great way to get connected in your new town or city is by networking. Networking involves connecting with other professionals in your field of expertise and in today's age of social media, it’s an important part of finding a job, especially when you are in a geographically limited area.
- Attend local chamber of commerce events. These events, typically held to give local businesses some exposure, are a great way to connect with likeminded professionals and get a feel of what kind of work is available in the area.
- Search the web for any events in the area that are related to your profession or field. For example, check for any trade shows or career fairs that are happening in the area. These are always great opportunities to meet new people who share similar interests and skills and great opportunities to do some networking as well.
- Network with other parents, if you have kids. If you are moving with a family, networking can help you learn more about the schools in the area, if you are still undecided about which school to send your kids to after you move.
- Become better acquainted with your new city. You can learn more about the town or city through the perspectives of people who have lived there for a while and you can network with them to find out the best places to eat or drink, and any other important facts or tidbits you might not be able to find out otherwise.
Managing change
Change can be very painful and your best bet in handling it is by acknowledging your feelings and talking about them with people you trust. This rule applies for everyone - children, adults and those in between. It is better to talk as a family and let all those who are old enough to understand participate in the discussion.
Moving is difficult, but moving to a strange new city or town in search of employment, especially in today's uncertain job climate, can be downright scary. It's important to address these issues with yourself and with people who you can trust and confide in, before you set out on your journey. To go into a situation such as this with confidence, you need to first be confident and have a positive outlook on the situation.
Photo by: Ambro (freedigitalphotos.net)