Think About Five Factors Before You Go to Work
At some point in your career, there will probably come a time when you might consider moving for a job. And the decision can become more complicated if you have a significant other or children.
When faced with the decision of whether or not to move because of work, you obviously need to consider that the move will have a major impact on your family life, social media, and financial situation. “Love and money decisions are intertwined,” says Myra Strober , an economist at Stanford University and author of Money and Love: An Intelligent Roadmap for Life’s Biggest Decisions . “While work may sound like a decision about money, it is absolutely also a decision about love.”
Don’t rely on your intuition
Making the decision to move is extremely difficult and stressful. One of the mistakes that Strober often sees is that people rush through the decision-making process. “We like to implement these decisions,” Strober said. “There’s a part of us that just wants to get it over with.” While being in the process of actively making a decision is inconvenient, it is very important to carefully approach such an important life decision.
Consider short-term logistics
In the short term, moving will require a lot of work. “Managing logistics can be a daunting task,” says Daphne Jones , career coach and author of Win When They Say You Can’t: Break Barriers and Keep Raising Your Level of Success . “If a company is paying for the move, there is often a company representative in charge of your move to help you deal with many moving parts, but if you are making a move without company support, the logistics will include packing, unpacking, moving cars, packing special items, and finding a new one. housing.”
If you own a house, the question will be whether to sell it or find a tenant. If you have children, you need to figure out how to organize school and child care. If you have elderly parents who depend on you, you may need to consider whether their needs will be met after the move. Whatever the details, be sure to get an idea of what they will be before making a decision.
For long term impact consider 5 C
When it comes to the long-term effects of moving, Strober recommends using the 5 C’s as a baseline. The 5 Cs include clarifying your preferences; communication with a partner; considering your alternatives; consult other people who may have understanding; and considering the consequences.
Refine your preferences
If you’re thinking about moving because of work, it’s time to clarify what’s important to you in life. If a career is important, and moving will help in promotion, then this is the highest priority; but if closeness to family or having a close-knit group of longtime friends is a priority, then not moving might not make as much sense. Whatever your priorities are, find a way to figure them out before making a decision.
Communicate with family
For people with significant others, you will need to discuss the solution with them. “We don’t make these decisions in a vacuum,” Strober said. This includes discussing whether your partner will quit their job to move in with you or if they will stay. For parents of children, depending on their age , it is also necessary to discuss with the family how they will adjust to a new place and what their new home will look like. For teens, this will mean a major disruption to their schooling in the pre-college years, while younger kids say goodbye to their friends.
Consider Your Choice
While moving may seem like the only option available, there are usually other options. If you don’t move, it could mean changing your career, finding a different type of job in your current city, or a host of other options. If you’re at a stage where you think your only career option is to go to work, then it’s worth taking a step back and considering what other career options you have.
Registration with other people
In addition to discussing any possible steps with your partner, it is helpful to discuss this with other people who may have faced similar decisions in the past. “You can’t be the first person in the world with this problem,” Strober said. This may include discussing the decision with a close friend, someone in your extended family, or a colleague who has made a similar decision.
“Maybe it’s someone you don’t normally think of in that way at all,” Strober said. While you might not normally consider discussing a solution with them, at this point, for this particular scenario, they may have a unique insight or experience that could be helpful.”
Think about the consequences
Moving also means leaving your support network, which may include family, friends, and trusted caregivers. Whenever you move, you have to rebuild this network, often from scratch. “Lacking a support structure in a new city can be stressful and lonely,” Jones said.
The bigger the move and the bigger your family, the more difficult it can be. “Who will be responsible for recreating this network?” Strober said. “It’s family glue.”
At the same time, until this network is re-established, it will put additional strain on the family, whether it be trying to find last-minute childcare or figuring out what to do when a child gets sick. Depending on your resources and location, this can be quite difficult, especially in the beginning. So plan ahead accordingly.