Relocating for work? The pros and cons to weigh

When Adam Bacon finished his studies in digital animation in Vancouver last year, he had two options: take a job in his field in his hometown or accept one that paid less in Montreal. The 23-year-old didn’t think twice. He hopped on a plane and moved east.

“I moved because I want to travel and experience the world while I’m young and able to, and this was a perfect opportunity to visit a new place and start my new career,” Bacon says. “The salary is comparable to what I would be making in Vancouver, although I did turn down slightly higher-paying jobs in Vancouver in order to take this opportunity.

“Relocating has done wonders for my professional development,” he adds. “The job I originally took was basically an internship, but it has developed into a full-fledged career.”

A lot of Millennials find themselves choosing between a local gig or a job further afield. Or they might have no other option but to leave home (and Mom and Dad’s basement) to gain work experience. Regardless of the circumstances, the decision to relocate for work is one that needs to be made carefully.

Lisa Taylor, president of the Toronto-based Challenge Factory, which specializes in career services for individuals and talent management for companies, says that Millennials should determine what specific criteria need to be met to make such a move worthwhile.

“Think about a move or any decision that you’re making not for a job but for your career,” Taylor says.

Challenge Factory suggests considering the following questions to determine if your job opportunity hits the ‘sweet spot’:

• What do you need?

• What do you care about?
  

• What talents do you have?
  

• What types of problems do you want to solve?

“That last one ties into the decision to move: are you moving to where the market is? Maybe you’re moving because of the ability to work with a particular population that only exists in part of the country or maybe the industry is much more focused somewhere else,” she says.

“What exactly is the sweet spot for your career and how are you going to get there? That $28,000 entry-level job is going to lead you to somewhere else, and it will happen better and faster if it’s actually part of your plan as opposed to you just reactively taking a step and hoping something works out.”

Logistics

Relocating has practical considerations, too; there are travel, moving, and living expenses. But if a job offer across the country is on the table, it can’t hurt to request for some company support.

“It’s always fair to ask, but I think you have to be open to getting responses back that may or may not meet what you’re looking for,” Taylor says, noting that people should also look into tax breaks for moving expenses. “But approaching it as a very respectful conversation and knowing your value and having it as a business discussion is important … You’re the one deciding to move across the country; the company may or may not pick up your expenses.”

David Coletto, chief executive officer of Abacus Data, an Ottawa-based public-opinion, polling, and market-research firm, says that Millennials need to have confidence in the value they bring to a company — and that organizations should recognize what young workers bring to them in return. Supporting them with relocation is one way to do that.

“We always hear that today’s young employees are less loyal to their employers than previous generations; I think that’s a myth,” Coletto says. “In many ways, employers are less loyal to today’s employees. Rarely do employees get good pensions, good job training, or other benefits that anchor them into a position. Employees of all ages want to feel engaged at work, and Millennials are particularly keen on work that they feel makes a difference and allows them to express themselves.

For employers, that means considering more than just salary and vacation time to attract the right talent. “Are you making it easy for new recruits to move? Are you offering incentives to stay loyal to the organization? This will become even more important as Baby Boomers begin to retire. While it’s still an employer’s market, that will change quickly as demographic factors create a shortage of skilled workers and increasing competition among organizations.”