Moving for a Job
Moving for a Job
Moving for a Job
Moving and re-locating for your next student affairs job can be a big hassle; particularly if you’ve never relocated for work before. While it can be a stressful time; it’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. Thousands of other student affairs professionals have relocated for their first, last, and next job.
But how exactly do you navigate the moving and relocation process? How does that even begin? Where do you even start?
This article will provide an overview of the relocation process for student affairs professionals. It covers negotiating for relocation in your hiring process; personal and professional considerations for moving; how to think and discuss your move with your personal and professional network; steps to take prior to your move; and finally a review of the most common moving expenses.
Negotiating phase
One of the biggest considerations to make when thinking about a major move for your student affairs career is whether or not your employer will cover moving expenses. This could be a huge barrier to entry for many new professionals. It’s important to determine whether or not this will be included in your compensation package.
Those relocation costs can be as simple as a moving van for a cross state move; to more significant expenses for relocation across the country or the globe. But you would never know what’s included in your relocation package unless you ask about it.
There are many factors that go into determining whether or not you’ll want to relocate for your next job. Some of them include personal considerations; while other considerations are more professionally focused.
Personal considerations for moving
Moving is a big life change. We often don’t think about it; but moving is also an identity choice. This is particularly important if you have close family, friends, a spouse, or partner in your current geographic area.
For those student affairs professionals who are married; engaged; or otherwise in a committed relationship there are other factors to consider. Those include your partner’s happiness: will they have as a good a life in the new location as they have now? Will it improve significantly? Also, will your partner be able to find a new job at the new location? These are important considerations to take into account for the long-term viability of your move. You need to consider how they will affect your relationships with your partner as well as your closest family and friends in the long term.
In addition, you must also take into account the cost of living at your new location. If you are moving to a major metropolitan area; then the cost of everyday items will likely be more expensive than what you’re used to right now. If that is the case, then your salary must also reflect that higher cost of living.
Often one of the most common mistakes that new student affairs professionals make is that they relocate for a similar job with a slightly higher pay increase at a new location. Not only does this move stagnate their chances at promotion and advancement; but often the additional salary doesn’t cover what ends up being a much higher increase in their cost of living. That change in your living arrangements then adversely affect your quality of life.
The last thing to consider is whether or not you’ll have a support system when you move. Will you have someone around the area that you are close to? Are there any close family members; parents; friends; or loved ones who you can connect to after you re-locate?
Now that you’ve taken into account some of the personal considerations to moving; it’s time to review some professional considerations.
Professional considerations for moving
One of the first things to consider as professional prior to moving is whether or not you believe that this university is a good fit. Do you feel like this is place that you like? Is it a place that you can see yourself working for the foreseeable future?
Likewise, it’s important to also consider what the job market looks like in the area. Is it a place that has other universities you could work for? What if you move and for some reason the position doesn’t work out for you. Are there are other opportunities to consider?
This also feeds into the outlook for the university or college as a whole. Do they have a new president? Do they have a new vice president or senior student affairs professional? Is there a new department head? What does the future of the university, division, and department look like in the near future?
Lastly, it’s also important to consider your own professional tolerance for the unknown. What does that look like for you and do you have the stomach to jump into an area that you may know little about? The answer to this question can often provide much insight into your tolerance for undertaking the risk of re-location.
Think and discuss your move
Now it’s time to think and discuss your potential move to a new location. This isn’t a decision you should treat lightly. Often, the best place to turn is towards friends, love ones, trusted colleagues, and your mentor. Getting some insight and advice from these people will help put you on the right path towards making your decision.
Most student affairs professionals get stuck on this question of relocation because they have different tolerances and comfort levels addressing change. Some of the more apprehensive professionals will also want to explore backup options for other positions, other institutions, and other opportunities that may be in the area in case their move doesn’t work out.
But this is not something that you want to over think too much. If you feel that you have the tolerance for the risk right now; and you want to work for this institution; and you want to take the leap; then relocation might be your best bet.
There are many new opportunities awaiting a relocation for you. Some of those include being able to build out your network as well as making new friends from different places.
So you’ve decided to move
So if you’ve taken all of this into consideration then it’s time to make the leap and move. Before you do that, it’s time to locate all of your essentials for your new home. Big items include: finding a new home, apartment, or living situation. Then you’ll want to find the best way to get to work from that place.
Explore your driving options, public transportation, or bike paths. Also don’t forget to map out the essentials in your area such as grocery stores, dry cleaners, laundromats, and restaurants.
Next, you’ll want to take care of all of the other essential items required for moving out of your current place and into your new place. That includes cancelling your internet / cable subscription and re-starting these services at your new location.
Don’t forget about your utilities (electricity, water, gas). All of your most important financial statements will have to be updated as well including your bank accounts and credit cards.
Remember: you can setup mail forwarding through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Finally, you’ll want to set reminders to cover important items like voter, vehicle, and driver’s license registration at your new location.
Moving can be costly. That means it’s best to determine if your new employer can provide substantial if not full coverage for you relocation. While many people can do it themselves, there are other costs involved with your move depending on your comfort level. Those costs include:
-Professional Movers
-Moving Van
-Packing Supplies & Boxes
-New Apartment Deposit
-Cleaning Costs
-Furniture
Takeaways
Moving for a new position is something that most professionals will do at one point in their career. Student affairs professionals are no exception. There are many considerations to take into account in whether or not to move to a new place.
Some considerations include what can be offered to you at the negotiation stage of your job search process. You will also want to consider this a personal decision in terms of proximity to your friends, family, and other important relationships.
But don’t ignore professional considerations either. You’ll need a sustainable salary and opportunities at your new location in order to make it worthwhile. Take all of this into account when you think about and discuss your potential move with loved ones, friends, and trusted colleagues.
If you’ve decided to move then make sure to take care of the essentials like cleaning, apartment deposits, and furniture at your old location as well as your new location. Moving can be costly, so it’s important to review and create a budget prior to the move to best understand the costs involved.
I hope that you found this article useful! If you need some additional help on your student affairs job search, then check out the eBook The Student Affairs Job Search: A Comprehensive Guide available here.
Happy searching,
References
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Cite this Article
Eng, D. (2019, November 18). Moving for a Job. Retrieved MONTH DATE, YEAR, from https://www.jobhakr.com/blog-1/2019/11/18/moving-for-a-job
Internal Ref: JHKR4A6HPX79Y