Opportunity Knocks but in Another State

Bonnie R. Siegel, FHIMSS

Are you considering a new job opportunity this year?  Many CIOs and health IT professionals are going to evaluate the possibility of relocating to a new city and new state.  Being presented with a wonderful career opportunity, a chance for advancement and more compensation are still drivers to relocate.  The best advice I can give is don’t interview for a job if relocation will not work.  If all the pros outweigh the cons in taking the new job, here are some thoughts to consider.

Cost of Living

Be sure to check out cost of living in the new location long before a job offer happens.  Several websites offer salary comparisons so that you can evaluate the cost of living in a new city; they are CityRating.com; Salary.com; HomeFair.com.  Talk to realtors and others who live in the area you are considering and get all the facts before even interviewing in a new location.

 Lifestyle considerations

Relocation decisions have to take into account your lifestyle and your family and their needs.  It is tougher to move if you have aging parents near by and you are an only child.  But if the move takes you closer to family members, then it would seem to be a benefit.  Teenagers are tough to move and staying in an area until they are out of high school seems to be a popular option.  Other factors to consider include:

• Can your spouse find a new job?
• Is there good library in town?
• Are the public schools top rated or do you need to consider private?
• Are there arts, cultural and recreational activities in the area?
• If you are single, does the community offer social options?

 Housing

Since we are still in a housing slump, being flexible with what happens to your home is a huge consideration in taking a new job.  Some employers are offering longer temporary housing packages, some up to a year.  Other employers are offering to pay for trips home on a regular basis.  A few lucky people I’ve worked with recently have had no problem selling their homes.  Here are a few creative examples of how others have handled the housing issue.

• One executive and his wife were empty nesters and they decided to keep their house in Florida and rent a condo in Texas.
• Another executive moved ahead of her husband and young family to Ohio and after six months, their house sold in Wisconsin and the family joined her. 
• Another executive commuted to his position in New York every week for several years while his family stayed in Virginia. 

 This could be your year of change and new opportunity, prepare yourself for this by researching all options and being flexible to relocate for your next best job.