A growing family, an empty nest, to be closer to family. There are several reasons why we move across town or across the country. In many cases, these are happy times, filled with excitement and maybe a little bit of stress, too. The good kind of stress a positive life change creates.
Unfortunately, not every move is a completely positive experience. Perhaps an older family member is ailing so we return to take care of them long term. A job loss could force us to relocate where pastures are a little greener. The stress is twice as much in this case – not only do you need to plan a move but also find a job.
Although we don’t claim to be employment experts, there are a few things to keep in mind when perusing job listings in a new city. First and foremost, consider the cost of living for the new town and compare it to your current address. Living expenses in Des Moines, IA, will be quite a bit different than the Nob Hill neighborhood in San Francisco.
Before the move, it doesn’t hurt to start building your network in the new city. If you have friends and family in that town, reach out to see if they have heard of any job opening. When applying for jobs, sometimes it depends on who you know rather than what you know.
You can even start reaching out before moving. Call companies you’re interested in working for and set up informational interviews. They may not have a position for you at the moment, but at least they’ll have your name on record.
Once in town, talk to hiring managers at networking events to see what the market is looking for. Similar to an informational interview, you can find out who may be hiring while talking up your qualifications. You may even find a local job somewhere you hadn’t even thought to look.
Like moving, job hunting can be exhilarating, scary, and hopeful. While you don’t need a resume or a cover letter to prepare for a move, there are steps you should take to make the moving experience a little easier, faster, and cheaper.
Preparing to Move Without a Job
If you are living in a city without a job, moving expenses can seem like something you may not be able to afford. However, there are many things you can do to lessen the cost and the size of the move. Even if you have a dream job lined up, the less you bring with you, the less you’ll have to worry about.
Purging/Downsizing
When moving to a new city with a friendlier job market, the situation can be different depending on the family situation. A single person can probably outfit a new apartment or relatively easily once the job search ends with a new position. Which makes traveling light that much easier.
However, a family of four can’t just get rid of everything – filling a 1,500 square foot home can be almost as expensive as the home itself! In both cases, organize a garage sale to get rid of the toys that haven’t been played with, the clothes that haven’t been worn, or the furniture that has seen better days.
Use a storage facility
If you’re considering temporary housing until you’ve secured a job, a storage facility is an ideal solution. They come in a variety of sizes, are relatively safe, and will remain protected for the elements while you stay with a friend, family, or other arrangements until you’ve secured employment.
This may be seen as another cost that just can’t be budgeted for. But it’s much cheaper than holding on to a lease or mortgage or buying new furniture. Try to find a unit centrally located in your new city for easy access when you’ve finally found somewhere to live long term.
Professional Movers for Every Situation
Although this is common for younger folks, needing to move to a new city for a new job can happen to people of all ages. That’s why it’s important to find a moving company that can handle any situation. Crossing state lines or moving from one coast to the other, Smooth Move People have been helping people begin new lives for more than 30 years.
Smooth Move People will pack the belongings, load them safely onto the truck, and get them to your new place in one piece. Whether it’s a storage unit, a third-story apartment, or a ranch home in the suburbs. Schedule a move with us today – we look forward to hearing from you.
