The Most Important Things I Learned about Relocating For a Job
In May of 2017, I moved from my hometown of Tampa to the Melbourne area on Florida’s east coast. Although there were some personal reasons for the move, one of the primary reasons was for a position within a new company. Not only did I learn the ins and outs of corporate relocation policies and practices, I also learned a tremendous amount about myself in the days, weeks, months, and years following my departure from Tampa. Continue reading to find out more.
The most important things I learned about relocating for a job can be summed up in a few bullet points:
- Investigate the area you are moving to
- Consider more closely the area you are leaving
- Discuss expectations with your new management
- Ensure you are getting the best relocation package
Investigate the Area You Are Moving To
The first thing I learned about relocating for a job is that I should have done a lot more research into the area I was moving to. I was so caught up in negotiating an offer from the new company that I ended up blindly accepting the offer without giving much consideration to where I would be living and working. I had a tremendous culture shock when I relocated. I went from a large, metropolitan area to a small, laid back, beach town. Although content where I am now (years later), if I had done more research prior to job hunting, I may not have considered relocating to where I currently live. My greatest recommendation for this specific topic is to closely research where you want to live. If possible, try to spend a considerable amount of time in the new area as well. I highly recommend doing these prior to even applying for new positions.
Consider More Closely the Area You are Leaving
As much as I should have researched the location I would be moving to, I should have equally, if not more so, considered the area I would be leaving. I should also note that I relocated as a single parent. I didn’t realize how much my son and I would miss our hometown in the weeks and months following our relocation, and I definitely didn’t foresee the impact relocation would have on us mentally and emotionally. Up until relocating, we had lived our entire lives, 27 years and 8 years, respectively, in the Tampa area.
Although I felt my son and I would be ready for a new city, I didn’t comprehend how much we would be leaving behind until we had already left. Not only did we leave Tampa, we left lifetimes of friends, family, and an incredible support system. My advice is that you greatly consider everything you will be leaving behind if you relocate. If and when you relocate, understand there will be an adjustment period (this lasted a little over a year for my son and me). Also, understand that some relationships will remain the same, many will change, more will end, but many new relationships will form.
Discuss Expectations with Your New Management
The general expectation of most companies is that their employees show up to work and dedicate their time to work while they are at work. I had a general idea of what I would be working on in my new position, but I was personally seeking one thing from my new company when I relocated: flexibility in work arrangement. At my previous job, I, along with all of my coworkers, were not only able to, but were oftentimes encouraged to work remotely as needed.
When I negotiated the position with the company I relocated for, I spoke to two managers regarding this expectation. The first manager assured me that flexible work arrangements could be established for me, while the second manager said his department usually didn’t allow for these arrangements. Upon accepting the position, I didn’t think I would be reporting to the latter manager given the first manager’s assurances. I faced a very different reality after I relocated and reported to the second manager on the first day of work. Although I was assured a flexible work arrangement, I was intimidated and discouraged from having it by the second manager. It wasn’t until I had accrued a negative PTO balance that my functional management stepped in and set in place the ability to work remotely as necessary.
Before accepting an offer with any company, but especially a company that you are relocating for, expectations need to be discussed between you and your new management. What do you expect to do in your new role, what do you expect from your company, and what do they expect from you are all things that should be discussed, and if possible, agreed to on paper prior to accepting an offer. I recommend speaking not only to functional managers about these expectations, but also to assignment managers if they are different people. Hating your new job can lead to hating where you live, which can make the relocation process and adjustment period a complete nightmare. Try to avoid this as much as possible.
Ensure You Are Getting the Best Relocation Package
If you are relocating for a job, your new employer has most likely offered you relocation assistance along with your offer of employment. If this didn’t happen and you live a considerable distance away from your new work location, you may want to go back to your new employer and ask for relocation assistance, or you may want to reconsider accepting your employment offer altogether. This is one area where employers take advantage of their new employees. Unless asked, employers are usually not forthcoming in offering great relocation assistance, and they often try to use relocation assistance as an enhancement to the employment offer. I highly recommend negotiating these offers separately, and always favoring your employment offer as it represents recurring income, whereas the relocation benefit is a one time deal.
To relocate from Tampa, Florida to Melbourne, Florida, which was a distance of about 140 miles, I was offered a $50k relocation package, which included the following major items:
| Relocation Benefit | Payment Method | Note | Amount Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 day house hunting trip | Reimbursed upon receipt, direct deposit | Lodging, meals and incidentals in accordance with GSA rates | 100% |
| $5k cash | Direct deposit | Miscellaneous expenes | 100% |
| Household goods | Company paid directly to vendors | Packing, shipment, storage for 30 days, and delivery to final destination | 150% |
| Two month lease cancellation | Reimbursed upon receipt, direct deposit | N/A | 100% |
| 30 days of temporary housing | Reimbursed upon receipt, direct deposit | In accordance with GSA rates | 150% |
| 30 days of per diem meals and incidentals | Direct deposit after showing proof of temporary housing | In accordance with GSA rates, 100% for employee, reduced % for dependents | 100% |
The following should be noted:
- $50k was not deposited directly into my bank account
- The only cash I actually made from this endeavor was the $5k in miscellaneous expenses
- The expense of each benefit used was detracted from the overall benefit, e.g., after $5k miscellaneous expense deposited into my bank account, then only $45k remaining in total relocation benefits
- Any unused funds went back to the company
- After taking advantage of ALL mentioned relocation benefits, and extending some of the benefits, I only used about $20k of my $50k relocation benefits
- I had to sign a one year agreement to stay with the company or pay a percentage back
To conclude this section, my first recommendation is to negotiate your employment offer and relocation package wisely. In negotiating relocation assistance, try to get as much miscellaneous expense cash as possible, and try to utilize the majority of the temporary housing benefits to save on housing and eating expenses. Lastly, when the time comes, I recommend working with a tax professional to ensure your tax liabilities are covered.
