I think I will have an offer for the perfect job for me – but it is across the country, and I am a little bit nervous about committing to moving and then finding out I hate my boss or something. Can you help?
Moving locations can certainly add a much higher degree of uncertainty to any change in working environment, and the repercussions for making a poor choice, either on your new job or new location, are potentially much greater. It is important to consider these possible consequences as early in the hiring process as possible, as you are doing now. Employers also have a higher degree of concern when considering relocating a new hire for many of the same reasons. It is better to give yourself as much time as possible to rationally and realistically weigh up the pros and cons to make the best possible decision. This can also impact your interview answers, so you should give serious thought as to why you want to make a change in scenery.
Divide and conquer
The best way to tackle the decision making process is to first separate the 2 components:
QUESTION #1: I this the right job for me?
Remember – accurate information is vital to successful decision-making, so you should find out as much as possible about the company and the job itself – what the organizational culture is, what your boss would be like to work for, your duties, potential promotion options, career growth opportunities, and any other factors that are important for your career enjoyment and development. The bottom line is that you want to be fully aware of the job and everything pertaining to it.
QUESTION #2: Is this the right location for me?
What do you know about your new location, and will this fit with your personality and way of life? Vancouver has a much different culture than Calgary, London, or Montreal. Obviously, smaller more rural cities and towns have a different lifestyle than larger metropolitan areas. Start with who you are and what type of life you want to live, and then learn as much as you can about your possible new home to see how well it fits with you. Of course, if you have lived in the new city in the past, or visited often, this task will be much easier.
The only caveat to this is acknowledging to yourself that vacationing is different than daily living. A 2 week excursion to London or Paris to sightsee is quite a different experience as traveling everyday on crowded roads or subways to get to a job you might not enjoy. In a similar vein, the “amazing experience” you had as a young student living in that city can be poles apart from a middle-aged worker commuting in each day. Be as realistic about the pros and cons of the new city as you can.
Other questions you should ask yourself are:
- Would I move to the new city if I had my current job there?
- Would I stay in my present position if it were in the new location?
Interviewing for fun and travel
If after reviewing all the questions above, you decide that this is something you want to pursue, you will need to consider your motivation for wanting the job itself, and also for wanting to move to a new location. In the eyes of your potential employer, their natural concern is actually very similar to yours. The risk of hiring you is in effect doubled – not only do they need to minimize the risk that you won’t work out in the job, but there is an additional risk that you or your family won’t like living in your new location. That is why most employers prefer to hire people locally, since the risk of a failed hire (and the large costs associated with it for them) are diminished considerably.
Your job in the interview is to ensure that you convince them that the new job is a great opportunity for your career, and that you are making the move to the new city for very logical reasons. Don’t come across as a starry-eyed tourist, or appear flippant about a possible relocation. Make sure that you show you have given the issue very serious thought, and have logically reached this conclusion. Ideally, you would want to leave the impression (if true) that you would be moving to the new location whether you received the job offer or not.
Ultimately, it is important that you enjoy your job, and enjoy the space in which you live while away from work – you are right to give both the consideration they deserve.
Good luck!
Mitchell Stephenson M.A., CPCC, is a senior partner and a certified professional career counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a career transition, counselling, and outplacement firm. Mitch has been involved in human resources, career counselling and coaching in the health and legal sectors for many years. To contact him, visit: www.catalystcareers.ca.
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