How to relocate for a graduate job successfully?

A mixed bag of university students and graduates responded to the Cibyl Graduate Research UK 2021 survey regarding whether or not to relocate for work. While 49% intended to search throughout the United Kingdom, 16% intended to search within their educational institution, 26% within their original home region, and 10% intended to search overseas for their first job.

What is likely to work best for you will ultimately determine whether you should start over in a completely new location or remain close to your hometown or university city. If you do decide to move for a graduate job, you should carefully consider the area you choose to move to, taking into account factors like cost, general vibe, and distance from home and work. This post discusses important things to think about and offers suggestions on how to make your move as easy, stress-free, and prosperous as it can be.

How moving for a job differs from moving to attend university

Finding housing is the primary distinction between moving for a graduate job and moving to attend college. Most students find that finding housing at university is fairly easy: you sign up for housing before your first year, and by the time you come to look for a house for your second year, you and your friends are already based in the area you're searching in. Finding a room will be your first task as a graduate, and since you won't be living in the area, you might have to share with strangers.

There are other differences to take into account, such as the fact that you'll likely have to work through the night in addition to a longer commute than the quick walk to university lectures. Establishing friends at work might differ from university, unless you enroll in a graduate program where many other recent graduates also begin at the same time. Although many first-year university students shared similar experiences and actively sought out new friendships, your coworkers likely have varying work experience and may have distinct personal obligations.

Should I relocate for a job?

While moving for a graduate job has its benefits, many people decide that staying at home and living with their parents is the best course of action. Although we are unable to make these decisions for you, we can provide you with a list of considerations to make.

Since every person is unique, it is important to consider all of your options and make the best decision for yourself rather than focusing on stereotypes about what most graduates do. For instance, relocating to London has historically been a common decision for recent graduates, but it's not necessary if you don't want to live in the nation's capital. There are graduate jobs available all over the nation in fields like IT, engineering, law, and real estate. Even industries like publishing and finance, which are primarily based in London, are finding more and more opportunities elsewhere with smaller businesses or regional offices of larger ones. While a higher salary for jobs in London might seem alluring, living expenses will also increase.

Since the pandemic, more companies have adopted hybrid working arrangements. For certain recent graduates, this could eliminate the uncertainty surrounding whether to move or remain at home, but you should carefully consider if it's the right decision for you. You still need to consider whether it makes sense to look for lodging close by if you plan to commute to work two or three days a week and your home is not close to the office (whether renting a room or staying in B&Bs or similar for ad hoc overnights). If you don't want to leave your hometown, working from home full-time may sound appealing. However, you might find it more difficult to network within the company and form friendships with your coworkers.

What to consider before moving to a new area

There are several factors to consider when thinking about choosing an area to live in for your new job.

• The distance and the realistic location from which you could commute each day. Even though it might not seem like much, you must be willing to work for a few hours every day, five days a week. It's also common to underestimate how long a commute takes, so try it out before your first day to find out about traffic jams if you're driving, how long it would take to walk to and from stops if you're taking publictransportation, and how long the trip would be at the time you'd be traveling.

• The cost-effectiveness of the desired relocation location. When creating your budget, keep in mind your starting pay, local living expenses, and travel expenses.

• The distance between your new place and your house and friends, and whether you'd be comfortable with this—since you might feel a little left out when things back home go on as usual. If you wish to be able to travel home frequently, you should consider the expenses and duration of the trip.

• l Whether the neighborhood you want to live in fits your interests and way of life. You might prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside or the nightlife and entertainment of a city. Checking to see if your favorite hobby has a club and taking a tour of the area to get a sense of its vibe are good places to start.

• l the location's climate and whether it is different from home. For instance, you can anticipate it will be colder and darker in the winter if you move from the south-west to the northeast of the United Kingdom, and there might be more rain if you move from the east to the west.

How your employer/graduate scheme will affect your experience of relocating

The magnitude of your graduate program or your employer may have an impact on how you relocate. In the event that you're going to start a large graduate programme, your employer might offer relocation advice or connect you with other new hires, giving you the chance to meet people right away. Some might even provide a relocation allowance or welcome bonus to help with the moving expenses.

On the other hand, you might get less assistance in finding housing if you work for a smaller company. There won't likely be a large number of recent graduates starting at the same time, so your chances of finding friends in the neighborhood will increase.

Tips for your first weeks in your new location

• l Despite the allure, especially initially, try not to go home too much. Your ability to adjust to your new environment will improve if you persevere and spend time there.

• l Utilize the weekends to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and begin to feel at home. You could use a map to arrange walks and bike rides, or keep an eye out for intriguing exhibits at neighboring museums. Don't forget to venture further afield to investigate neighboring cities and the area as a whole.

• l In order to get to know your new coworkers, make an effort to accept any social events that are offered at work. It's also beneficial to maintain balance, though. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself to try to make new friends right away; if you try to do too much on top of taking on a new job and living arrangements, you'll exhaust yourself.

• l After you've settled in, join a local club or society or anything else you'll enjoy doing when you're not at work. Although there aren't as many societies as there are at a university, many towns do have their own bands, sports teams, and photography clubs, for instance. This will help you start to feel at home by giving you the opportunity to meet people outside of work. Clubs, which your employer might provide, canalso aid in overcoming the initial feelings of loneliness that accompany moving.

• l Check to see if there is a Facebook group for the town you are moving to, or search for a local news blog or paper. This will give you more information about the neighborhood, any clubs that may be active, and a feel for the general vibe.

• l Recognize that it may take a while—up to a year—to feel completely at home in a new place. But if the work is fulfilling, social life tends to fall into place.