Moving to a new city for a job is an important decision and commitment. Some people choose to move to find a better opportunity while others are just looking for a new experience. However, uprooting your life for a job doesn’t always work out the way you intended it to. Before making a decision, you should carefully consider it and think about each possible outcome.
These are five questions to ask yourself before deciding on a job.
1. Will your new job make you happier?
If you decide to move because you think a change of scene will make you happier, you should also consider the job itself. If you choose a new job to support your lifestyle, but that job is less enjoyable than the one you currently hold, you may be doing yourself a disservice. Ideally, both your new job and where you live will make you happier.
Before deciding whether or not to accept a position with a new company, it is important to take stock of your current situation. It is perfectly satisfactory when you decide it is the right decision to move on, but try to list the positives of your current job before making a decision. It may be Reasons to stay with your company that you hadn’t thought of, such as friendly employees or future career opportunities.
2. Will a new city make you happier?
Just as you should consider how happy you will be in your new job, it is also important to consider whether or not a new city can make you happier. Perhaps there is a new job opportunity that seems too good to miss, but it would require leaving a community that you love. You need to decide whether this new location will be able to at least replicate, if not increase, your current level of happiness.
Research just found that Changing location doesn’t make you happier. You may think that trading a small town for a big town somehow makes you happier, but that’s not necessarily true. Instead, your luck depends on the factors that really affect your surroundings. Aspects like your commute time or whether or not you have a sense of community, regardless of where you live, are more likely to have an impact.
3. Are you planning to stay long term or short term?
The decision to take a job and move to a new city can depend on both your short-term and long-term goals. Based on your answers to the previous questions about finding happiness in your job and where you live, your future plans may change your mind.
When you find yourself at a point in your life where you would like the next job you accept for the years to come to be completely safe in your conviction. However, if you are young or just looking for new experiences without making long-term commitments, you may feel better taking a risk and choosing a new job.
4. Where will you live?
If you have a tendency to actually relocate and move for a job, your life situation needs to play an important role. You should familiarize yourself with the housing market in the new area before deciding where to live. You may also need to consider buying a house or renting an apartment depending on whether you want to stay there short term or long term.
An important factor in your decision to live is the average house value in the region. This is especially important if it is significantly different from where you currently live. Will your money expand further than it already does? Or do you need to downsize? Use a before searching for potential places to live free home appraiser to help you work out an approximate budget. Actually, if you are actively looking for a new home, be sure to visit the websites in person before submitting an offer.
5. What is the cost of living?
In addition to determining your housing situation before moving, you also need to calculate the cost of living in your new city. If one of the main selling points of your new job is a higher salary, you may want to reconsider. Salary is relative to the cost of living – factors like food, transportation, taxes, and health care. Sure, you might make more money, but your money may not go that far.
A Cost of Living Calculator can easily help you determine the financial feasibility of your new job and city. By entering where you currently live, where you want to live and your current salary, you can find out what the comparable salary is in the place where you want to live. If the salary that you are being offered is higher than the comparable salary, the move is financially beneficial. If it’s a lower equivalent than your current salary, you may want to reconsider things or try to negotiate with your employer.
Moving for a job can be a great opportunity, but it could also turn out to be a disappointing mistake. When you come to a decision, ask yourself a lot of questions and think about it from all angles.