Moving for a Job

“Congratulations, you’re hired!” This phrase marks an exciting but scary time in most people’s lives. After the initial euphoria rush of getting the job, sometimes there comes the scary   realization that this job is a few hundred miles away. Having to move in the middle of a job transition is never easy. Employees may need to start their new job before there is time to get fully comfortable in the new environment. The key to the first few days of this transition is surviving; as the saying goes, “fake it until you make it.” Staying grounded and focusing on positive first impressions at the new office can help springboard any new employee to a successful transition in unfamiliar surroundings.

Pack work essentials separately

Some people have equipment or tools they keep at home that are necessary for them to do their job, but everyone who is employed at least needs a suitable set of clothes to wear to their job. Anything an employee needs to get ready for their workday can also fall in this category, like basic hygiene and grooming items. When moving for a job, access to these workday items is essential, so keeping them separated from the general inventory is necessary.

A relocating employee will often utilize the services of a moving company which will arrive to their new city later than the employee will, whether by design or due to carrier delays. In the meantime, the employee needs to make do with the items they take with them, making it important to keep a set of suitable work clothes and any necessary work equipment aside from their moving inventory.  For almost anyone that moves, the unpacking process isn’t completed in a single day; it can often take days, weeks, and even months. Busy professionals who might be moving with their family can’t bear having essential work items scattered across several different boxes in a large moving inventory.

Stay in a hotel for a few days or weeks, if necessary

Having a reprieve from the chaotic moving process can be helpful when trying to mentally prepare for the work week, especially when settling into a new company or new office. That may mean a brief stay at a hotel or AirBNB/VRBO is the best option for relocating employees. Staying at a hotel limits the need to handle daily responsibilities like cleaning, buying household goods, and even preparing meals. A brief stopover in a less hectic environment can be enormously helpful in allowing the person relocating for their job to focus on the bigger task at hand: making a good first impression in their new work environment.

Utilize Relocation Benefits

Companies who hire job applicants from out of state are prepared to go above and beyond to secure their preferred candidate. In order to make sure they get who they want, companies will make sure their transition to the job’s location is taken care of. This is commonly referred to as a “relocation package”, or “relocation benefits”. Depending on the company, relocation benefits or packages can be provided in several different ways. Some companies hire their preferred moving company vendor to handle the move themselves. Companies may arrange relationships with several companies and offer their relocating employee their pick of the bunch. Others simply cut a check to their employee for relocation-related expenses, or reimburse any of those expenses. In the case of a voucher, relocating employees can either opt to use the full amount on moving related expenses with a moving company, or lean out their move and go the DIY route, potentially allowing them to use part of the money on new furniture or whatever else their heart desires.  Employees should explore what options their company provides to make their relocation easier and take full advantage of all benefits offered to ease the financial strain of moving.