Key points:
- Making a major geographic move is a big decision, and input from several sources can help
- Focusing on three main questions can help you make a final choice
- See related article: 4 signs you’re ready for higher-ed career advancement
Your email dings. It’s a message from a colleague you haven’t heard from in years. You are pleasantly surprised—then intrigued. She writes, “This position is open at my college. I think you’d be a perfect fit. Take a look and let me know if you’re interested.” You click the link and begin to peruse the job description. The skills and experience reflect your career path. Even better, the scope of work aligns with the trajectory you’ve mapped for your career. The catch? The job is 2,000 miles away.
Geographic relocations are common in higher education. Because they are standard practice, we often don’t think carefully about whether they are the right choice for this moment in our career. It may be that a move is the ideal thing to energize your career and open new opportunities. Conversely, a move at the wrong time can leave you depleted from a poor fit and adrift in a region where you have no existing network of support. Strategic reflection can help you identify the benefits and minimize the potential downsides of a relocation.
When applying for a position in another part of the country, the idea of relocation is hypothetical and abstract. Many job seekers choose to apply to see where the process may lead. As interviews progress, you must give candid consideration to whether or not a geographic move is optimal for your career right now. We have three questions you can ask yourself as you mull over a possible move.
What am I energized to start?
Starting a new position in a new region requires a significant outlay of mental and emotional energy. Is your life in a stage that is conducive to a beginning? This is not primarily about age, but about the level of creative bandwidth and energy reserves you have at this moment.
Cheryl Hyatt is a founding partner and CEO of Hyatt – Fennell, Executive Search Plus and President and owner of The Charitable Resources Group, Inc.
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