When we talk to candidates who want to relocate, it is the ones who have their ducks in a row who stand out…
🗺 Do they have a SPECIFIC place in mind?
So many times, I speak to people who ‘just want to get out of California’ with no particular goal destination.
🏠 Have they looked at the cost of living – especially the housing and rent costs?
Usually, people have an idea of this one, but the average cost of a “house in North Carolina” vs. “a house in Winston-Salem” vs. a “house in Burlington” vs. a “house in Cary” can easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars.
🏙 Do they know (or are they seeking to know) how their experience in a different market will translate to experience in a new market?
If they build high rises in NYC, the opportunities and the pay to do something similar in Wilmington will be very different.
🧡 Do they have a compelling reason for making a move?
E.g. Do they have family in the area? Are they moving for love? Have they spent a great deal of time in the area? Have they done extensive research and can tell me all the reasons the move makes sense for them personally and professionally?
⏰ Do they have a timeline mapped out?
A big yellow flag is: “I can start whenever.” Moving is time intensive: they need to consider selling a house or breaking a lease, the spouse’s job, the kids’ daycare/school, packing and unpacking, providing their current employer a two-week notice, getting the dog across the states, etc.
💲Have they considered what realistic salary expectations are in the new market?
This is a delicate conversation when someone is moving from NYC to Greensboro, but c’mon, if you are moving from NYC to a town of less than <500K people, if you haven’t begun to consider how your salary might change, this is a very big flag.
🛫 Do they have a preliminary trip planned where they will spend time exploring different communities where they can settle, put in for daycares, and possibly take in-person interviews?When I have early conversations with candidates just dipping their toe into the water, I have few expectations.
And, that is fine. Asking these questions is part of my job.
However, if when I speak with someone, they DO have this all thought out: I know they’re serious.
My advice: talk to a recruiter as soon as you are considering making a move. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Probably, the recruiter can help you (yes, I’ve shared compensation expectations, recommended towns and neighborhoods, passed on realtors’ names, and sent lists of all the best of restaurants).
If you DO happen to be ten steps ahead on all these things, I guarantee you will impress me.