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Moving without a job
Should you move to the location of your dreams and then look
for a job?
from Making
the Big Move
Moving without a job will challenge your identity -- but
for some people, it's the best way to go.
How will you answer the "What do you do?" question?
Landlords and bankers want something more solid than, "It's
about being, not doing." And will your self-esteem hold
up after you say repeatedly, "I'm looking for a job."
You cannot take for granted that a particular set of professional
skills will be in demand.
Arlene, a physician, found she could not relocate easily
to some provinces of Canada; a shortage of hospital facilities
restricts the number of physicians allowed to practice. The
old stand-bys -- teaching, social work, library science --
have become crowded fields, often unionized, with long waiting
lists.
But what if you really want to move? Here are five ways to
protect yourself.
Want to start a new life before you start a new job?
Do you have fantasies of moving to a new part of the country
or even the world? Quit your job or escape a layoff and start
over?
Hold on tight to your chair. Force yourself to stay seated
until you have an action plan, preferably in writing. Here
are seven tips to get started.
1. Carefully research your target destination. Forget the
myths. A small town may be not be a haven of low-cost, crime-free
living. A big city may have few opportunities in your chosen
field.
2. Protect your work identity. Line up a job -- even a temporary
job -- before you move. Find at least one client for your
free lance business.
3. Define your career flexibly. Are you willing to wait tables,
paint houses or work as a temporary secretary? Do you have
marketable skills: carpentry, construction, dog grooming?
4. Don't count on the old stand-bys -- teaching, social work,
library science, nursing. You may need a union card or local
reference to get established. And many openings exist only
for beginners.
5. Identify friends and friends-of-friends in your target
destination who can jump-start your social life and show you
the ropes. .
6. Rent or buy before you leave your job, if at all possible.
If you haven't moved in twenty years, you may be surprised.
7. Most advice from well-meaning friends and relatives will
be useless and even harmful. People share their stereotypes
and their own buried fantasies. "I've always wanted to
live there," they say wistfully. Or, "Don't they
have a high crime rate?" Get the facts and seek professional
consultations.
| Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. is an author, career coach, and
speaker. She works with mid-career professionals who want to make a fast
move to career freedom. Visit her site http://www.movinglady.com
or call 505-534-4294. |
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