Should You Relocate for a Job?

If you’re out of work, relocating to find a job might seem like a good option. While this isn’t possible for everyone, moving to a city where workers are in high demand might be easier than you think. According to Forbes, the top ten locations for jobs in 2018 are as follows:

1. Chandler, Arizona
2. Scottsdale, Arizona
3. San Francisco
4. Peoria, Arizona
5. Gilbert, Arizona
6. Plano, Texas
7. Portland, Maine
8. Irvine, California
9. Madison, Wisconsin
10. Boston, Massachusettes

Finding a job in your industry of choice may lead you to other cities. The point is, if you’re out of work, moving is one of the ways you may be able to find a job.

But should you?

There are some disadvantages to moving for a job that you should take into consideration before you start packing your bags:

• Unless you know someone who will allow you to stay with them, you’ll likely have to have a security deposit and one month’s rent to get an apartment or house wherever you move.
• Not every company pays for relocation costs, such as moving vans, so you may have to pay for that yourself.
• Some companies only consider local candidates, or may give special consideration to local candidates.
• You may have to go into town for a live interview, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the job after the interview, so you may pay for travel and get no results.

That said, relocation has helped thousands of people find jobs. Here are some tips if you’re interested in this way of finding a job:

• Look for a company that is advertising online or in nationally-recognized sources, rather than companies that are advertising in local newspapers or on local websites (like Craig’s List).
• Search specifically for employers who have indicated that they are willing to relocate.
• If you’re going to go through the process of moving, make sure that the job is worth it – a minimum wage job is probably not worth a move across country, while a six-figure job definitely is!

So should you relocate to find a job? That’s a question only you can answer. Make sure you discuss both the advantages and disadvantages with your family.