When looking for a job it’s only natural to focus your efforts on finding work where you currently live. For some the option to pick up and move just isn’t an option at all. Before making your final decision, it is critically important to weigh all of your options for staying and your options for heading to greener pastures.
Cities like Austin, San Francisco and New York are thriving with plenty of business opportunities. But before you pack your bags here are a few things you should be considering.
Consider Where You Want to Be
If you ant to work in entertainment, it would behoove you to be somewhere where entertainment is booming or at least where you’ll have the opportunity to make some connections to get your career moving in the right direction.
Similarly, if you want to work in higher education, begin to look at cities and towns where colleges are present. The decision to move is never an easy one, but if there aren’t any jobs where you currently are, you really don’t have a choice.
It’s Temporary
Ok, so let’s say you do decide to pack up and move elsewhere, know that the move isn’t a permanent one unless you decide to make it so. I always use the saying “I’m just passing through”. Sometimes you have to take a couple of steps backwards in order to move forward in your life.
Moving to a different city will give you the opportunity to gain the necessary experience you need that will propel you to bigger opportunities in the future. Achieving audacious goals begins by taking small steps.
Quality of Life
The quality of life that you want to have for yourself, your family and your kids is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You don’t need Jobtrakr to tell you that. If you have a family consider the schools in the area in which you are thinking about moving to. Make a checklist with your family and go through to see if the job opportunities and the things that are important to you match up.
Available Networks
The best way to test the market and find out what job opportunities may be available to you, is to tap into your alumni network. They can be your boots on the ground and help you to line up contacts and networking opportunities while you decide where you want to end up.
Conversely, if you moved away from where you went to school, think about reconnecting with some of the alumni that may still be in the area. At this point, they should be connected enough to facilitate introductions on your behalf.
It’s easy to be so laser focused on a job that you disregard potential opportunities elsewhere. I’ll reiterate, if you are not having success where you currently reside, all options should be on the table.
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[...] is a fitting follow up to my earlier article today. After weighing your options and arriving at the decision to relocate for a job, there are [...]