My friend Sam got a wonderful appointment as a software engineer from on overseas company in another country. Some of us might jump with joy under similar conditions, but Sam was apprehensive of so many things. Apart from basic materialistic adjustments, he was thinking about adjusting to the local social and professional culture there. He did not know the local language. Also not being of very robust health, he was thinking about any health complications that might arise in the new environment. Last, but not the least, as he was a family man, the prospects of staying in another country singly, far away from his aged parents who were unfit for relocation filled him up with nostalgia.

The affinity of human nature towards the known and experienced makes people prefer to stay in their own cities or neighborhood, rather than relocate to an unknown place even if it means compromising with one’s career growth. I do agree, your career is not everything, but staying in another place might not be such a bad idea after all provided you know the correct ways of doing so.

If there are people who are reluctant to leave their present dwellings, there are people who are too eager to relocate at the slightest advantage. For many of them increased income is the only motivating factor. They go to the new place only to find that they are having difficulty making other adjustments. The work culture or the nature of work, and so many other things may not be suitable to them. After going to the new place, they regret their decision and cause immense loss to themselves because by leaving their present stable jobs, they have first shaken off a good career in the making. Now, they’ve got to put a lot of hard work in getting a new job because their previous employers might have already hired someone else in their place and also getting a satisfactory career in a new place can be pretty difficult. For such, people, I’d like to say that carefully weighing the pros and cons of relocation and careful planning is what is very important. Here are some tips that you might want to consider while taking a decision to relocate:

• Include factors other than your work profile alone before taking the decision to relocate. You might have got work in an area with unsuitable climatic conditions. For example, for a person suffering from Asthma, a cold place is not at all advisable. Also, while considering your pay, don’t be overjoyed at the increased salary that you’ll be getting in the new place because the cost of living in such a place can be really high.
• Though I suggest that always relocate with a ready job in hand, you can also relocate and then search for a good job. But this involves taking a lot of risks.
• Find out if you qualify legally for relocation. For this, get your documents ready and go to the VISA office. They’ll be able to guide you in this.