Make sure you ask any future employer about relocation assistance

1993, Fla. State Employee

Making the transition to a new job is a life altering situation on its own. It can even be more life altering if you are responsible for relocating to a job in a different city on your own. While you are going through the hiring process, make sure you take it upon yourself to ask as many questions as possible of your employer so you can ensure that your transition is as seamless as possible.

When I got my first job working for the State of Florida, I had to relocate four hours away to a new city. Unfortunately, I was responsible for all of my relocation costs. Fortunately, I didn’t have any furniture at the time because I was just out of college so all I had was my car and clothes. However, when I got there, I still had to focus on finding a place to live and getting my phone, cable and electricity turned on even though I was in an unfamiliar city.

A year (and a few pieces of furniture) later, I decided to transfer to one of the State of Florida’s field offices in a different city. Once again, I was forced to have to figure out how to move out of my current place and move into another place on my own. Unfortunately, my job did not assist me with the move and I had furniture which I had to move on my own.

Both experiences were traumatic. The trauma came from not only making the moves but also on not knowing if there was a possibility my employer could assist in the move.

1995, Naval Officer

However, when I decided to leave the State of Florida and become commissioned as a Naval Officer, my moving experience was completely different. I was able to break my apartment lease due to a clause relating to military service. A moving company came to my apartment, packed my clothes and furniture, and kept everything in storage until I got to my first duty station in NC.

So for the first time, I had the experience of having an employer who took care of all of my relocation expenses. I did not have to worry about a thing.

The reality is that not every job has the ability to provide relocation benefits or provide any type of assistance to you with regards to moving to a new location. However, if you know you are trying to obtain a job that’s in a different city and you are going to have to uproot your current life to go to that job, you should take it upon yourself to ask if many questions as possible as to what type of relocation benefits or assistance your new employer provides.

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