Get a Move On!

Factors to consider when relocating for a job after graduationby Martha Escobar.It’s 3 AM and CCNY grad Jennifer Dionicio is up late searching job listings on Craigslist and emailing her resume to countless potential employers.  Dionicio’s goal is to land a job in Miami so she can move.  “Miami is my ideal destination because there is a large Hispanic population which will allow me to adapt and use my bilingual ability to my advantage.  I feel I will find more opportunity there than I have in New York.”Dioncio, who grew up in New York City, wishes she didn’t have to leave. “The job market is rough everywhere,” she says, “but I’m crossing my fingers and hoping I will find work [in Miami].”As Dionicio points out, finding a job in this economy is a challenge. With unemployment in the U.S. at over 9 percent and even higher among people under 25, undergrads need to be open to moving for employment opportunities. And once you’ve found a job, it's important find ways to make your new home feel like home.Ellen Weber, an executive recruiter, offers this advice to undergrads who need to relocate for a job. “They need to go to the place a few times, see what kind of places they could live,” she says. “Talk to people at the company and see where they live, and find clubs and other venues for the things they like to do.”If you’re an undergrad or a recent grad and open to relocating for work, what other factors should you be considering once you've gotten the job?Finding an apartment or house is an essential first step.  Keep in mind the cost of living.  Will you be able to afford living on your own or will you need a roommate? CCNY alumna Shakira Saunders, who recently moved to Atlanta to work for CNN, stresses the importance of keeping an eye on the bottom line. “Save, save, save!" she say. "I cannot express more that the amount of money you put away can mean better living quarters, better transportation and a much easier transition.”If you live in New York City, chances are you may not own a car because you take the subway everywhere.  Research to see if your destination has public transportation system.  If not, you may find that you need a car, so think about factors such as the cost of buying a vehicle and gas prices.Make sure to consider the climate of your new destination. Think: Tornadoes in the Midwest. Hurricanes in coastal cities. Hot in the South, cold in the northern states. Earthquakes on the West Coast—and elsewhere.When you’re coming from a big, bustling city like New York it’s easy to feel out of place moving to an area that doesn’t have as much going on.  It’s important that your new home have the type of entertainment your interested in.  If it does not, that alone may make or break the experience for you.  Visit before you move and discover local attractions.   Finding entertainment outlets can help you avoid feeling lonely and missing home.“The homesickness comes when I look out the window and see a different scene than what I have been used to my entire life,” says Saunders. “I realize I took the risk of a lifetime.  Thankfully, I’m meeting people from all over, and establishing a network.”Whether you’re a recent grad or you’re soon to be one, a tough economy calls for drastic decisions.  One last piece of advice from Saunders: “With so much at our fingertips, we have to take chances or else our lives become mundane.  The world is so big and meant to be explored, especially when it drives you closer and closer to your dream.”