To Relocate or Not to Relocate: How To Decide To Move For A Job

To relocate or not to relocate for a job?

That is definitely a question, if not the question.

It may be tempting to relocate, especially if you’ve been offered a better job at a better salary. Maybe even if you’ve been offered a better job with a pay cut. It all depends on your priorities.

So, whether your new position means you’ll be required to move across the country—or just across town, there are several questions you’ll want to ask yourself.

Will you be moving on your own or with your family?

The more people who are relocating, the more questions there are to consider. If you’re moving on your own, the decision may be fairly easy. If you’re moving with your partner, it becomes a little more challenging. And if you’re uprooting an entire family, well, that’s a different story altogether.

Will any members of your household have to quit their job? And just how easy will it be for them to find work in your new community?

How will the move affect your family members’ work situation? Is your partner happy in their job? Do they have the opportunity for advancement? Is it a good time for them to pull up stakes? Are you relocating to a place where your family members’ transferable skills will be an asset? Questions. Questions. Questions.

Has your son or daughter recently begun postsecondary education but is still living at home?

Whether your grown children are attending school or living at home while working and saving for their first home, how easy will it be for them to either move with you or find another place to stay? This could be a wonderful opportunity for them to spread their wings, but it isn’t always easy. Plus, this may not be a good time for them to take that next step for countless reasons.

How much time do you need to sell your home and find a new one—either to buy or rent?

Depending on the housing market and the condition of your home, you may be able to pack up and move next month. However, this is often not the case. What’s the housing situation in the new city (and surrounding area)? If you’re moving on your own, you may be willing to rent temporary accommodations until you find a more permanent living situation. However, if you’re moving with even one other person, that may not work.

(Depending on when the new job starts, you may want to move on your own and have your family join you at a later time. This solution works for many people but may not be an option for you.)

Do you have responsibilities you’d struggle to leave with someone else?

Everyone has responsibilities beyond their job. Care of ageing parents. Community involvement. Volunteer leadership in your synagogue, church, or mosque.  Some responsibilities are easier to set aside than others. And no one except you can determine your non-negotiables.

Will your new job create a lot of stress for you—and by extension, for your family?

Even a more prestigious position and a significant salary increase could cost you more than it benefits you. It’s important to have a clear understanding of what your new job will require of you. Will you have to put in more hours—more hours than you’re willing to commit to the job? 

It’s important to not only consider the specifics of the job but also what life in the new location is like. Is the pace significantly more hectic? Will you be able to find a home close to work? School? Public transportation? Will you feel safe and at peace in your new community? Moving is a stressor; that’s a given. You have to decide whether the stress is truly worth it.

Will the move tax your financial resources? Your physical and/or mental health? Your relationships?

Beyond the stress of moving are other factors, such as your relationships, your health, and your finances. While the new job may pay well, the company may not pick up the cost of moving. And that can run into the thousands. Perhaps you or a family member has a health concern that could worsen if you move. If you relocate, will you have ready access to the healthcare care you need? Healthy relationships are about compromise. What’s best for one individual must be weighed against what’s best for the family unit as a whole.

Everyone has dreams and aspirations. Will your new job move you toward them?

Is this opportunity a step toward your long-term goals or does it simply seem too good to pass up? Society says you’re successful if you have at least a high six-figure income, live in a large home, drive a specific make and model of vehicle, etc. However, that may not be how you define success. You may prefer to simply pay your bills, put work out of your mind at the end of the day, and enjoy evenings and weekends with family and friends. Don’t let the draw of so-called success determine your decision. 

Weigh the genuine pros and cons of taking the new job.

Making an old-fashioned pro/con list can be helpful when making such an important decision. It can help you visualize what you think and feel about the move. Family members will have the opportunity to weigh in. With the list in front of you, you can all mull over the decision. Ideally, the best solution will become evident to everyone involved. And, if it doesn’t, at least you’ll know where everyone stands, and you can go from there.